'70s Rock Legend With Major No. 1 Hit Turns 68
British rock icon Paul Weller has turned 68, marking another milestone in a music career that has stretched across nearly five decades.
Born on May 25, 1958, in Woking, Surrey, Weller became one of the most important figures in British rock music through his work with The Jam, The Style Council and as a solo artist.
Known to fans as the "Modfather," Weller built a reputation for blending rock, soul, punk, jazz and pop into a sound that shaped generations of British musicians. Over the years, he scored six UK No. 1 albums and earned 24 Top 10 albums in the United Kingdom. His long-running success has made him one of the most respected names in British music history.
Weller first rose to fame in the late 1970s as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of The Jam alongside Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler. The band quickly became one of the leading groups of the mod revival movement. Their rise was fast, beginning with the 1977 single "In the City," which reached the UK Top 40.
By 1979, The Jam broke into the UK Top 10 with "The Eton Rifles." One year later, the band earned its first No. 1 single with "Going Underground." The group later added more chart-toppers, including "Town Called Malice" and "Beat Surrender."
Even while The Jam was at its peak, Weller decided to move in a new direction. In 1982, he announced the band would split.
Reflecting on the decision years later, Weller said to Billboard: "Before the Jam split up, I just felt it was time for me to move on, just artistically and creatively. I needed to find something different and different kind of avenues to make music, and a different way of making music."
After leaving The Jam, Weller formed The Style Council with keyboardist Mick Talbot in 1983. The group allowed him to experiment with jazz, soul, pop and electronic music.
Songs such as "My Ever Changing Moods" and "You're the Best Thing" helped the duo find success outside the United Kingdom, including on the American charts.
The Style Council also became known for mixing politics with music during the 1980s. Weller strongly opposed many of the era's political issues and later helped launch the Red Wedge movement, which united musicians behind left-wing causes.
Despite early success, The Style Council's popularity slowed by the end of the decade. The group split in 1989 after their record label refused to release their final studio album.
Weller returned in the early 1990s with a solo career that revived his commercial success. His self-titled 1992 album introduced fans to a more mature sound, while 1993's "Wild Wood" became a critical breakthrough. His biggest solo success arrived with the 1995 album Stanley Road, which reached No. 1 in the UK and became the best-selling album of his career.
The album included hit songs such as "The Changingman" and "You Do Something to Me," both of which became major UK singles. During the Britpop era, Weller also became closely linked to bands such as Oasis. Noel Gallagher even appeared on Weller's music, while Weller contributed guitar work to Oasis songs.
The 'Modfather' Still Releasing Music at 68
Weller's music career has continued well into his late 60s. In recent years, he released albums including On Sunset, Fat Pop (Volume 1), 66 and the 2025 covers album Find El Dorado.
His 2020 album On Sunset gave him No. 1 albums across five consecutive decades. That achievement placed him alongside John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
Earlier this year, Weller announced Weller At The BBC Vol. 2, a 48-track collection featuring BBC radio session recordings from 2008 through 2024. The compilation includes songs from his solo catalog along with updated performances connected to The Jam and The Style Council.
Outside music, Weller also made his feature film debut in Blitz in 2024.
Throughout his career, Weller has received four Brit Awards, including three wins for Best British Male. He also earned the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award in 2006.
Now at 68, Paul Weller continues to tour, release musi and remain active in the industry that he helped shape since the late 1970s.
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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 5:55 AM.