HE’S known as the Modfather because of his influence on the culture in the Seventies and Eighties.
And Paul Weller has admitted he’s still a devout follower of the cause, five decades on.
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The former Jam frontman explained: “It’s a faith, in my mind anyway. It’s something to believe in.
“Keep the faith, it means a lot to me, it means more to me the older I’ve got really.
“There’s been times in my life when I can’t, it’s a test of faith and you think everything is just s**t, that’s just a test, a test of your faith.
“I’m able to come back to that, it’s something to come back to and centre on, I see it as a rock, you know.”
Despite his legacy in the music industry, Paul said he draws the line at being called a “heritage act”.
Speaking on his fan podcast, Desperately Seeking Paul, the singer said: “A few years ago there was a thing where they were talking about heritage acts.
“I am not f***ing going down that road mate, I’m not a heritage act. I had to fight that term, my own little fight in a sense to get through all that stuff.
“I probably lost a certain amount of audience along the way in this last ten or so years, the ones that just wanted to hear the Jam stuff.
“But they’ve kind of gone now, I guess they go and see Bruce Foxton’s band or other people, whatever they want to do, whatever makes them happy.
“But it’s been worth it, because I’ve proved myself right. If you just plough through that bulls*t and you follow your programme and what you think it should be, eventually you will get there.
“But it’s easy to get sidetracked by people saying, ‘Maybe you should do this, or you could do that, or make it like the old record’.
“No, just follow your vision, if you’ve still got a vision.”
Sparks fly for Joel and Coco on date
JOEL CORRY’s romance with Love Island beauty Coco Lodge is heating up.
The Head & Heart producer swerved lucrative offers for DJ gigs around the world in favour of spending New Year’s Eve at Coco’s local boozer.
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The couple, who have been dating since May last year, were spotted all over each other at The Coach and Horses pub in Greenwich, South London, before making their way to the nearby park to watch the fireworks.
An onlooker said: “Joel looked like he couldn’t get enough of Coco. They spent all night absorbed in each other. They were so happy.”
Joel’s jet-setting job hasn’t always made their relationship easy, though.
The DJ has said: “It is so hard with my schedule. I am basically in a different country every day.
“I love spending time with Coco but the schedule makes it really hard to have a relationship.”
RUSSELL CROWE has revealed he spent the festive season knee deep in work.
The Gladiator star is playing Hermann Goring in Nuremberg, a film about the war trials in 1946.
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Goring was sentenced to death for crimes against humanity after his role in atrocities carried out by the Nazis.
Appearing on Virgin Radio with Ryan Tubridy, Russell said: “I am building up to shooting Nuremberg.
“I am playing Goring, I am focused on his life and what he achieved beforehand.
“I am deep in the David Irving Goring biography. My head is filled with facts and figures.”
Opening up about getting into character, Russell added: “There will be an accent, a flavour. He had a huge vocabulary and was completely fluent in English.
“There are a lot of hours of tapes of him talking so I can zero in on that.”
FEELING A LITTLE RUFFLED,SHANIA?
SHANIA TWAIN is having a knees-up to kick off her New Year.
The You’re Still The One singer looked amazing in a see-through ruffle gown and white PVC boots.
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After wrapping up a near sell-out arena tour last year, she is set to return to Sin City.
She will kick off Come On Over, her third Las Vegas residency, at the Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood in May.
“Shania said “I love that I get consistency – that I can build a show I don’t have to worry about moving.
ASHLEY KEEPS IT GLASSY
ASHLEY ROBERTS didn’t let the downpour in London rain on her parade as she returned to work at Heart Radio.
The former Pussycat Dolls singer even wore sunglasses as she walked through London’s Leicester Square in a stylish studded denim shirt and matching jeans after finishing her shift.
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Ashley spent the festive period with her new boyfriend, tattoo artist George Rollinson, who is 17 years her junior.
The pair met through pals last year and went on a loved up holiday to Dubai together in October.
It has been a few months now and George is clearly still putting a smile on Ashley’s face.
Sad Sam’s love split
SAM SMITH is back In The Lonely Hour after breaking up with their boyfriend.
The Leave Your Lover singer and Christian Cowan are said to have called time on their relationship over the festive period, with Sam already back on celebrity dating app Raya.
The five-time Grammy winner was first linked to fashion designer Christian in January last year and they have been seen together a lot over the past 12 months.
They were last pictured together in New York three weeks ago and those close to Sam said they ended their year-long romance shortly afterwards.
Christian was Sam’s first partner following their split from actor Brandon Flynn in 2018.
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