The Jam
The Jam were a quintessential English rock band who carved out an unparalleled legacy in just five years, dominating the UK charts with their sharp suits and even sharper songs. They merged the raw energy of punk with the melodic sophistication of 1960s mod and soul, creating a distinctly British sound. Their story is one of meteoric rise, artistic integrity, and an unexpected end at the peak of their powers, leaving behind an enduring influence. The Jam achieved immense UK chart success, releasing 18 consecutive Top 40 singles and four number ones before disbanding at their creative zenith. Their distinctive sound fused 1960s beat music, soul, and R&B with the intensity of 1970s punk and new wave, all wrapped in a sharp mod image. Frontman Paul Weller's incisive songwriting and vision were central to the band's identity, laying the groundwork for his legendary solo career.
AI Summary
The Jam were a quintessential English rock band who carved out an unparalleled legacy in just five years, dominating the UK charts with their sharp suits and even sharper songs. They merged the raw energy of punk with the melodic sophistication of 1960s mod and soul, creating a distinctly British sound. Their story is one of meteoric rise, artistic integrity, and an unexpected end at the peak of their powers, leaving behind an enduring influence.
- The Jam achieved immense UK chart success, releasing 18 consecutive Top 40 singles and four number ones before disbanding at their creative zenith.
- Their distinctive sound fused 1960s beat music, soul, and R&B with the intensity of 1970s punk and new wave, all wrapped in a sharp mod image.
- Frontman Paul Weller's incisive songwriting and vision were central to the band's identity, laying the groundwork for his legendary solo career.
The Sound of a Generation
Formed in 1972 in Woking, Surrey, The Jam comprised the iconic trio of Paul Weller on guitar and vocals, Bruce Foxton on bass, and Rick Buckler on drums. Over their short but explosive career, they became one of Britain's most successful bands, releasing six studio albums and one live album.
From their debut in 1977 until their breakup in December 1982, The Jam remarkably landed 18 consecutive Top 40 singles in the UK, including four chart-toppers. Even after their split, re-releases of their first 15 singles all found their way back into the Top 100, a testament to their lasting appeal.
The band masterfully drew from a rich tapestry of stylistic influences — 1970s punk and new wave mingled with the beat music, soul, and rhythm and blues of the 1960s. This blend created their signature sound, known for melodic pop songs, incisive social commentary, and an unmissable mod aesthetic.
The Early Days
The Jam's journey began at Sheerwater Secondary School in Woking in 1972. Paul Weller, initially on bass and lead vocals, started playing with various friends, gradually solidifying the lineup.
In their formative years, their sets were a mix of American rock and roll covers, from Chuck Berry to Little Richard. But a pivotal moment arrived when Weller discovered The Who's debut album, 'My Generation,' sparking a deep fascination with mod culture.
Weller embraced the mod identity, seeing it as a fertile ground for songwriting and a distinctive image. He famously said, "I saw that through becoming a Mod it would give me a base and an angle to write from." This led to a complete immersion in the mod lifestyle — buying suits, riding Lambrettas, and delving into Motown, Stax, and Atlantic records.
The classic trio came together when original guitarist Steve Brookes departed. Paul Weller, who had been playing bass, convinced Bruce Foxton to switch from second guitar to bass duties, completing the iconic lineup that would define The Jam's career.
Breaking Through
Throughout their career, The Jam benefited from the astute management of Paul's father, John Weller, who continued to manage Paul's subsequent ventures until his passing in 2009. This strong family bond helped navigate the cutthroat music industry.
The band officially signed with Polydor Records in February 1977, setting the stage for their national debut. Just a few months later, on April 29th, their electrifying debut single, 'In the City,' hit the airwaves.
Their debut album, also titled 'In the City' and released in May 1977, delivered fast, loud, and pointed songs, fitting squarely into the burgeoning punk scene. Yet, it distinguished itself from contemporaries like The Clash and Sex Pistols with its clear reverence for 1960s rock influences, including covers like Larry Williams' 'Slow Down' and the 'Batman' theme song.
A crucial early exposure came when The Jam joined The Clash's legendary White Riot Tour in May 1977, performing alongside other seminal punk and new wave bands. This tour solidified their place in the UK's burgeoning punk landscape, allowing them to showcase their unique sound to a wider, eager audience.
