Paul Weller disgusted with Record Store Day; UK shop busted for selling on eBay

Paul Weller was among the artists who released RSD14 exclusives, his being a 7″ of new single “Brand New Toy,” which will be included on his new best-of compilation, More Modern Classics. There were 750 copies released worldwide and Weller was dismayed to see so many turn up immediately on Ebay. (His were not the only ones.) He won’t be participating in Record Store Day again. From his website:

This is a message to all the fans who couldn’t get the new vinyl single on Record Store Day and/or paid a lot of money for a copy on eBay.

I agree with all of you who have sent messages expressing your anger and disappointment at the exploitation of these “limited editions” by touts.

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.

It’s such a shame because as you know I am a big supporter of independent record stores but the greedy touts making a fast buck off genuine fans is disgusting and goes against the whole philosophy of RSD.

There were copies of my single on eBay the day before Record Store Day and I’ve heard stories of people queuing outside their local record shop only to be told there were none left at opening time!

It only takes a few to spoil a wonderful concept for everyone else. Shame on those touts.

Don’t support their trade and don’t let them use Record Store Day to ruin the very thing it’s designed to support.

Onwards. PW

PS. I’d like to say thank you for all the positive, supportive comments on our privacy case recently. Bless ya.

One of the copies of the 7″ that turned up on eBay was linked to an account run by UK shop Townsend Records. Weller’s wife, Hannah, discovered this herself. The store says “this matter is under investigation.”

On the more positive, “Brand New Toy” is a nice little piece of Small Faces/Kinks style Britpop. More Modern Classics is out in June and you can check out the kaleidoscopic video for “Brand New Toy” below…

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Paul Weller – Brand New Toy