Paul Weller Blasts Record Store Day Racketeers
The Modfather says it's his last RSD, shames touts. Plus, the video for Brand New Toy.
TAKEN FROM IMPENDING NEW solo hits collection More Modern Classics and released as a 500-copy 7" for last Saturday's Record Store Day, Brand New Toy sees Paul Weller entering the music hall-adjacent neighbourhood of Cockney Rebel and Supertramp before veering into more bluffly soulful areas. The video's striking as well, taking place within a perspective-deluding giant kaleidoscope.
"Unfortunately I won't be taking part in Record Store Day again."
Paul Weller
But there's resentment simmering around the RSD release, with fans unable to buy one from their local vinyl outlet finding numerous copies at inflated prices on auction sites. Writing on his website, Weller has commiserated with those disappointed and expressed his distaste for the speculators, explaining, "Apart from making the record, the rest has very little to do with me but I am disheartened by the whole thing and unfortunately I won't be taking part in Record Store Day again... the greedy touts making a fast buck off genuine fans is disgusting and goes against the whole philosophy of RSD." His wife Hannah Weller has joined the fray, and has been pursuing those seeking to flog the limited edition vinyls on auction sites on her Twitter feed.
The Record Store Day organisers have responded, sympathising with Weller's stance and adding, "We clearly cannot control the activities of members of the public, but the Record Store Day Code Of Conduct makes it clear that any store found to be complicit in unauthorised sales on eBay faces being banned from future events."
Until then, how about a repress of the RSD single to satisfy demand?
