A reunion for The Jam is still not a possibility because of drummer Rick Buckler. Founding members Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton are great mates these days but Rick is now the one missing in action.
Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton renewed their friendship in recent years and according to Bruce are getting on better than ever. “Our friendship has developed over the years and it got better and better,” he tells Noise11.com. “I played on his Wake Up The Nation album and he played on my Back In The Room album. In 2010 we played together on stage and it was very emotional. It was the first time I played with Paul since The Jam days. When I was ready to go into the studio I went into Paul’s studio and he often popped in and out and played on some tracks and did a great job. It is lovely to be mates again and working together”.
Foxton had been touring From The Jam with The Jam’s drummer Rick Buckler but then Rick suddenly left without explanation. “When Rick decided to hang up his sticks it came as a bit of a surprise because he sent me an email,” Bruce says. “I kind of expected a phone-call. To this day I still don’t know why he decided to leave. Having not being even able to chat to him about it, it is a bit of a mystery. I literally haven’t heard from him since that email.”
Since The Jam disbanded Bruce Foxton has played with Paul Weller and he has played with Rick Buckler but the three have never reunited as The Jam. “I’ve played with Rick on stage and I’ve played with Paul on stage but getting all three of us together would be a bit tricky,” he said.
While there may never be a reunion for The Jam, Bruce is continuing to tour the music of The Jam in From The Jam with Mark Brzezicki and Russell Hastings. “I wanted to continue and will do so until I am not physically able or people don’t want to know anymore,” Bruce said.
From The Jam will head to Australia at the end of this month. Dates presented by Noise11.com are:
THE CAPITOL PERTH – THUR 31 JAN
www.heatseeker.com.au or www.oztix.com.au
HI FI BRISANE – FRI 1 FEB
http://www.thehifi.com.au/ or www.moshtix.com.au
HI FI MELBOURNE – SAT 2 FEB
http://www.thehifi.com.au/ or www.moshtix.com.au
HI FI SYDNEY – SUN 3 FEB
http://www.thehifi.com.au/ or www.moshtix.com.au
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The From The Jam setlist from December 15 in Brighton, UK was:
In The City (from In The City, 1977)
Art School (from In The City, 1977)
I’ve Changed My Address (from In The City, 1977)
I Got By In Time (from In The City, 1977)
Away From The Numbers (from In The City, 1977)
Batman Theme (from In The City, 1977)
Non-Stop Dancing (from In The City, 1977)
Time For Truth (from In The City, 1977)
Takin’ My Love (from In The City, 1977)
Down in the Tube Station at Midnight (from All the Mod Cons, 1978)
The Modern World (from This Is The Modern World, 1977)
David Watts (from All the Mod Cons, 1978)
Going Underground (single, 1980)
The Butterfly Collector (b-side of Strange Town, 1979)
Number Six (from Back In The Room, 2010)
Window Shopping (from Back In The Room, 2010)
Ghosts (from The Gift, 1982)
Trying To Find My Way Home (new From The Jam song)
That’s Entertainment (from Sound Effects, 1980)
The Eton Rifles (from Setting Sons, 1979)
Strange Town (single, 1979)
When You’re Young (single, 1979)
Beat Surrender (single, 1982)
Town Called Malace (from The Gift, 1982)