The Strypes support Paul Weller at Abbey Road Studios

The Strypes supported Paul Weller for a British television show at the Beatles' old Abbey Road studio last week.

Weller is such a fan of the Cavan four-piece that when he was approached by Channel 4 to play the TV special, there was only one band he had in mind to fill the support slot.

It is believed that the programme sponsors were eager to save on expenses of flights and accommodation by booking a British band for the undercard slot, but Weller refused to accept anyone other than The Strypes.  

"It was a personal request," Strypes' manager Niall Walsh told the Celt. "He insisted that The Strypes would be the act, so that was great news for us. They (Weller's management) really made it clear that it was his wish that The Strypes would be the band, and the only band he would agree to playing the support slot." 

Guitarist Josh has heard through new pal Miles Kane, co-frontman of The Last Shadow Puppets, who has worked with Weller in the studio, that the first thing the so-called Modfather does when he has new performers recording with him is to show them The Strypes perform on YouTube.  

"He's just raving about them," said Niall, who is also the father of drummer Evan. "He sees a lot of himself in the band; he was that age when he started The Jam, and his dad was the manager as well.  

The former frontman of The Jam was recently bigging them up in an NME interview and even compared them to The Rolling Stones. However, it's a different set of legends who are in the minds of The Strypes ahead of Friday's concert at Abbey Road - the lads are Beatles mad and their first EP contained two Fab Four covers. "It's a lifetime's ambition of us all realised," says Niall. "To even get in through the door!”  

"Two months ago we did the tourist thing, where we went to the zebra crossing and got the boys to walk across it for the craic - but we thought it would be years before we'd ever get through the door." 

The Strypes played 30 minutes in front of an invited audience of 200, and Weller played for 90 minutes. The show will be pared down to a 30/45 minute TV special to be aired on Wednesday November 14, but sadly it isn't scheduled to feature The Strypes. However, their full performance will be made available to view online.

Ahead of Friday's gig they played a warm-up in Camden Town's Hawley Arms, where Amy Winehouse made her breakthrough.  

"Already there's more than 50 industry people coming to the gig so it's possibly the hottest buzz for any band since The Arctic Monkeys," enthused Niall.  

In the meantime The Strypes are considering whether to release any new material in the coming weeks - which would be their first since April's 'Young Gifted & Blue'. 

They have already recorded 14 tracks, which includes a number of original songs that fit with the band's style, being "very much rhythm and blues". The tracks were produced by Squeeze pal Chris Difford, who, of course, shared the Cafe Sessions stage with them recently. 

"They have material in the can that they have recorded with him (Difford); potentially an EP or album, the band have yet to decide," said Niall.