Weller slams Ordinary Boy
 

Yeah......thing is Mr Weller. He's erm selling more records than you at the moment. Or is that what's really bothering you?

they are legends

Who cares what he said about Preston? He mouthed off against Freddie Mercury. Noone mouths off against Freddie, his music is much better than the crap Paul Weller's come up with.
You just don't mess with icons like that, it makes you look stupid, and makes people draw up unfavourable comparisons.

Weller cadges lift on publicity machine ,
or "That's Entertainment"

Paul Weller's new album isn't even released until Monday. So, given your ability to see the future, can you tell us what next week's winning lottery numbers will be, please?


Have to disagree here Fizz, I'm afraid.

Who cares about Preston full stop? It's not nice to speak ill of the dead, so I won't. But Weller is also an icon, and for me personally, far more so than Freddie Mercury. I'm not too keen on Weller's work post The Jam, but that body of work measures up favourably to any other British band's output in the last 30 years. Weller is a far superior songwriter, too. There's nothing in Queen's back catologue that could hold a candle to That's Entertainment, Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, The Eton Rifles, Going Underground or Town Called Malice.

Weller has some quality tunes, mainly in The Jam and parts of his solo work, such as Broken Stones and From The Floorboards Up. Even with the Style Council there is one or two pretty good stuff- You're The Best Thing is one of the best 'love' songs Ive heard.

As for Wellers new album only coming out on Monday: I dont think that is an album that Weller has sanctioned or agreed to. I think its a cheap cash in on his Brit award next week. Its only a Jam 'best of '. Its a bit like all the The Smiths complilations that Morrissey and Marr have nothing to do with.

As for criticisising Preston, it is a bit harsh and smacks of bitterness and a bit of a PR stunt.

The Ordinary Boys have supported Weller in the past, so this seems a bit rich, to me.

I don't doubt for a second that the re-issue of Snap! has been timed to coincide with Weller's Brit Award - much the same as James Blunt's Chasing Time: The Bedlam Sessions, which is also released today. But this is a little more than "only a Jam 'best of'". It's widely regarded as one of the best ever 'best of' compilations, and revered as much as Bob Marley's Legend, for example. Snap! was first released in September 1983 as a 29-track double album (vinyl and cassette only), including all the single A-sides, as well as selected B-sides, album tracks and rarities. Initial copies of the album also included a 4-track E.P. recorded during their farewell concert at Wembley. When it was released on CD in September 1984, it was re-titled as Compact Snap!. That was a single-disc issue, with eight tracks removed and no sign of the E.P. tracks at all. Fans understandably weren't too chuffed with Polydor's hatchet job, especially as they had to wait another two and a half years until they finally began issuing the back catalogue on CD, and almost six years until they'd finally finished the job. Compact Snap! has been digitally remastered and reissued since, but still only as a single disc with 21 tracks. This is the first time it's ever been available with the full 29 tracks as a double CD, and there's also a limited edition 3 CD version, which includes the four tracks from the original E.P.

As for the Weller solo album, As Is Now (originally issued October 2005) is relaunched today as a double CD edition. So no, not technically 'new', but re-promoted / relaunched - whichever you prefer. Preston has had his face all over tv, the magazines and press, not to mention numerous radio interviews. Weller is back in the limelight because of the Brit Award, which levels the playing field somewhat for those who think Ordinary Boys are anything like viable 'competition'.

And let's not forget that Brassbound was a flop as far as sales are concerned. It had sold 70,000 copies (as of February 5th.), roughly half of those this year. So in the six months before CBB, it had sold just 35,000. Its peak chart position (pre-CBB) was 31, which is really quite appalling for a supposedly established act on a major label. On January 21st, it was at number 79 in the album charts - the week before it was at number 124. In the latest charts announced yesterday, Boys Will Be Boys remained at number 3, selling 20,488 copies. Sales of Brassbound fell by 15%, clearing 15,936 copies, with the album falling from its peak position of number 11 to number 20. To put into perspective, album sales last week totalled 2,394,477 in the UK.

I think Weller has every right to criticise Preston. Let's put it in context - he didn't call a news conference, or issue a statement. He was asked what his opinion was, and he replied honestly. On the Ordinary Boys' own official forum, almost all of the regular, more mature members back Weller, rather than Preston. Only three posts out of 27 disagree with his comments, and most of them are in agreement that there wouldn't even be an Ordinary Boys at all, were it not for Weller's influence.