The Jam's lyrics often tackled social and political themes head-on, from condemning police brutality in 'In the City' to criticizing urban development in 'Bricks and Mortar.' Their early, sometimes ambiguous, sentiments about the British Empire, exemplified in 'Time for Truth,' initially earned them a 'Conservative' label, a stance Weller later publicly distanced himself from.
'This Is The Modern World'
Under pressure to quickly follow up on their debut, The Jam released their second album, 'This Is the Modern World,' later in 1977. While solid, it faced some criticism, particularly regarding Bruce Foxton's songwriting contributions, which became less prominent as Weller cemented his role as the band's primary lyricist and composer.
'All Mod Cons' — A Creative Leap
March 1978 saw the release of 'News of the World,' a Bruce Foxton solo composition and the only Jam A-side written solely by him, reaching No. 27 in the UK charts. However, early sessions for a third album, with Foxton contributing most material, were rejected by producers, prompting a creative pause for Weller to find fresh inspiration.
This period of reflection led to a creative renaissance. The band's fortunes turned with the double A-side single 'David Watts,' a Kinks cover, and the Weller original ''A' Bomb in Wardour Street.' These singles showcased a renewed energy and direction, setting the stage for something special.
Their breakthrough moment arrived with the single 'Down in the Tube Station at Midnight.' Around this time, they streamlined their production team, working exclusively with Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, who played a crucial role in refining their sound. This collaboration culminated in their acclaimed third LP, 'All Mod Cons,' released in November 1978, which marked a significant artistic leap.
Chart Dominance and Global Reach
The Jam's momentum continued with successful non-LP singles like 'Strange Town' and 'When You're Young.' This led into their November 1979 album, 'Setting Sons,' featuring the powerful track 'The Eton Rifles.' The album, originally conceived as a concept album about childhood friends, also marked their first — albeit modest — chart entry in the US.
In 1980, The Jam achieved their first UK No. 1 single with the double A-side 'Going Underground' / 'Dreams of Children.' This landmark achievement solidified their position at the forefront of British music, demonstrating their consistent ability to connect with a mass audience.
'Sound Affects,' released in November 1980, reached No. 2 in the UK and became their most successful album in the US, peaking at No. 72 on the Billboard charts. Paul Weller cited diverse influences for the album, from The Beatles' 'Revolver' to Michael Jackson's 'Off the Wall,' showcasing his expansive musical vision.
The album also featured the acoustic gem 'That's Entertainment,' which, despite being available only as an import single, remarkably climbed to No. 21 on the UK charts. Its enduring quality was recognized globally, with Rolling Stone magazine including it on their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
The Final Chapter
In 1981, The Jam released two more successful non-LP singles, 'Funeral Pyre' and 'Absolute Beginners,' both reaching No. 4 in the UK. These singles continued to showcase their evolving sound and Weller's lyrical prowess, often drawing inspiration from Colin MacInnes' novel of the same name for 'Absolute Beginners.'
Their final studio album, 'The Gift,' released in 1982, was a commercial triumph, soaring to No. 1 in the UK and spending an impressive 16 weeks on the US Billboard charts. The album embraced soul, funk, and Motown styles, most notably with the No. 1 single 'Town Called Malice.'
'Town Called Malice' captured the struggles of a downtrodden English town, set to a vibrant Northern Soul groove that became an instant classic. Its double A-side, 'Precious,' also performed well, showcasing the band's versatility. Their final UK No. 1, 'Beat Surrender,' featured guest vocals from Tracie Young, who would later appear on Paul Weller's next project, The Style Council.
On October 30, 1982, following an extensive world tour, Paul Weller made the shocking announcement that he intended to disband The Jam. Their final television appearances promoting 'Beat Surrender' on 'Top of the Pops' and 'The Tube' were bittersweet moments, marking the end of an era.
The farewell tour included five sold-out nights at Wembley Arena. Due to overwhelming demand, an additional date was added at the Brighton Conference Centre on December 11, 1982, serving as The Jam's very last live performance — a poignant farewell near their Surrey hometown.
The decision to split was entirely Weller's, driven by a desire to avoid artistic stagnation and explore new creative avenues. He famously stated, "I wanted to end it to see what else I was capable of, and I'm still sure we stopped at the right time. We finished at our peak."
This choice, announced by his father and manager, came as a significant shock to Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler, who had hoped to continue with the band. While initially bitter about the sudden end, both members later expressed a degree of understanding, even if not full acceptance, of Weller's decision.
