REVIEW: Dan Jennings - Dancing Through The Fire

The prospect of a new fully authorized oral history with contributions directly from Mod Mastermind Paul Weller centering around his extensive forever flourishing dynamic career might fill the mind with notions of the Cappuccino Kid making a return, Dancing Through The Fire is a freshly conceived comprehensive piece of work by Desperately Seeking Paul podcast frontman Dan Jennings.

Originally briefed as a hearty jaunt speaking to fans about his and their musical hero, the podcast lit the touch paper when Jennings started interviewing anyone and everyone including former and current band mates, record producers, co-writers and many more associated with Weller’s main focal points The Jam, The Style Council and his solo career, along with side projects undertaken to help the Modfather explore his clearly forever yearning possibilities as an artist, the work Jennings undertook along with getting into inner circles of friends and family has formed the basis of this hefty 700 + page epitome dedicated to one of the all-time great musicians spawned from the English shores.

The book is as comprehensive as it can possibly get up to the current date, reaching as far back to when the Wellers set up camp in Stanley Road, Woking, the making of the family were John Weller, the lovable ex-boxer / hod carrier / manager of his son’s various musical outlets; Ann Weller the Imelda Marcos of Surrey; Nicky Weller who arrived on the scene a number of years after her big brother John Paul Weller, but nonetheless Nicky was attributed to holding court to the fans of her brothers outlets . The book moves through the initial years of Weller joining Steve Brookes, Rick Buckler and Bruce Foxton playing dodgy rock and roll covers to Brookes leaving and then The Jam being catapulted to the lofty reaches of the hit parade.

Moving through the years with sophisticated ease, showcasing plenty of never before heard anecdotes from the likes of Dennis Munday, Pete Paphides, Kenny Wheeler, Steve ‘Tufty’ Carver, plus other key individuals and fans who witnessed the fire and skill of these times, for many readers the most unraveling details added to this vast patchwork is the inclusion of Weller’s own commentary, putting straight some myths along with his own take on momentous moments including Going Underground ‘I thought that ‘Going Underground’ was the pinnacle of that sound, of what people call now ‘The Jam sound’. We probably could have carried on cutting tunes like that, but I just thought we really need a change. I think we all felt that. So, Sound Affects was a result of us trying to do something different.’

Moving through to The Style Council heavyweight names such as Dee C Lee, Mick Talbot, along with Camelle Hinds, Steve Sidelnyk, Helen Turner all wax lyrical of these hedonistic seemingly care free times travelling the world on a quest to preach things like the state of politics and the welfare of the working man along with meeting, unbeknown at the time, a guitarist that would feature in his solo band for well over 20 years, Steve Cradock, who is rarely interviewed about his time working with his hero ‘I loved the Style Council; I was seventeen when I saw them at the NEC ‘87. The Orange album. Yeah, they showed JerUSAlem at the beginning. I thought having a Black Queen and loads of scooters was enough for a pass from me. Around that time, I went down to Solid Bond (Studios) Nicky was outside with a little pet rabbit. I just wanted to meet him (Weller) and say hello and then go home happy. We had a cup of tea. I played him some demos that I had, and I had an acoustic guitar as well. He had a little play of the guitar and that was it. Then we formed Ocean Colour Scene two years later. I think I did get thrown out by Kenny though. He asked me to leave because, I don’t know, I guess that’s what Kenny did.’

The latter chapters chart Weller’s supremely successful return from the wilderness of The Style Council in some quarters alienating their audiences before the Woking wonder unleashed one of the most creatively satisfying periods of his time writing and recording music plus of any artist from the British shores. Yet again Jennings manages to capture many key characters and players from this ongoing production hive, Edgar Jones, Dr Robert, Lawrence Watson, Brendan Lynch and Jacko Peake all chart their work with Weller, all are sharp, to the point and echo key chemical reactions that seemingly caused a reaction either in the studio or a live setting that sparked something never to be forgotten. The book is a highly engrossing and doesn’t miss a trick, and maybe we’ll leave the last word to Paul Weller ‘You have to count your blessings. I think it’s important to recognise what you’ve done and your achievements, but don’t dwell too much on it and be grateful. Be humble as well. Not just in music, but in life, I think it’s important to learn that. If there’s anything I’d ever try and instil in my kids, it’s that. Be grateful and be humble for all the good things you get in life.’

Dancing Through The Fire can be purchased here