That’s still ENTERTAINMENT
Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler talk frankly about From The Jam – ongoing despite a split – and Bruce explains how his reunion with Paul Weller happened. By Alan Clayson
In 1982, The Jam quit while they were ahead with a UK Number One, Beat Surrender. Within weeks, Paul Weller, the Woking trio’s principal creative pivot – and son of the band’s manager John – had formed the smooth Style Council, who enjoyed moderate success with moderate records for six years before their leader struck out on his own, entering the next century loaded with industry awards and cited as a godfather of Britpop.
What then of drummer Rick Buckler and singing bass player and composer Bruce Foxton? In the immediate wake of The Jam’s sundering, they earned a chart entry each – Bruce with Freak, and Rick, as one of Time UK, with The Cabaret. Though Foxton also notched up two smaller selfpenned hits and penetrated the lower reaches of the album list with 1984’s Touch Sensitive, that, as far as the recordbuying public was concerned, seemed to be the case closed on the “other” personnel of what was once Britain’s most popular group.
Yet both Rick and Bruce have since led fulfilling lives. As well as Foxton’s 15year tenure with the latterday Stiff Little Fingers, he passed through the ranks of The Rhythm Sisters, Casbah Club and lesserknown outfits – while, after Time UK, Buckler linked up with The Highliners before to forming …
by Alan Clayson
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