Rick Buckler, the drummer for the famous British rock band The Jam, has passed away at the age of 69 after a short illness. His passing was confirmed in Woking, UK, by his former bandmates, who shared their condolences and reminisced their time together.
Paul Weller, the band’s frontman, looked back on their journey from practising in bedrooms to achieving incredible success. He mentioned that the music they created together still stands strong after all these years. Bruce Foxton, the band’s bassist, also paid tribute to Rick, describing him as a great drummer with innovative beats that helped define The Jam’s signature sound. He specifically mentioned their hit song Going Underground as one of many tracks shaped by Rick’s drumming. Bruce also expressed his gratitude for the time they spent playing and creating music together.
Rick’s death came just two weeks after he cancelled a planned spoken-word tour due to health issues. In a Facebook post, he shared that his health was preventing him from continuing with the tour, but he did not go into details about his condition.
The Jam was formed in 1972 when Rick, Paul, and Bruce were still in school. Their first album, In the City, was released in 1977, and over the years, they achieved massive success, scoring four number-one singles. Despite their popularity, the band decided to part ways in 1982.
After leaving music for a period in the mid-1990s, Rick took on a new profession as a carpenter. However, in 2005, he made a return to the music scene with a new band called The Gift. Bruce later joined him, and the two played together once again, touring from 2007 to 2009.
Rick Buckler is survived by his wife, Lesley, and their two children.
His passing marks the end of an era for fans of The Jam, but his contribution to music continues to be celebrated.