The split created a lasting rift; Foxton didn't speak to Weller for over two decades, and Buckler confirmed in 2015 that he still hadn't spoken to Weller since. In the immediate aftermath, Polydor released a live album, 'Dig the New Breed,' and a month after their final concert, re-released all sixteen singles, nine of which re-entered the UK charts.
Post-Breakup Legacy
The Jam's influence continued well beyond their disbandment, evident in the success of their post-split releases. 'Snap!', their first compilation album in 1983, and 'Greatest Hits' in 1991, both soared to No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart.
In 1997, the five-CD box set 'Direction Reaction Creation,' a comprehensive collection of their studio work and rarities, reached an impressive No. 8 on the UK chart — an unprecedented achievement for a box set. The band's enduring popularity was further solidified when Virgin Radio listeners voted The Jam No. 5 in a poll of the top 100 British music artists of all time in 2002.
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The Jam
The Jam were an English rock band formed in 1972 in Woking, Surrey, consisting of Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler. They released 18 consecutive top 40 singles in the United Kingdom, from their debut in 1977 to their break-up in December 1982, including four number one hits. As of 2007, "That's Entertainment" and "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero?" remain the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK. They released one live album and six studio albums, the last of which, The Gift, reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. When the group disbanded in 1982, their first 15 singles were re-released and all placed within the top 100.
The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1970s punk and new wave and 1960s beat music, soul and rhythm and blues. The trio were known for their melodic pop songs, their distinctly English take on social commentary, and their mod image. The band launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form the Style Council and later started a solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of the Jam's original compositions and played lead guitar, using a Rickenbacker 330. Bruce Foxton provided backing vocals and prominent basslines, which were the foundation of many of the band's songs, including the hits "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight", "The Eton Rifles", "Going Underground" and "Town Called Malice".
History
Formation (1972–1976)
A Rickenbacker 330. Weller frequently recorded and performed live with the Jam using this instrument.
The Jam formed at Sheerwater Secondary School in Woking, Surrey, England, in 1972. The line-up consisted of Paul Weller on bass and lead vocals, with various friends. The name 'The Jam' was reportedly suggested by Weller's sister, Nicky. They played their first gigs at Michael's, a local club. The line-up began to solidify in the mid-1970s with Weller, guitarist/vocalist Steve Brookes and drummer Rick Buckler. In their early years, their sets consisted of covers of early American rock and roll songs by the likes of Chuck Berry and Little Richard. They continued in this vein until Weller discovered the Who's debut album My Generation and became fascinated with mod music. As he said later, "I saw that through becoming a Mod it would give me a base and an angle to write from, and this we eventually did. We went out and bought suits and started playing Motown, Stax and Atlantic covers. I bought a Rickenbacker guitar, a Lambretta GP 150 and tried to style my hair like Steve Marriott's circa '66." Eventually Brookes left the band, but although they advertised for a new guitarist (Gary Webb later known as Gary Numan claims to have failed an audition) he was not replaced. Up to this point Weller had been playing bass and Foxton had been the band's second guitar player; he persuaded Foxton to take over bass duties. The line-up of Weller, Foxton, and Buckler would persist until the end of the Jam's career.
Throughout their career, the Jam were managed by Weller's father, John Weller, who then managed Paul's subsequent career until his death in 2009. The Jam were signed to Polydor Records by Chris Parry in February 1977.
Early recordings (1977)
On 29 April 1977, Polydor released the Jam's debut single, "In the City", which charted in the Top 40 in the UK. On 20 May, the band released their debut album of the same name. The album, like those of the Clash and Sex Pistols, featured fast, loud and pointed songs. What set it apart from the records of those two bands was its more prevalent 1960s rock influences. The Jam covered Larry Williams's "Slow Down" (also covered by the Beatles) and the theme song of the 1960s TV series Batman.
On 1 May 1977, the Jam joined the Clash's White Riot Tour as an opening act, alongside the Buzzcocks, the Slits, Subway Sect, and the Prefects at Guildford Civic Hall and concluded the tour on 30 May 1977 at the California Ballroom in Dunstable.
