![]() While whaling has been popular in many regions around the world, in New Zealand, whalers practiced what’s known as “shore-based” whaling, which requires them to process the whale carcasses on land, not at sea. Their employees, thus, became known as “wellermen.” From 1833, the Weller brothers made a name for themselves, supplying whalers in New Zealand with what they needed. The Weller brothers were known then for shipping many important items, including luxury supplies like rum and gun powder. In 1831, the British-born trio of Weller brothers-Edward, George, and Joseph-who had emigrated to Sydney, Australia two years prior, created a whaling station at Otakou on the South Island of New Zealand. ![]() Whaling in New Zealand dates back to the late 1700s through the mid-20th Century. Check out Evans’ rendition of the song below. In 2021, Scottish singer Nathan Evans earned a viral hit on the social media platform TikTok for his cover of “The Wellerman.” The popularity of the track also led to a boon in popularity around sea songs, in general. The title of the song is a reference to supply ships owned by the Weller brothers, who were some of the earliest European settlers of the Otago region of New Zealand. Known as “Soon May the Wellerman Come” as well as “Wellerman” or “The Wellerman,” the sea shanty from New Zealand dates back to 1860.Ī long song with lots of lyrics, the song likely provided a great deal of meaning and accompaniment to long days in the country as shore whalers hunted their giant sea mammals for flesh and oil. So, it’s with this as the backdrop that the sea ballad, “The Wellerman,” the meaning of which is both curious and historical, was born in New Zealand 150 years ago. ![]() Just as importantly, many observers, while occasionally criticising the trad-rock nature of his music, acknowledged that Weller was one of the few rock veterans that had managed to stay vital within the second decade of his career.The work song kept you going. Then contemporary bands like Ocean Colour Scene were citing him as an influence. He launched his solo career in 1992 and by the mid 1990s, he had released three successful albums which were both critically acclaimed and massively popular in England. Weller’s solo records were more organic and rootsy than the Style Council, which helped him regain his popularity within Britain. But by then, Weller couldn’t get a record contract in the UK, where he had previously been worshipped.Īs a solo artist, Weller returned to soul music as an inspiration, cutting it with the progressive, hippie tendencies of Traffic. As The Style Council’s career progressed, Weller’s interest in soul moved towards an infatuation with jazz-pop and house music, which led to the gradual erosion of his audience and the eventual split of The Style Council in 1990. As the leader of The Jam he fronted the most popular British band of the punk era, influencing legions of English rockers that ranged from his mod-revival contemporaries to Smiths in the 1980s and Oasis in the 1990s.ĭuring the final days of The Jam he developed a fascination with Motown and soul music, which led him to form the sophisti-pop group Style Council in 1983. He was a central figure in the Mod revival. In England, he is recognised as something of a national institution yet, because much of his songwriting is rooted in English culture, he has remained essentially a national rather than an international star. British rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist.īorn: in Sheerwater (Near Woking), Surrey, England, UK.Įnglish singer, songwriter, and previous leader of two bands: The Jam and The Style Council.
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