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.
Paul Weller, with The Jam, performing live onstage at Guildford Civic Hall in June 1981
Paul Weller with The Jam onstage for a soundcheck at the Rainbow Theatre, London in December 1978
Paul Weller, from The Jam, dressing for a cover shoot for 'The Face' in London in March 1983
The Jam, featuring Paul Weller, taken backstage before they performed at Reading's Top Rank in June 1977
Limited edition of Morgan Howell's original painting of the cover of The Jam's 'Town Called Malice' vinyl single
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.
Paul Weller, with The Jam, backstage at Wembey Arena, wearing a Rubber Soul belt, before performing in December 1982
Limited edition of Morgan Howell's original painting of the cover of The Jam's 'Town Called Malice' vinyl single
Cover art for the live single of Wish You Were Here. 'What you see is what you get - two lost souls, swimming in a fish bowl'
Paul Weller is an English singer, songwriter and musician. Weller achieved fame with the punk rock/new wave/mod revival band The Jam.
Joy Division (originally named Warsaw), an English rock band formed in 1976 were one of the pioneers of the post-punk movement.
Liam Gallagher is best known as the charismatic, self-assured front man of Manchester Britpop band Oasis.
The Beatles were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960 and widely regarded as the most influential acts of the rock era.
A photographic celebration of Manchester's rock music history. Free exhibition at the University of Manchester
The Beatles were one of the most popular & influential bands of all time. Here we showcase our collection of their iconic fine art prints
Welcome to our Jazz & Blues Print Collection - over 50 years of iconic images of the world's greatest Jazz & Blues musicians
For eight years photographer Brian Duffy worked with David Bowie and shot his most iconic and enduring images. View his fantastic collection
