Paul Weller: When Rock Stars Attack

OK, you all know I love Paul Weller and the Jam. Last night he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Brit Awards, the UK equivalent of the Grammys.

But Paul's been in an uber-bitchy mood lately, 'slagging off' pop icon after pop icon. This days after he said he'd only re-form the Jam if he and his children were starving.

I know it sounds awful, but I take great delight in pop stars being rude to one another (and tell me you don't!)...anyway, here's a snippet of Weller's recent rants (from Digital Spy):

The singer has claimed that David Bowie, Bob Geldof and the late Freddie Mercury did not deserve to receive the [Lifetime Achievement] honour.

"Bob Geldof? What'd he win it for? Can't be for his music, man," he told Uncut magazine. "I mean if it's for his charity work in Africa then you can't knock it, but Boomtown Rats, f**k off."

On Freddie Mercury, he ranted, "He said he wanted to bring ballet to the working classes. What a c***."

On David Bowie: "I like about three records of his. The rest of it's pish.

"Weller's controversial comments come just one week after he attacked James Blunt, claiming he would rather "eat my own s**t than duet with him".

Oh, and he called 2002 winner Sting ‘a horrible man’ claiming he had ‘no attitude, no nothing’, and he accused 2001 winners U2 of writing ‘pseudo American rubbish’.

....And then there's this story:

Weller was so annoyed by fans' requests at a competition winners' gig for British radio station Virgin on Monday, he snapped and swore at them.

The hitmaker insisted his audience should stop being so demanding because they hadn't even paid to be there.

He raged, "We don't know what we're playing yet, it's not a f**king request show.

"Don't know what you're talking about anyway, you guys didn't pay for these f**kin' tickets in the first place.

"Enough of the f**kin' 'waheys' guys. I'm about to play a f**kin' mellow song. You're putting me off."

...and finally, this:

"I've met Chris Martin and I don't want to slag him off because he's a lovely lad, but his music is too f**king bland."

Paul--settle down, babe! You're being honored for a great career; your songs have touched many lives; your last album was amazing (and even garnered you some top 10 UK singles). Eeesh--Paul Weller is now among the Stars I Love But Don't Want to Meet (oh, and Joni's in that eschelon, too).

I agree with Weller that James Blunt is shite. Naturally, he's incredibly popular. I also agree that Boomtown Rats never did a single thing better or even as good as "I Don't Like Mondays." And we all know how I feel about U2. And yes, Coldplay songs all sound like Coldplay songs (but some would argue Steely Dan songs, or Nyro songs, or early Joni songs, all sound the same to them). But I'm curious as to what's up Paul's butt these days.