Rock is crocked

PAUL Weller believes rock bands are finished.

The Modfather found fame in The Jam before scoring hits with The Style Council during the 1980s.

But as he unveils his 14th solo album True Meanings, out today, Weller says the future for the next generation of rock groups is bleak.

He said: “I’ve always had that romantic notion of being in a band. I still do in some ways. But Noel Gallagher said this, and he’s right, the days of kids from a council estate getting a band together and wanting to change the world are gone, really.

“You’re more likely to find that in the grime scene than in pop or whatever.

“But four young geezers off an estate, you don’t really see that at all.

“And I don’t think it ever will come round again. Not like The Jam or Oasis. I think it’s just changed.”

In fact Weller thinks things are so bad that indie and rock music has become a niche genre.

He explained: “I was talking to this fella the other day about the same thing with jazz, how one time that was the most popular music but now it’s a very niche thing.

“It’s still there but you can never call it popular music. Maybe it’s the same with rock ‘n’ roll?

“It’s had its time.” Weller plays just two shows at the Royal Albert Hall in October in support of his new album with an orchestra because “it’s too expensive”.

Next year he will be back with a new project, saying: “We’ve cut a couple of new tracks and it’s going to be something else.”