[.ca] Paul Weller: The Changing Man (ISBN 0552156094)

Hell hath no fury...:
Hell hath no fury like a sycophant scorned! Anyone who has read "A Beat Concerto", Mr. Hewitt's book on The Jam, or read the booklet notes in The Style Council box set should take a deep breath when reading this revisionist history. Paul Weller is not the great guy, brilliant original songwriter and man of integrity that Paolo talked about in the past. After falling out with Mr. Weller, Paulo has decided that Weller is a bitter, twisted, angry, violent and petty individual who lifted his riffs and lyrics from others and is basically a nasty piece of work. All very well if this were a new writer discovering all this but a bit rich coming from Hewitt's newly acquired poison pen. The layout is interesting for a biography, using Weller's songs to breakdown his career, but it's a difficult read for a fan to have your hero destroyed in such a bitter and sometimes childish manner. (Hewitt's biography of Oasis is a shamelessly childish book for a supposed experienced writer). I have no doubt that Weller is no angel, but 30 years on from his first single he is still an exceptional talent and writer, if he was the blatant plagiarist that Hewitt makes him out to be he has done an exceptional job covering this up. One would have to question why Hewitt didn't mention this in his book on The Jam or in his 1998 notes for the Style Council box set. It's all a bit suspect, like a spurned lover writing a tell-all about the inadequacies of their former partner just to get back at them. It's a shame, Paolo Hewitt has been around for a long time, with a reputation as a good writer by and large, he may have set out to destroy Weller, albeit with some compliments thrown in so as not to show he's too embittered, but this book is mildly embarrassing for an adult to have written. It's tabloid journalism, I still believe that Weller is up there with the great all time singer/songwriter's so it hasn't changed my opinion but this is a nasty little book, worth only a glance for curiosity's sake.