Rick Buckler, the drummer of the mod-punk band The Jam, died on February 17th in Woking, Great Britain, at the age of 69.
Rick Buckler’s death was confirmed by his former bandmates Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton via social media. Just a few weeks ago, Buckler had had to cancel a planned spoken word tour for health reasons.
Paul Weller said deeply affected by X:
“I’m shocked and sad about Rick’s death. I remember how we rehearsed in my bedroom in the Stanley Road in Woking – on all the pubs and clubs in which we played as young people, right up to the first of our own record. What a trip! We exceeded our dreams and what we created together has survived the time. My deepest sympathy applies to his family and friends. “
A formative figure of the British music scene
The Jam was founded in 1972 when the members went to school. At first they played cover songs, but soon developed their own modern mod sound. Her debut album “In the City” was published in 1977, followed by the influential “All Mod Cons” a year later. With their energetic, melodic style, the punk, New Wave and Soul connected, they landed 18 consecutive singles in the British Top 40. One of their most famous songs, “That’s Entertainment”, is one of the biggest hits. Other hits were “A Town Called Malice” and “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight”. The band dissolved in 1982.
After the success of The Jam, Buckler founded the band Time UK, in which Jimmy Edwards, Ray Simone, Danny Kustow and Martin Gordon participated. Later he played with Foxton in the band Sharp. In the 1990s he withdrew from the music industry, but returned with the band The Gift in 2005 and took over the drums again in 2011.
Bruce Foxton also praised his former bandmate:
“I am shaken and deeply sad about this message. Rick was a great guy and an outstanding drummer whose innovative rhythms shaped our songs. I am grateful that we could spend so much time together and work together. “
In 2015, Rick Buckler published his autobiography “That’s Entertainment: My Life in the Jam”. He leaves his wife Lesley and two children.