The Jam (music group)

The Jam is a British punk band from the 1970s and 1980s. While the Jam enjoyed success in the United Kingdom, it failed to get the same attention in the United States. By the early 1980s, at the height of the band's popularity, the Jam disbanded and its members went their separate ways. The Jam's sound, however, continued to influence many British bands throughout the years.

Origins

English musician Paul Weller formed the Jam in 1975 when he was in high school. At this time, the band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Weller, drummer Rick Buckler, bassist Bruce Foxton, and guitarist Steve Brookes. Brookes left the band early on, and the remaining members never replaced him. The trio spent most of 1976 playing small venues and getting its name out in the local London music scene.

Polydor Records signed the Jam to a recording contract in early 1977. The band's first single was "In the City." It had some success and made the UK Top 40 list. The Jam released its first album, In the City, the following month. The album, which took the band only eleven days to record, contained a mix of original songs and covers of popular R&B songs. Critics compared the Jam's punk sound to the early days of the Who.

The Jam then worked on a second album, This Is the Modern World, which was released in 1977. The album made it to the twenty-second spot on the UK Top 40 list. Critics, however, thought the album sounded too much like the band's first. The Jam toured the United States and the United Kingdom through the end of 1977. Neither leg of the tour was successful. The UK tour ended when the band members got into a fight with a group of rugby players at a hotel in Leeds, England. Weller was injured in the fight and charged with assault.

Continued Career

The Jam toured the United States again in 1978. It opened for the Blue Oyster Cult, but this tour—like the last U.S. tour—was unsuccessful. The Jam was much more successful in the United Kingdom. Many British bands began to copy its unique sound. All Mod Con, the Jam's third album, was released in late 1978. The album's sound was more pop than punk. It hit number six on the UK charts but failed to net any fanfare in America. The single "Eton Rifles" hit number three on the UK Top Ten chart. In 1979, the group released its fourth album, Setting Sons. Like the band's previous albums, Setting Sons was a hit in the United Kingdom—but it also attracted attention in the United States.

The Jam had its first number-one song in the United Kingdom with "Going Underground" in 1980. It had another number-one hit with the single "Start" from its 1980 album Sound Affects, which was successful in both the United Kingdom and the United States. Its singles "Funeral Pyre" and "Absolute Beginners" featured a more American soul and R&B sound.

The Jam's popularity was on the rise—but so was Weller's drinking. Weller had a nervous breakdown while recording the Jam's sixth album. He finally stopped drinking and regained his focus on music. The band released the single "Town Called Malice/Precious" in early 1982, ahead of its album. The single became the Jam's third number-one hit in the United Kingdom. The Gift was released in March, 1982. It was very successful, finally capturing the top spot on the UK music charts. It spawned the hit song "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero."

Breakup and Aftermath

The Jam was finally enjoying great success, but Weller was unhappy with the band's direction. After a nasty fight, the Jam broke up in October 1982—at the height of its success. Band members decided to play a farewell tour, and its single "Beat Surrender" hit number one on the UK charts during this time. In December, 1982, the Jam released its final album, Dig the New Breed, a compilation of live tracks from the band's career. Polydor re-released the Jam's sixteen singles in 1983. Each song was moderately successful on the music charts.

The Jam band members split on bad terms and went in different directions. Foxton worked on a solo career and released the album Touch Sensitive. Buckler played with another band. Foxton and Buckler were on speaking terms, but neither spoke to Weller for many years.

Meanwhile, Weller had formed a new band called Style Council with Mick Talbot, who played in a few other London bands. Style Council was not successful and eventually disbanded in the late 1980s. Weller then enjoyed a moderately successful solo career into the 2010s. He released his twelfth solo album, Saturns Pattern, in 2015.

After more than two decades of not speaking, Foxton and Weller performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2010. As of 2015, Buckler and Weller still had not spoken.

The Jam was featured in an exhibition in mid-2015 at the Somerset House in London. The exhibition featured personal items from the band members such as videos, photographs, and instruments. Also in 2015, Buckler released his autobiography, That's Entertainment: My Life in the Jam. While fans have hoped for a reunion throughout the years, Weller has continued to say he would never reform the Jam.

Bibliography

Britton, Luke Morgan. "The Jam Member Hopes Band Will Reunite at New London Exhibition." NME. Time Inc. 25 June 2015. Web. 9 Jan. 2016. http://www.nme.com/news/the-jam/86446

"The Jam." AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Web. 9 Jan. 2016. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-jam-mn0000084053

"The Jam." Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone. Web. 9 Jan. 2016. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/the-jam/

That's Entertainment: My Life in the Jam. Amazon UK. Amazon.com, Inc. Web. 9 Jan. 2016. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rick-Buckler-Autobiography/dp/1783057947/ref=sr‗1‗1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1420643671&sr=1-1&keywords=rick+buckler+autobiography