The Jam

Mod / punk trio The Jam came to prominence in the UK during the punk era and became one of the most popular bands in their homeland in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Formed in Woking, Surrey, England in 1972, The Jam was founded by singer / bassist Paul Weller alongside several friends including drummer Rick Buckler, guitarist Dave Waller, and guitarist Steve Brookes. After Waller left in 1973, Bruce Foxton replaced him the following year. However, Brookes left in 1975, and Foxton moved to bass while Weller took over as the group’s sole guitarist. Aligning themselves with the burgeoning punk movement, The Jam stood out from the other bands by dressing in sharp suits while openly professing their love for 1960s rock and pop. Signed to Polydor Records, the trio released their debut single, “In the City,” in 1977. Lifted from the album of the same name, the song’s bass hook was rumored to be the inspiration behind the chord progression for the Sex Pistols classic “Holidays in the Sun.” The Jam became one of the punk movement’s most popular bands alongside The Clash and Sex Pistols. However, by the time of The Jam’s third album, All Mod Cons (1978), The Jam had moved away from punk and single-handedly started the Mod Revival movement. While they had a devoted fanbase in the US, The Jam’s music was distinctly British, and they became immensely popular in the UK and Europe. Each subsequent album charted higher than the ones before – Setting Sons (1979) reached number 4 and Sound Affects (1980) hit number 2 – leading to the band’s final album, The Gift (1982), reaching number 1 on the UK album chart. The Jam had four singles reach the top of the UK Singles chart – “Going Underground” (1980), “Start” (1980), “Town Called Malice” and “Beat Surrender” (1982) – alongside five other hits that reached the Top 10. Paul Weller decided to break up the band at the height of their success and The Jam broke up after a farewell tour in 1982. After The Jam’s split, Paul Weller formed The Style Council and then undertook a successful solo career. Rick Buckler joined a band called Time UK, which also included former members of bands such as Masterswitch, the Tom Robinson Band, and Sniff ‘n’ the Tears. Bruce Foxton pursued a solo career before joining Irish punk icons Stiff Little Fingers. In 2007, joined forces with former bandmate Rick Buckler and singer/guitarist Russell Hastings in From the Jam, a touring band that focused on The Jam’s catalog. After touring together for several years, Buckler quit the trio and Foxton and Hastings continued until Foxton announced his retirement in 2025. Rick Buckler died on February 17, 2025, at the age of 69.