“We went far beyond our dreams and what we made stands the test of time”
Rick Buckler, drummer for 70s rock band The Jam, has died aged 69, his former bandmates have confirmed.
The news comes just weeks after the musician was forced to cancel his planned tour due to ongoing health issues.
His former bandmates Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton confirmed the news in separate statements shared on social media, the Express reported.
Weller wrote: “I’m shocked and saddened by Rick’s passing. I’m thinking back to us all rehearsing in my bedroom in Stanley Road, Woking. To all the pubs and clubs we played at as kids, to eventually making a record. What a journey!
“We went far beyond our dreams and what we made stands the test of time. My deepest sympathy to all family and friends – P.W x.”
Bruce Foxton said: “I was shocked and devastated to hear the very sad news today. Rick was a good guy and a great drummer whose innovative drum patterns helped shape our songs.
“I’m glad we had the chance to work together as much as we did. My thoughts are with Leslie and his family at this very difficult time.”
The legendary musician had been forced to cancel his recent spoken word tour due to “ongoing health issues. On February 1 his team posted a message about the cancellation on Facebook.
“Rick and his team want all the fans of Rick and The Jam to know that due to ongoing health issues Rick has been advised to take a break from touring his spoken word events booked for the first quarter of 2025.
“Rick has been really touched by the number of fans who have booked to see the shows, but presently he has been advised to rest, repair and build his physical strength in order to deal with touring up and down the UK.
“Rick was really excited to bring his updated “in conversation” show to life in so many new venues and to both loyal fans and new audiences. Once again thank you for you continued love, support and understanding. We will keep you up to date as time goes along. Rick looks forward to seeing you all down the road.”
His cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Born in Woking, Buckler attended Sheerwater Secondary School where he joined fellow pupils Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton in the newly formed band The Jam. He remained with the group through to its break up in 1982.
The split was at Weller’s behest and speaking of it in later years in an interview with The Strange Brew Buckler recalled: “One thing that struck me immediately…was how we just got on with it.
“We spoke about Paul leaving, and then we just got back into what we were doing, we immersed ourselves in the recording, we were in a recording studio, where Paul made the announcement. We got straight back into work.
“And it was almost not mentioned again, the reasons why Paul wanted to leave…There was no reason. There was no great scheme. The reason that Paul gave us was about why he wanted to leave the band in that initial meeting was rubbish, basically,” he said.
The following year Buckler formed a new band Time UK and when they broke up, he moved into production, running a studio in Islington.
He stepped away from music in the mid-1990s, and went into business as an ad hoc carpenter, fashioning cabinets and ‘distressed’ furniture in Woking, Surrey.
He returned to the business in 2005 when he set up a new band called the Gift, playing exclusively old material from the Jam’s back catalogue. He was joined by Bruce Foxton in 2007 and they began touring as From the Jam.
However Buckler quit From the Jam in September 2009 as he felt, despite being original members, to continue performing without Weller, ran the risk of he and Foxton’s finding themselves in the situation of becoming a Jam tribute band.
Following his departure he worked in various other roles in the music business over the years and also authored several publications on The Jam’s history.
He is survived by his wife Lesley and their two children, Jason and Holly.
