The Jam were an English punk rock/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped clothes, and they incorporated a number of mainstream 1960s rock and R&B influences rather than rejecting them, placing The Jam at the forefront of the mod revival movement.
They had 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?" remained 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, hit number one on the UK album charts. The band drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including 1960s beat music, soul, rhythm and blues and psychedelic rock, as well as 1970s punk and new wave. The trio was known for its melodic pop songs, its distinctly English flavour and its mod image.
The Jam launched the career of Paul Weller, who went on to form The Style Council and later had a successful solo career. Weller wrote and sang most of The Jam's original compositions, and he 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" mainly using a Rickenbacker 4001 and a Fender Precision Bass and rarely an Epiphone Rivoli.
Cover artwork for The Jam's debut album 'In The City' released in 1977
Paul Weller onstage with The Jam at the Rainbow Theatre, London in 1979
The Jam, featuring Paul Weller, taken backstage before they performed at Reading's Top Rank in June 1977
Paul Weller onstage with The Jam during a gig at the Friars, Aylesbury in June 1978.
Paul Weller, with The Jam, plugging in his guitar live onstage at the Rainbow Theatre, London in April 1980.
Contact sheet of The Jam's photo shoot for the cover of their debut album 'In The City'
Paul Weller, with The Jam, performing live onstage at Guildford Civic Hall in June 1981
The Jam photographed by Martyn Goddard for their first album 'In The City' shot in London in 1977
Paul Weller, from The Jam, dressing for a cover shoot for 'The Face' in London in March 1983
Paul Weller with The Jam onstage for a soundcheck at the Rainbow Theatre, London in December 1978
Taken during the cover photo shoot for The Jam's second studio album This Is The Modern World
Limited edition of Morgan Howell's original painting of the cover of The Jam's 'Town Called Malice' vinyl single
Limited edition giant vintage pin badge for The Jam designed by artist Tony Dennis AKA Tape Deck Art
The Jam relaxing at Frank's Cafe in Soho during their photo shoot for the cover of 'News of the World'
Paul Weller photographed for The Face magazine (April 1983 - Issue 36), not long after he formed The Style Council with Mick Talbot.
Paul Weller performing on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury in 2015
Taken during a photoshoot for The Face Magazine in Spring 1983, Paul Weller poses for Jill Furmanovsky.
Paul Weller captured by Jill Furmanovsky whilst on a shoot for the Face magazine in March 1983
Exclusive David Bowie print specially created by The Postman for Rockarchive, based on a photograph taken by Dave Hogan at Live Aid in 1985
Jarvis Cocker performing one of his signature moves with Pulp on The Park Stage during the 2011 Glastonbury Festival
U2 on top of a hotel roof in Cork, Ireland on a cold February morning in 1980
Adam Ant photographed by Jill Furmanovsky during a cover shoot for The Face magazine in February 1981
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968 & considered one of the most innovative & influential rock bands in history.
Blondie is a American rock band founded by Debbie Harry & Chris Stein that pioneered the New York new wave & punk scenes of the 1970s.
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band who were in the vanguard of the British music Invasion that became popular in the US in 1964–65.
Oasis was an English rock music band formed in Manchester in 1991, to date the band has sold over 70 million records worldwide.
Here are the very latest prints we have added to our collection. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Our contact sheet print collection is a rare opportunity to look back at the hidden moments surrounding some of rocks most iconic images.
Jill Furmanovsky is one of the greatest ever rock & roll photographers with a huge archive of iconic shots of the world's best music artists
Album covers can define a band almost as much as the music itself. Now you can put this great art on your wall as well as your turntable