Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

With Paul Weller's new album Sonic Kicks about to hit the streets, or rather hit the online mail order sites and a handful of record shops on the 19th March. We thought it was time to hear from the man himself. So here from July 1982 is Paul Weller in conversation with Mark Cooper of the NME. Well you didn't think we were going to get an interview with Mr Weller did you?

If you are wondering why the NME seemed to become so colourful back in '82. It isn't a nod to The Jam's LP GIFT which starts with the words "For those of you watching in black & white this one is in Technicolor". It's because by '82 the innovators in the music mags, Smash Hits and Record Mirror were making NME seem rather drab.

This is a good if brief interview. And Weller's definition of SOUL is pretty apt "………it's the feeling that's there when it transcends being words, when there's an understanding between a group and an audience and a gig takes off…………….." 100% truth, is there any other sort?

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