THE JAM were the most popular band to emerge from the initial wave of British punk rock in 1977; along with the
Sex Pistols, the Clash, and the Buzzcocks, the Jam had the most impact on pop music. While they could barely get noticed in America, the trio became genuine superstars in Britain, with an impressive string of Top Ten singles in the late '70s and early '80s. The Jam could never have a hit in America because they were thoroughly and defiantly British. Under the direction of guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Paul Weller, the trio spearheaded a revival of mid-'60s mod groups, in the style of the Who and the Small Faces. Like the mod bands, the group dressed stylishly, worshipped American R&B, and played it loud and rough. By the time of the group's third album, Weller's songwriting had grown substantially, as he was beginning to write social commentaries and pop songs in the vein of the Kinks. Both his political songs and his romantic songs were steeped in British culture, filled with references and slang in the lyrics, as well as musical allusions. Furthermore, as the Jam grew more popular and musically accessible, Weller became more insistent and stubborn about his beliefs, supporting leftist causes and adhering to the pop aesthetics of '60s British rock without ever succumbing to hippie values. Paradoxically, that meant even when their music became more pop than punk, they never abandoned the punk values -- if anything, Weller stuck to the strident independent ethics of 1977 more than any other punk band just by simply refusing to change.
Weller formed the Jam with drummer Rick Buckler, bassist Bruce Foxton, and guitarist Steve Brookes while they were still in school in 1975; Brookes quickly left the band and they remained a trio for the rest of their career. For the next year, the band played gigs around London, building a local following. In February 1977, the group signed a record contract with Polydor Records; two months later, they released their debut single, "In the City," which reached the U.K. Top 40. The following month, the group released their debut album, also called In the City. Recorded in just 11 days, the album featured a combinations of R&B covers and Weller originals, all of which sounded a bit like faster, more ragged versions of the Who's early records. Their second single, "All Around the World," nearly broke into the British Top Ten and the group embarked on a successful British tour. During the summer of 1977, they recorded their second album, This Is the Modern World, which was released toward the end of the year. "The Modern World" made it into the Top 40 in November, just as the Jam were beginning their first American tour. Although it was brief, the tour was not successful, leaving bitter memories of the U.S. in the minds of the band.
This Is the Modern World peaked in the British charts at number 22, yet it received criticism for repeating the sound of the debut. The band began a headlining tour of the U.K., yet it was derailed shortly after it started when the group got into a nasty fight with a bunch of rugby players in a Leeds hotel. Weller broke several bones and was charged with assault, although the Leeds Crown Court would eventually acquit him. The Jam departed for another American tour in March of 1978 and it was yet another unsuccessful tour, as they opened for Blue Öyster Cult. It did nothing to win new American fans, yet their star continued to rise in Britain. Bands copying the group's mod look and sound popped up across Britain and the Jam itself performed at the Reading Festival in August. All Mod Cons, released late in 1979, marked a turning point in the Jam's career, illustrating that Weller's songwriting was becoming more melodic, complex, and lyrically incisive, resembling Ray Davies more than Pete Townshend. Even as their sound became more pop-oriented, the group lost none of their tightly controlled energy. All Mod Cons was a major success, peaking at number six on the U.K. charts, even if it didn't make a dent in the U.S. Every one of the band's singles were now charting in the Top 20, with the driving "Eton Rifles" becoming their first Top Ten in November 1979, charting at number three.
Setting Sons, released at the end of 1979, climbed to number four in the U.K. and marked their first charting album in the U.S., hitting number 137 in spring of 1980. At that time, the Jam had become full-fledged rock stars in Britain, with their new "Going Underground" single entering the charts at number one. During the summer, the band recorded their fifth album, with the "Taxman"-inspired "Start" released as a teaser single in August; "Start" became their second straight number one. Its accompanying album, the ambitious Sound Affects, hit number two in the U.K. at the end of the year; it was also the band's high-water mark in the U.S., peaking at number 72. "That's Entertainment," one of the standout tracks from Sound Affects, charted at number 21 in the U.K. as an import single, confirming the band's enormous popularity.