The Jam had political lyrics, condemning police brutality ("In the City") and expansionist development ("Bricks and Mortar"). One of their most openly political songs, "Time for Truth", bemoaned the decline of the British Empire and expressed disparaging sentiments about "Uncle Jimmy" (the Prime Minister, James Callaghan) in no uncertain terms ("Whatever happened to the great Empire?" / "I think it's time for truth, and the truth is you lost, Uncle Jimmy"). These pro-Empire sentiments and ostentatious displays of the Union Flag began to earn the group the tag of "Conservative". In 1977 Weller told the NME that the Jam would vote Conservative at the next election, but they later visibly changed their attitude.
After the non-LP single "All Around the World" nearly reached the UK Top 10, the Jam, having achieved a notable and loyal following in such a short time, were pressed to produce more material quickly. Their second album, This Is the Modern World, was released later in 1977. Bruce Foxton, generally considered a lesser songwriter than Weller, contributed two songs to the LP ("Don't Tell Them You're Sane" and "London Traffic"), both of which attracted criticism. His composing output gradually decreased, leaving Weller firmly established as the band's chief songwriter.
All Mod Cons (1978)
In March 1978, the Jam released "News of the World", a non-album single that was written and sung by Foxton. It charted at No. 27 in the UK, and was the band's second biggest hit to date. This was the only Foxton solo composition to be released as a Jam A-side. When the band went back into the studio to record a third album of primarily Foxton contributions, their songs were dismissed by producers as poor, and they held off recording an album in hopes that Weller would once again find inspiration. "News of the World" was used in the opening theme of the BBC television show Mock the Week during its extended run.
The Jam released their next single, the double A-side "David Watts"/"'A' Bomb in Wardour Street". "David Watts" was a cover of a Kinks song, throughout which Weller and Foxton traded lead vocals. "'A' Bomb in Wardour Street" was a Weller original. It became their most successful 7" since "All Around the World".
It was not until their next single, "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight", that the Jam really regained their former critical acclaim. Around this time, the Jam slimmed their team of two producers to one, Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, who helped develop the group's sound. In November, the Jam released their third LP, All Mod Cons. The twelve tracks included three of the tracks previously released as singles ("David Watts", "'A' Bomb In Wardour Street", and "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight") and two songs previously rejected for single release, the manic "Billy Hunt" and the acoustic ballad "English Rose".
Setting Sons and Sound Affects (1979–1981)
Following two successful and critically acclaimed non-LP singles, "Strange Town" and "When You're Young", the band released "The Eton Rifles" in advance of their new album, Setting Sons, released in November 1979. The LP also saw their first chart entry in the US, albeit at 137 on the Billboard 200. The album began life as a concept album about three childhood friends, though in the end many of the songs did not relate to this theme.
The band's first single of 1980 was intended to be "Dreams of Children". Due to a labelling error, however, the A- and B-sides of the single were reversed, resulting in the more conventional "Going Underground", the single's planned flipside, getting much more airplay and attention. The single was eventually officially recognised (and listed) as a double A-side by the time the release reached No. 1 in the UK.
Sound Affects, released in November 1980, was a No. 2 hit in the UK and peaked at No. 72 on the US Billboard charts, the band's most successful album in the US. Weller said that he was influenced by the Beatles' Revolver and Michael Jackson's Off the Wall. It included the acoustic "That's Entertainment". According to Weller he wrote "That's Entertainment", a bitter slice-of-life commentary on the drudgery of modern working-class life, in around 15 minutes upon returning inebriated from the pub. Although only available as an import single, it peaked at No. 21 on the UK charts. Despite the group's lack of commercial success in America, it made American magazine Rolling Stone's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time.
"Start!", released before the album, became another No. 1 single. Commenting on its similar bassline to The Beatles' Revolver cut "Taxman", Foxton said "Basslines like "Start!" just come to you. It’s not an intentional thing...it’s not quite like "Taxman", note-wise – you couldn’t sue me for it."
The Gift and break-up (1981–1982)
Two non-LP singles, "Funeral Pyre" and "Absolute Beginners" (named after Colin Macinnes' novel of the same title) were released in 1981, both reaching No. 4 on the UK charts.
The 1982 release The Gift – the band's final studio LP – was a commercial success, peaking at No. 1 on the UK charts while spending an unprecedented 16 weeks on the US Billboard charts. It featured several soul, funk, and Motown-stylised songs;, most notably the No. 1 single "Town Called Malice". While the song was described by the Irish Independent as "a class-war tirade set to a post-punk Northern Soul groove", it was in reality a tale about dealing with hardship in a small, downtrodden English town. "Town Called Malice" is one of a handful of The Jam songs Weller still performs (along with "That's Entertainment", "Man in the Corner Shop", "Strange Town", "Art School", "Start!" and "In the Crowd").
