British songwriting icon Paul Weller is mourning the loss of his father and long time manager John Weller.
An imposing father and son team, John Weller helped guide his offspring’s career almost from the moment he picked up a guitar. The Jam formed in Woking, and after settling on their classic three piece line up John Weller became their manager.
The group cut their teeth on the South coast’s tough working men’s clubs, giving The Jam an electric live edge sadly missing in their chaotic punk cohorts. John Weller was with the band every step of the way, with his maverick style becoming the stuff of myth.
Weller Snr frequently introduced the band onstage, often labelling them the greatest group in the world.
However Paul Weller split the group at the height of their fame, believing he had accomplished everything he could do with them. Forming The Style Council, his father John Weller came along for the ride.
Now solo, Paul Weller recently won the Brit Award for ‘Best British Male’ after a year spent touring his ambitious double album ’22 Dreams’. The Mod icon was recently on tour in the United States, but cut the dates short to see his father for a final time.
Weller Snr continued to manage his son until 2006, when he began to suffer from ill health.
John Weller was seventy seven and passed away on Wednesday (April 22nd). According to a source in Music Week the maverick figure “he took a turn for the worse”.
“He had been ill for some time,” the source added.
Paul Weller has not yet commented on the death of his father. It is not known when the remaining dates on his United States tour will be re-scheduled.