Weller clearly saw someone he thought had prospects selling his soul on live tv. People may like Preston's music - personally, I think it's pretty shoddy third-rate 2 Tone pastiche. And they may like him as a person - personally, I think he's a charlatan, pretending the silver spoon in his mouth is plastic. He's the Damon Albarn of the noughties, in fact. Overall, we saw a little man worried that his band was about to be dropped from their recording contract, acting out of desperation. He got up, showed that he's a very gullible, naive and not particularly bright person, flirted with a bimbo and thoroughly humiliated his long-term partner on live tv, and then went back to bed once again. A nonentity as far as entertainment is concerned, with a complete absence of anything that could even remotely be described as 'rock star credentials'.

With the amount of exposure he's had, record sales have been extremely poor in comparison. He's lost much of his band's fanbase (once the Ordinary Army, now the Prestines) in one fell swoop, with disillusioned former fans posting on the Ordinary Boys' forum calling him a 'media *****'. A third of the bands' dates at small venues around the country still haven't sold out - basically because many of his former fans have deserted him, and his new fans aren't allowed out after dark. But for the last word on the Ordinary Boys, look no further than their interview in the current edition of N.M.E. His comments in reference to CBB are clearly massive distortions of the truth - but he puts the final nail in the coffin all by himself with the quite pathetic comment; "We're a punk band at heart". If Ordinary Boys are a punk band, then Sugababes are death metal, and Il Divo are industrial techno.

Got to say, I love Paul Weller's music. I've got no interest in him as a person, one way or the other, but I really think he is a talented singer and songwriter.

chilledbootz, I strongly doubt that the Ordinary Boys will ever be able to outsell Paul Weller, but that's just my guess. If Preston and co are still having hit records in 25+ years time, I'll gladly eat my words.

Paul Weller seems to say things how he sees them. They might be offensive to some people, but they're just his opinions. I love Queen personally, and I also really like James Blunt, so I doubt I'd agree with his criticisms of them (although I don't know what he's actually supposed to have said).

By the way, he said that about Preston, about three weeks ago. I'm surprised it has only just got into the news.

Well said. I agree 100%.

We're a punk band at heart

I think the Ordinary Boys sound alot like the 80's group Madness,and their song Boys Will Be Boys very similar to Madness song Baggy Trousers.

Urban Reggae :thumbs:

I was obviously talking about the time that Paul Weller made that comment.

I have no doubt that Mr Weller will shift a few copies of his new album WHEN it is released. Especially off the back of his lifetime achievement award at the Brits. Very well deserved it will be too.

Oh and erm......3, 6, 21, 33, 39 and 44 *shall we go halves?*

Weller is a big part of my music collection. I respect him and he is more than entitled to express his opinion.

I was a fan of the Ordinary Boys once I heard 'Seaside' back in 2004. I purchased their debut 'Over the Counter Culture' (which 'peaked' at number 17) and also got hold of Brassbound from Play.com last summer.

I listened to the debut quite a lot and can recommend it, but struggled to get into Brassbound. Since Preston has had a fair bit of publicity, I decided to give it another go, and I have to say its pretty good 'post-Jam/2Tone' stuff. Not life-changing, but still very entertaining.

When choosing my musical purchases, I dont really judge albums by sales. A million seller is not necessarily a top quality album.(See Keane, Blunt, Lighthouse Family etc) In fact, some of my favourite albums are not on the radar, sales wise.

My opinion of Preston hasnt really changed because of some daft telly show and some tabloid gossip. It doesent alter my opinion of the music of the Ordinary Boys. Who he is sleeping with doesent detract that I can enjoy his music.

At least we know what he is like and, unlike other indie bands, he has a bit of a personality.

As far as success (or lack of it) is concerned, it was pertinent to the debate as Weller clearly doesn't need to criticise the likes of Preston to garner publicity for himself. And Preston clearly took part in CBB with nothing more than record sales in mind. He's achieved that in the short term, but also alienated much of his hardcore fanbase into the bargain.

I think those points are very much relevant, in this instance. Preston presented himself as something he's clearly not. Extra-curricular activity shouldn't matter, as you say. But a complete lack of integrity and a willingness to sell out at the first available opportunity is another matter entirely.

I think he's pretty much devoid of personality. And as he's signed to WEA, not strictly 'indie', either.

I don't think The Ordinary Boys have any real staying power, they'll never reach iconic status (thank heavens.)

There were some articles saying that he was going to perform with James Blunt at the Brit Awards, but Weller clearly wasn't too keen on the idea; "I'd rather eat my own s*** than duet with James Blunt. It's not going to happen."

And on Freddie Mercury; In the February 2006 issue of Uncut Magazine, Paul Weller slags off a number of previous winners of the Brits' Lifetime Achievement Awards. On Freddie, he says: "He said he wanted to bring ballet to the working classes. What a *******."