When "Town Called Malice" reached number one in the UK the group had the honour of performing both it and its double A-side, "Precious" on Top of the Pops. After the string-laden soul ballad "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)" peaked at No. 2, the band followed with their finale and another No. 1, "Beat Surrender". The latter featured Tracie Young on vocals; a few months later, she also guested on the Style Council's debut single "Speak Like a Child".
On 30 October 1982, after a world tour, Weller announced his intention to disband the Jam. They also made their final appearances on Top of the Pops and The Tube to promote "Beat Surrender". The tour included five consecutive nights at the Wembley Arena. The last date on the original itinerary had been scheduled for 9 December 1982 at Guildford Civic Hall, close to the band's hometown of Woking. Due to ticket demand, an additional date was added at the Brighton Conference Centre on 11 December 1982 for their last performance.
The decision to split was solely Weller's. Explaining at the time that he disliked the idea of continuing for as long as possible simply because they were successful, he later told The Daily Mirror in advance of a 2015 Sky documentary on the band, "I wanted to end it to see what else I was capable of, and I'm still sure we stopped at the right time. I'm proud of what we did but I didn't want to dilute it, or for us to get embarrassing by trying to go on forever. We finished at our peak. I think we had achieved all we wanted or needed to, both commercially and artistically."
Weller's decision to move on, announced by his father, the band's manager, at an extraordinary band meeting in the summer of 1982, "came as a shock" to Buckler and Foxton, who wanted to keep the band together. Buckler told the Woking News and Mail in 2012: "It was like we were going to be driving over a cliff at the end of the year, and you keep thinking 'Well, maybe he'll change his mind'." Both Buckler and Foxton described the experience as bitter, but in later years both expressed understanding, if not complete acceptance.
Following the split, Foxton did not speak to Weller for over 20 years, and Buckler said in 2015 that he still had not spoken to Weller since, despite repeated attempts by Buckler and Foxton in 1983 and 1984 to meet up with and talk to Weller. As the farewell tour neared its end, Polydor released a live album titled Dig the New Breed, a collection of songs from various concert performances over the band's five-year career which, while commercially successful, met with mixed reviews. The month after the final concert in Brighton, Polydor re-released all sixteen of the band's singles, nine of which re-entered the UK charts on 22 January 1983.
Post-split releases
The Jam
Snap! was the first The Jam compilation album released after the band split, reaching No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart in 1983. This was followed by Greatest Hits, released in 1991, which also peaked at No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart.
A five-CD box set Direction Reaction Creation, featuring all of the Jam's studio material (plus a disc of rarities) peaked at No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart upon its release in 1997; an unprecedented achievement for a box set. In 2002, Virgin Radio counted down the top 100 British music artists of all-time as polled by listeners and the Jam were No. 5 on the list. Weller made two other appearances in the poll; as part of The Style Council at No. 93 and as a solo artist at No. 21.
Post-split careers
The Jam
Paul Weller performing in the 2000s
In early 1983, Weller announced the formation of a new band, the Style Council, a duo with keyboard player Mick Talbot, formerly of the minor mod revival band the Merton Parkas. They would eventually split in 1989. He subsequently embarked on a successful career as a solo artist.
Following a short stint recording demos with Jake Burns and Dolphin Taylor, previously of Irish punk outfit Stiff Little Fingers, Foxton released his debut single "Freak" on Arista Records. Entering the UK Singles Chart at No. 34 on 30 July 1983, it eventually peaked at No. 23 and secured an appearance on Top of the Pops. Foxton's solo album Touch Sensitive followed in 1984, but subsequent singles "This Is the Way", "It Makes Me Wonder" and "My Imagination (S.O.S.)" failed to enter the Top 40. A final single "Play This Game to Win" was released on Harvest Records in November 1986.
Foxton went on to replace Ali McMordie in a reformed Stiff Little Fingers in 1990, remaining with the band until January 2006, when he quit to pursue other projects. Later that year he joined Simon Townshend (Pete Townshend's brother), and Mark Brzezicki and Bruce Watson (both of Big Country) in the band Casbah Club, which released an album called Venustraphobia.
