The Jam

The Jam were an English punk rock/mod revival band active in the late 1970s and early 1980s. more...

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They were one of the most popular groups of the day, achieving 18 straight Top 40 singles in the UK from their debut in 1977 to their swansong in 1982, including four #1 hits. Two of these eighteen singles were available on an import-only basis; they remain the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK. They also released six albums in their day, the last of which, The Gift, hit #1 on the UK album charts.

Massively popular in Britain, as well as much of the rest of Europe and beyond, they never gained much commercial success in North America, but they did retain a considerable cult following.

They drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including punk rock, British Invasion, American soul, mod music, and even English psychedelia. Despite the group's limited fame in the United States, they remain an influence on American groups such as Green Day.

Launching the career of singer, guitarist, and songwriter Paul Weller, who remains a successful solo artist, the trio was known for its melodic pop songs, distinctly English flavour, and mod image. Weller wrote and sang most of the group’s original compositions, and played lead Rickenbacker guitar. Bruce Foxton played unusually prominent bass. His basslines are the foundation of many of the group’s songs, including the hits "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight", "The Eton Rifles", and "Town Called Malice". Foxton also provided backing vocals. Rick Buckler played drums.

History

Formation (1972-1976)

The Jam formed in Woking, Surrey, England in 1972. The line-ups were very fluid at this stage, consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Paul Weller and his various friends at Sheerwater Secondary School. The line-up began to solidify in the mid 1970s with Weller, guitarist Steve Brookes, drummer Rick Butler, and bassist Bruce Foxton.

In their early years, their sets consisted of early American rock and roll covers by the likes of Chuck Berry and Little Richard. They continued in this vein until Weller discovered The Who’s "My Generation" and became fascinated with mod music and lifestyle. 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 black 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, and was not replaced, inviting Weller to develop a combined lead/rhythm guitar style influenced by The Who’s Pete Townshend as well as Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson. The line-up of Weller, Foxton, and Butler would persist until the end of The Jam’s career. They were managed by Weller’s father, John Weller, who still manages Paul’s career.

Read more at Wikipedia.org