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Why?
Paul Weller is a genuine Friars legend and
the final Friars Phase Three gig was one of the two most in demand gigs
EVER at Friars (in modern terms of the internet etc, possibly THE most
in demand). Weller played Friars five times with The Jam and remained the only band to play a matinee show. As
the band got bigger and bigger, they kept loyal to Friars playing
further gigs in 1978 and in 1979. By the spring of 1980, The Jam
achieved, in Going Underground, the first single to go straight to the
top of the charts since Slade in 1973.
Much to everyone's
surprise and pleasure, The Jam, influenced by the annual Friars
Aylesbury poll results, came back one more time and took the place
apart. This was very much a band of the people and the Aylesbury people
took them too their hearts. After the Jam split in 1982, Paul Weller's
Respond record label's package tour came to Friars in 1983 maintaining
the Jam link with Friars.
In 1980, Paul, with the Jam, also received
the FA Cup from David Stopps.
After a patient 30 year wait, Paul Weller came back to Friars, arguably
bigger than he was in 1980 and blew the roof off in one the greatest
Friars nights ever and a fitting way to say goodbye to the Civic for
good. |