After the Jam split, Buckler formed Time UK with Jimmy Edwards and Ray Simone, formerly of Masterswitch, ex-Tom Robinson Band guitarist Danny Kustow and (briefly) former Radio Stars/Sparks bassist Martin Gordon. The band released three singles "The Cabaret", "Playground of Privilege" and "You Won't Stop" before folding. In 1986, Buckler and Foxton released the single "Entertain Me" under the name Sharp.
In 2006, Buckler, who had not been playing for several years after Sharp quit, formed a band named the Gift, playing material from The Jam with musicians Russell Hastings and David Moore. Hastings, who spent many years as a local musician including a couple of years in a Jam tribute band, took on guitar and lead vocal duties. In 2006, Foxton performed on stage with The Gift at some of their concerts, and went on to join the band as bassist, with Moore moving to second guitar and keyboards. At this point the group changed its name to From the Jam. In a 2007 press release, Foxton and Buckler announced they were working on a new album and UK tour, which led to press speculation about a full or partial reunion of the Jam, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of In the City. Weller did not take part, and has publicly expressed his lack of interest in any type of reformation. In a 2006 interview with BBC Radio 6 Music, Weller stated a reunion of the Jam would "never, ever happen", and that reformations are "sad". He said: "Me and my children would have to be destitute and starving in the gutter before I'd even consider that, and I don't think that'll happen anyway ... The Jam's music still means something to people and a lot of that's because we stopped at the right time, it didn't go on and become embarrassing."
After the Jam split, Weller and Foxton reportedly did not speak to one another for 20 years. In June 2006, it was reported that Weller and Foxton met backstage at The Who's Hyde Park concert, and a ten-minute conversation ended with an embrace. Foxton claimed that the two became friends again in 2009 and this led to them collaborating for two tracks on Weller's solo album Wake Up the Nation in early 2010. In May 2010, Weller and Foxton appeared together on stage for the first time in 28 years at the Royal Albert Hall in London, performing three songs together. Foxton ruled out a Jam reunion.
In popular culture
The Jam
From 26 June to 27 September 2015, an exhibition entitled The Jam: About the Young Idea ran at Somerset House in London. For the first time, all three members of the band, the Weller family and music archivist Den Davis opened up their archives for the exhibition. Despite Foxton's reported hopes that the opening would bring all three together on stage for the first time since their 1982 split, Buckler did not attend. NME reported at the time that, while Foxton and Weller apparently reconciled no later than 2010, "Weller and Buckler are said to have not been in the same room since their band’s demise." The exhibition was curated by Tory Turk, Nicky Weller (Paul's sister) and Russell Reader.
In September 2015, The Jam: About the Young Idea, the documentary film, directed by Bob Smeaton, was broadcast on Sky Arts. The documentary was released on DVD, packaged with a recording of their 1980 live performance on German TV show Rockpalast.
About the Young Idea was an exhibition held at the Cunard Building in Liverpool, which was opened by Buckler and ran from 1 July to 6 October 2016. Curators Nicky Weller, Den Davies and Russell Reader drew together a wide range of memorabilia including personal items provided by the band members. A free app allowed visitors to engage with the exhibits by scanning VCodes.
This Is the Modern World was an exhibition held at Valley Gardens, Brighton, running from 1 August to 29 August 2022. Curated by Nicky Weller, it included a collection of previously unseen Jam and Style Council memorabilia.
An extract from the chorus of the song "News of the World" was used as the theme tune for the British satirical panel game Mock the Week.
Members
The Jam
• Paul Weller – lead and backing vocals, lead guitar, bass, keyboards (1972–1982) • Rick Buckler – drums, percussion (1972–1982; died 2025) • Bruce Foxton – backing and lead vocals, bass, rhythm guitar (1974–1982)
• Steve Brookes – lead guitar, vocals (1972–1975) • Dave Waller – rhythm guitar (1972–1973)
• Tracie Young – backing vocals on "Beat Surrender" • Jennie Matthias (née McKeown) duetted on vocals on "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had to Swallow)" • Afrodiziak – background vocals • Peter Wilson – piano, drums, keyboards, Hammond organ • Steve Nichol – trumpet, Hammond organ • Luke Tunney – trumpet • Martin Drover – trumpet • Keith Thomas – saxophone, soprano sax • Russell Henderson – steel drums
Discography
The Jam
• In the City (1977) • This Is the Modern World (1977) • All Mod Cons (1978) • Setting Sons (1979) • Sound Affects (1980) • The Gift (1982)