The Mumper

The Mumper has been made into a short film. Check You Tube or The Mumper on Myspace for up-to-the-minute information. 

 The Mumper was written by myself and Mark Baxter, my co author on The Fashion Of Football book which came out three years ago. The Fashion Of Football gave Mark the book bug (poor sod) and for his next project he really wanted to pay tribute to his father (God rest his soul) and the South London culture he grew up in, a world of banter and friendship, a world of dodgy dealings, of tough men and few options, a world now disappearing from view. To realise this dream Mark asked me for help. I gave it. Here's how it worked.

Mark would write a chapter and send it to me.  I would then give my opinion, maybe some ideas, plot twists etc and send it back. This went on for at leats two years.  The story is set in 1985.  Mark was then
working on the print and this allowed us to talk about the famous Wapping dispute of that time.  The story features characters Mark has known all his life but the fiction occurs when they buy a racehorse they name The Mumper.  You can not guess the rest.  For me the book is true, authentic, funny, touching, and very satisfying.  I am very glad to have been a part of  it and know in my soul it would make the most amazing film.     Paolo Hewitt, London; 3rd Sept 2007

Download the 14 page pdf of the 1st chapter from the book. What's a Mumper I hear you ask? It's an old English word for a Ponce or Scrounger, as in "You're a Mumper son". The story of The Mumper is set in 1985, and features seven South London Characters who get involved in life dreams and schemes. On one page you'll piss yourself laughing...on another page you'll cry your eye's out. It's all in here... Life, Death and everything in between.

The Changing Man

Video link to a video interview with me (6 minutes) discussing the Changing Man on the Book Zone. 

Article in The Sun - 13th July.

Kiss 'n Well-er biography ...

Paolo reveals: “This is the frankest ever portrait of Paul. It’s not a ‘he is wonderful’ book but a ‘how he is’ book — flaws and greatness revealed.”

Oasis "On the road" book

Interesting to see used copies of my Oasis book selling for £125 & £137 on Amazon!

Paul Weller - synopsis

It takes a unique approach in looking at Paul's life and music. Once, when Hewitt interviewed Weller for a music magazine, he complained - 'I don't know why people ask me all these questions. All the answers are in my songs.' Largely unnoticed, Weller has used thirty-years of lyrics to explore his personal history and beliefs. Taking as his starting point these lyrics, alongside a lifetime's friendship, Paolo Hewitt shows us the real Paul Weller, the man inside the music.

Bantam Press; ISBN-13: 978-0593058756. RRP £18.99

Decades of Material

Paolo is the author of  over 15 books, the writer of hundreds of articles and spokesman on countless music TV shows.  You can find and order all available books on Amazon direct from here. 

 

Need to contact Paolo?

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The Cappuccino Kid

Never officially confirmed as the Cappuccino Kid but the rumours continue. Look out for the Kid's latest tale exclusively in an excellent book on The Style Council - Mr Cool's Dream - The Complete history of The Style Council. 

For larger projects contact Paolos agent

Mike Leigh : 020 7935 5500 | mike@mikeleighassoc.com

Paolo is a much sought after writer and commentator on British popular culture.

In 2007 he had two of his books published- ‘The Changing Man' the definitive biography on Paul Weller and ‘The Mumper' a fictional account set in the mid 80's

Paolo first came to prominence when he joined ‘Melody Maker' in 1979 where he stayed for four years before joining the ‘NME'. At the same time his first book was published ‘The Jam: A Beat Concerto'.

In 1990, he left the NME and started contributing for Vogue Germany, Fare Musica in Italy and The Sunday Times.

In 1993 his first novel was published ‘Heaven's Promise', the first of its kind to focus on Britain's Acid House scene. In 1995 his third book ‘The Small Faces: The Young Mod's Forgotten Story' was published. Following it's publication he was asked to write the major biography on the band Oasis- ‘Getting High: The Adventure of Oasis, and the following year ‘The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw- The Robin Friday Story' was published.

In 1999 ‘Forever The People- Six Months on the Road' with Oasis was published as was his anthology of Sixties writing ‘The Sharper Word'

2000 saw ‘Alan McGee and the Story of Creation Records and ‘The Soul Stylists- Forty Years of Modernism' published and in 2001 Paolo's autobiography ‘The Looked After Kid- My Life in a Children's Home' followed by the BBC shooting a 45 minute documentary on Paolo as part of their Taking Care season.

‘All Too Beautiful' followed as well as a ten thousand word essay on the shirt manufacturer Ben Sherman. In 2004 ‘The Fashion of Football' was published and has just been released on paperback.

Copyright Paolo Hewitt, 2008.