"Funeral Pyre," the band's summer 1981 single, showed signs that Weller was becoming fascinated with American soul and R&B, as did the punchy, horn-driven "Absolute Beginners," which hit number four in the fall of the year. As the Jam were recording their sixth album, Weller suffered a nervous breakdown, which prompted him to stop drinking. In February 1982, the first single from the new sessions -- the double A-sided "Town Called Malice"/"Precious" -- became their third number one single and the band became the first group since the Beatles to play two songs on BBC's Top of the Pops. The Gift, released in March of 1982, showcased the band's soul infatuation and became the group's first number one album in the U.K. "Just Who Is the 5 O'Clock Hero" hit number eight in July, becoming the group's second import single to make the U.K. charts.
Although the Jam was at the height of its popularity, Weller was becoming frustrated with the trio's sound and made the decision to disband the group. On the heels of the number two hit "The Bitterest Pill," the Jam announced their breakup in October of 1982. The band played a farewell tour in the fall and their final single, "Beat Surrender," entered the charts at number one. Dig the New Breed, a compilation of live tracks, charted at number two in December of 1982. All 16 of the group's singles were re-released by Polydor in the U.K. at the beginning of 1983; all of them recharted simultaneously. Bruce Foxton released a solo album, Touch Sensitive, and Rick Buckler played with the Time UK; neither of the efforts were as noteworthy as the Jam biography the two wrote in the early '90s, which contained many vicious attacks on Weller.
Immediately after the breakup of the Jam, Weller formed the Style Council with Mick Talbot, a member of the Jam-inspired mod revival band the Merton Parkas. After a handful of initial hits, the Style Council proved to be a disappointment and Weller fell out of favor, both critically and commercially. At the end of the decade he disbanded the group and went solo in the early '90s; his solo albums were both artistic and popular successes, returning him to the spotlight in the U.K. The legacy of the Jam is apparent in nearly every British guitar pop band of the '80s and '90s, from the Smiths to Blur and Oasis. More than any other group, the Jam kept the tradition of three-minute, hook-driven British guitar pop alive through the '70s and '80s, providing a blueprint for generations of bands to come.
PAUL WELLER INFO www.paulweller.com
BRUCE FOXTON INFO www.casbahclub.co.uk
RICK BUCKLER INFO www.the-gift.info
How's it going? There is a free track available for you at the moment on our myspace page. Just click the FREE DOWNLOAD box at the top of the page and enter a valid email to download the tune. How cool is that!
Have a great week and thank you very much for being electronically connected to us as friends and fans.
On Tour In November with GOD FIRES MAN and JENNIFER ROSTOCK!
GOD FIRES MAN Vs THE PICTUREBOOKS 29.10. Dortmund 30.10. Köln 31.10. Stuttgart 01.11. Saarbrücken 02.11. München 03.11. Berlin 04.11. Hamburg 06.11. Weinheim
JENNIFER ROSTOCK Vs THE PICTUREBOOKS 16.11. Nürnberg 18.11. Innsbruckck 19.11. Zürich 20.11. Basel 21.11. Salzburg 22.11. Linz 23.11. Graz 24.11. Bochum
Hi there, VISIONS Magazine presents: THE PICTUREBOOKS 20-Day Free-Download of their new Single "You Cannot Make It Right" (incl. acoustic version and "20th Century Boy" coverversion), celebrating 20 Years of VISIONS! Also, MYSPACE and KAVKA VS THE WEB present: THE PICTUREBOOKS's new Video for "You Cannot Make It Right". Please go to www.visions.de to download the single for free!
Check out Bandstickers supplying vinyl stickers, badges,flyers & Beer Mats at cool prices for Bands / Labels, Bands, Zines etc
Go to our website for more details www.bandstickers.co.uk
Clients include Bullet for My Valentine / Cancer Bats / Anti Flag / Gallows / Kubichek / Kerrang Radio / Send More Paramedics / Hundred Reasons / Pitchshifter / Ghost Of A Thousand / Bring Me The Horizon / Capdown / V2 Records / In At The Deep End Records / Visible Noise Records / Cooking Vinyl Records
I have a new short story on my page: ‘Making A Killing’, which could be described as an ‘art thriller.’ It looks at the values that different people place upon different types of art and approaches the subject with equal measures of comedy and suspense. Ultimately it’s something of a riot and a joke with no morals or opinions of its own.
