John Reed - Author of Paul Weller: My Ever Changing Moods

2026-06-19

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In this conversation, John Reed - music journalist, a former Research Editor of Record Collector magazine, Director of Catalogue at Cherry Red, and author of Paul Weller: My Ever Changing Moods - takes us on a journey through the many stages of Weller’s remarkable career. Growing up entrenched in the Mod revival and drawn into The Jam’s world as a teenager, John became the “kid at school who liked The Jam,” long before he would ever dig deep into his music as a writer....

In this conversation, John Reed - music journalist, a former Research Editor of Record Collector magazine, Director of Catalogue at Cherry Red, and author of Paul Weller: My Ever Changing Moods - takes us on a journey through the many stages of Weller’s remarkable career. Growing up entrenched in the Mod revival and drawn into The Jam’s world as a teenager, John became the “kid at school who liked The Jam,” long before he would ever dig deep into his music as a writer.

John shares stories from his early days as a fan (his first Jam shows in Brighton, his coming of age as a mod, and surviving the territorial world of Harrington jacket colours), to building a career in music journalism and becoming a trusted member of the Weller story’s inner circle. We hear his unique perspective on the trio dynamic of The Jam, his view on Bruce and Rick’s underrated contributions, and why Weller’s break-up of the band was both brave and necessary.

As a journalist and Record Collector writer, John’s work bridges the worlds of the fan and the chronicler - penning features, sleeve notes, and, ultimately, a much-loved biography. He shares what went into writing My Ever Changing Moods (often by chance: “I just made it up” - the pitch, not the research!), the responsibility of telling the story for fans, and how he balanced candidness with sensitivity. From interviewing Paul Weller during pivotal moments in the ’90s and 2000s, to discussing album sequencing, adversity, and his restless creativity, John brings the experience of both a listener and an expert.

His reflections move through Weller’s post-Jam doubts, The Style Council’s misunderstood experiments, the energy of “comeback” records like As Is Now and 22 Dreams, and a decades-long relationship balancing proximity, critique, and admiration. John also shares personal memories: a surreal night with Weller and Ocean Colour Scene, phone calls from “Paul Weller, ya c—t,” and thoughts on what would make the ultimate Weller companion release.

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