The Jam

The Jam were an English rock band formed in Woking, Surrey in 1972, emerging fully in the late 1970s as one of the defining acts of the punk and mod revival movements. Fronted by singer, guitarist and chief songwriter Paul Weller, alongside bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler, the trio fused the raw energy of punk with the sharp suits, soul influences and mod aesthetic of 1960s British youth culture, setting them apart from their more nihilistic punk contemporaries.

The band scored a string of UK number-one and top-five singles in a remarkably short career, including «Going Underground», «Start!» and «Town Called Malice», the latter blending Motown-indebted basslines with socially observant, working-class lyrics. Albums such as All Mod Cons and Sound Affects are regarded as high points of the era, showcasing Weller's growth as a songwriter tackling class, alienation and British urban life with increasing sophistication.

The Jam disbanded in 1982 at the height of their popularity, with Weller going on to form the Style Council and later a successful solo career. Foxton and Buckler later reunited to tour as From The Jam. The band's influence looms large over subsequent generations of British guitar music, from Britpop acts to more recent mod-revival and post-punk bands, and their catalogue remains a touchstone of the mod revival era.