The Jam star said he was getting a lift in his dad’s pal Ronnie’s van – who kept the beast as a pet as he reveals the reason he is taking a step back from touring after feeling a sense of panic
Paul Weller has revealed he was attacked by a lion on the way to a gig.
The former frontman with The Jam said he was getting a lift in his dad’s pal Ronnie’s van – who kept the beast as a pet. John Weller had called on his mate when his son’s band were stuck for a lift to a gig in Surrey with the big cat on board.
Paul, 67, said: “Yeah, I mean, it wasn’t fully grown at that point. Yeah, so Ronnie would drive the van and the lion would sit in the passenger seat. You couldn’t get too comfortable, though.
“You had to watch that. Because one time, we were sitting in the back and I leant on the back of the passenger seat. Next thing I know, the f***ing lion’s gone for me. He f***ing went for me! I nearly s*** myself, man. Attacked by a lion!”
The You Do Something To Me singer said he had to share a ride with the animal on the way home too. He joked: “Well, Ronnie just dropped us off and came back later. With the lion, yeah.
“He kept it for a few years and then I think he had to give it up because it was getting too big… you know, once the neighbours started disappearing…”
Meanwhile Paul told Uncut magazine that while he is putting out new music, he is happy to take a break from touring for now. The Modfather said he is spending quality time with his second wife Hannah and their three children John Paul, Bowie and Nova instead.
He admitted: “I’m just enjoying spending more time with the kids and the feeling of not panicking every morning, waking up and thinking, ‘Where are we tonight?’, stomach churning.
“I just need a break from that. You know what? I just think it’ll always be like that. I was talking to Johnny Marr and he said the same thing. Every time you wake up, you’re anxious and prickly.”
Only last month we reported how a big cat is feared to be on the prowl near Ed Sheeran’s country estate. The Perfect hitmaker lives at the remote property with his wife Cherry Seaborn and their two daughters. But a black panther-like feline was spotted in the countryside less than five miles away.
A resident spotted it and took the snaps on their mobile phone. It was spotted in the town of Eye, north of Ipswich, Suffolk. Matt Salusbury, who runs the Big Cats of Suffolk website said: “The witness told me they’d seen a large black animal walking up and down along the tree line at the end of a field behind their garden.
“The distance from where they were to the animal when they photographed it was a good few minutes walk.
“They observed it for more than five minutes before it sat down with its head up.”
The photos show a big, black animal by the tree line. The beast then vanished out of view.
The chilling sighting was on April 23 but has only just come to light. Previously, a local heard growling around the nearby village of Mendlesham.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