It’s a departure from previous stories that have explored more metaphysical notions – although ‘Buddha’ does have a cameo role.
THE PICTUREBOOKS "List Of People To Kill" - Album out April 24th Tourdates: 26.04.2009 Erlangen - E-Werk (+ MILLENCOLIN) 27.04.2009 Hannover - Capitol (+ MILLENCOLIN) 28.04.2009 Düsseldorf - Stahlwerk (+ MILLENCOLIN) 29.04.2009 Berlin - Tacheles (+ Butterfly Effekt) 04.05.2009 Köln - Luxor (+65 Days Of Static) 05.05.2009 Berlin - Magnet (+65 Days Of Static) 06.05.2009 Hamburg - Headcrash (+65 Days Of Static) 15.05.2009 Berlin - Neuer Heimathafen (MOTOR FM-SESSION) 18.07.2009 Ulm / Dornstadt - Obstwiesenfestival 31.07.2009 Raversbeuren - Lott Festival
Salut, j'espere que tout roule, je suis de passage pour t'informer que ma nouvelle mixtape Trafalgas Square III est disponible en téléchargement gratuit... N'hesites pas a me dire ce que tu en penses... ______________________
Waddup my new Mixtape is out !!! You can download it for free here !! Enjoy n lemme know what you think ;)
Hello my friend
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<br />You can now listen to new K-Jell songs at our myspace site. The songs are taken from the new K-Jell cd “refreshing power” which will be out in about 2 weeks time in China and Europe sometime during April 2009 on October Party Records.
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<br />Hope you will take 3-4 min to listen and let us know what you think, leave a comment in the comment section.
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<br />Rock On!
<br />
<br />K-Jell
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Just thought I’d update you on what’s been happening with The Q
It's a busy and exciting time for us: -
- Our debut ep, "Issues" which was produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, (The Jam), was voted RECORD OF THE MONTH by the ModPopPunk archive.
- The ep's released digitally and on vinyl next week
- And we've just learnt that we’ll be SUPPORTING “FROM THE JAM” at the Bristol Carling Academy on 18th December as well as playing other gigs of our own on 22nd Nov at The Railway, Burnham-on-Sea and The Sixways Stadium, Worcester on Dec 13th.
If anyone would like to pre-order their copy of "Issues" please send an email to the record company - info@timeforaction.de
Just thought I’d update you on what’s been happening with The Q
It's a busy and exciting time for us: -
- Our debut ep, "Issues" which was produced by Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, (The Jam), was voted RECORD OF THE MONTH by the ModPopPunk archive.
- The ep's released digitally and on vinyl next week
- And we've just learnt that we’ll be SUPPORTING “FROM THE JAM” at the Bristol Carling Academy on 18th December as well as playing other gigs of our own on 22nd Nov at The Railway, Burnham-on-Sea and The Sixways Stadium, Worcester on Dec 13th.
If anyone would like to pre-order their copy of "Issues" please send an email to the record company - info@timeforaction.de
Autumn is upon us and I took the opportunity to capture the forrest with all of its changing colours on film. Come on over to mine for a virtual tour of Epping Forrest, England.
Desde el 22 hasta el 29 de septiembre descarga gratutita del primer single de We Are Standard, "The last time". Producido por Andy Gill y remezclado por Arthur Baker. From September 22nd to 29th, free download of We Are Standard's first single, "The last time". Produced by Andy Gill and remixed by Arthur Baker.
Its been a bit quiet of late, not had alot of time to keep this place ticking over. Anyway ive finaly got around to adding some differant songs, maybe some of you will have heard them and some wont. There are very early demos and a storming live version of News Of The World, plus the 1st mix of Eton Rifles. Ive also added some new youtube videos and new pics on the front page.
I'll change the songs in a few weeks, hope you enjoy and be sure to keep the faith!!
I hope you're doing well. I've just returned from the Basque Country where I engaged in some travel photography for your visual pleasure and cerebral stimulation. They're in my 'pictures' section...
