Tom Robinson - Musician, Broadcaster & Activist - on Paul Weller, The Jam, Red Wedge and More

On this episode of The Paul Weller Fan Podcast, I’m joined by someone whose impact on British music and activism can’t be overstated - Tom Robinson.

This conversation was originally recorded for my upcoming book, Paul Weller: Dancing Through the Fire – The Authorised Oral History, and I’m delighted to share it with you now as a podcast episode.

Tom first exploded onto the UK music scene with the Tom Robinson Band in the late ‘70s, breaking new ground as a musician and as an outspoken advocate for LGBT rights, anti-racism and political activism. Hits like “2-4-6-8 Motorway” and “Glad To Be Gay” made him a central figure in the punk and post-punk years - the very years that saw The Jam and Paul Weller coming up in parallel. We dive into those formative years, Tom’s memories of the punk scene, what set Weller and The Jam apart, and later, the Red Wedge tour, where Tom truly got to know Paul as both a bandleader and a person.

This is a conversation about music as rebellion, about the importance of remaining grounded, about using a platform for collective good.

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