A few others, from the same interview:

The 'Modfather' stated: "Bob Geldof. What'd he win it for? Can't be for his music, man. I mean, if it's for his charity work in Africa then you can't knock it, but Boomtown Rats, ******* off." The 'Town Called Malice' singer did not stop there however, with some harsh words indeed for former 'Police' frontman Sting: "********** horrible man. Not my cup of tea at all. ********** rubbish. No edge, no attitude, no nothing." Next in the firing line was U2 star Bono: "The whole thing of Bono becoming the Pope - what the *******'s all that about? Pseudo-American rubbish." And last but by no means least, Weller remarked that David Bowie should have never received the Lifetime Achievement Award: "Wrong! I like about three records of his. The rest of it's pish."

I'd have to disagree with him as far as Bowie is concerned, and I quite like ballet, too.

Weller is a well known grump, full of humbug.

Who knows what Bowie has done privately? Liam Gallagher copped off with some lass on his WEDDING NIGHT! But I dont let it get in the way of his (sometimes) quality music.

As for being signed to WEA (or B-Unique, the off-shoot), does this matter or impede on musical ability? Im not sure it does. Are the Ordinary Boys meant to turn down a record deal because its not from some bizarre indie label from the Outer Hebrides? Some of the best 'indie' bands are on big labels.

Indeed he is, but most of what he's supposedly said here, I'd personally tend to agree with. And compared to the Gallaghers for example, his observations are tame. When you've had such a fundamental effect on popular culture, surely that entitles you (within reason) to dismiss anyone you see fit?

I've no idea what the Bowie reference is all about at all (or rather I have, but fail to see the relevance).

The point is that if you're on a big label, then you're not an indie band at all. The two things just don't fit. Things aren't like they used to be, when you had legitimate indie bands such as The Cure signed to Fiction records. Polydor's involvement was nothing more than distribution and a cut of the profits, with the band completely at liberty to record when they wanted to, pick their own producers, choose the singles, art work, tour venues, tv appearances, video director (pretty much always Tim Pope), etc. In the case of the Ordinary Boys and their ilk, it's nothing more than a marketing strategy that's supposed to lend credibility to the act concerned. They're far more pop than anything else.

Thanks Charlotte for posting what Paul said about those other artists. I'd personally disagree with him about Bowie too, but he's only stating his opinion, which is fair enough. Although cc100, I don't understand what you're saying about Bowie's private life. I interpreted Paul's comment about Bowie to be about his music only?:puzzled:

His comments about Bob Geldof were spot on. Geldof does a heck of a lot of work for good causes, and I believe he does it with all sincerity, but his music since the Boomtown Rats split up has been pretty dire.

Paul Weller is known as a bit of a grump, but as I said before, he's just stating his opinions - usually only as a result of being asked his opinions, so he's only being honest.

I used Bowie mainly as an example. He is someone who millions respect, yet he has a private life that doesent concern us, so we dont know what goes on behind closed doors. Preston has put his private life on view for us to see, rightly or wrongly. We can see his plus points and his failings, whereas most other 'rock' stars only present a, sometimes, false public face.

As for the Ordinary Boys not being on an 'indie' label: there are many other bands who claim to be indie or punks who are on major labels. For example, the Kaiser Chiefs are on B-Unique alongside the Ordinary Boys. If we are to criticise Prestons lot, then we must do so to all indie bands who are not on a completely independent label.

i agree with that

Oh right, I see what you mean. To be honest, I just don't like The Ordinary Boys' music that much. If I thought it was brilliant, I would buy it no matter what I thought of Preston in the BB house.

I still think Paul Weller had every right to say what he said though. He was expressing an opinion that's all.

he preformed at the brits yesterday. and i.m not really a fan,
sweet preston turned up in a bow tie and suit

Yeah, thats my point- I liked the band before BB, and his activities in the house will not make me like them any more or any less.

As for the bow tie- what was he thinking!!??

Mr. Weller had a rather good week, it seems. The 2/3 CD version of Snap! charted at number 10, one place higher than the Ordinary Boys' peak postion. It sold 30,863 copies, compared to Brassbound's peak weekly sales of 18,698. I can't get a sales figure for them this week, but they're at number 28 at the moment. The number 30 album (The Magic Numbers) sold 11,973 and number 25 (Panic At The Disco) 13,845.

Weller's solo best of album sold 11,312 copies, an increase of 213% from the previous week and a rise from number 64 to 32. His current solo album moved up from number 80 to 38, with sales increased by 196% to 8,429 for the week.

Oh, and not one of your lottery numbers came out.