During the punk explosion of 1977, it seemed as if there was a new band forming every minute of every day. Initially, people almost always bring to mind The Sex Pistols or The Clash, but a close third is often that fine band from Woking, The Jam.
They were regarded by some in the punk inner circle as inauthentic, due to their stylish, snappy suits, and a love of Motown and the mod culture of the 1960's. But for others, they were the epitome of working class cool, and soon got themselves a committed following, some of whom were punks, but there were also those who went on to instigate a full blown mod revival.
When they split in 1982, they left behind them an incredible body of work. From the visceral and angry debut album 'In The City', to the more considered 'All Mod Cons' (thought by many fans to be their finest hour), and the concept driven 'Setting Sons', The Jam have often been sited as a major influence on the likes of many other bands, as diverse as Oasis or The Ordinary Boys.
After they split, lead vocalist Paul Weller carved out a new career for himself, as did drummer Rick Buckler (although not as successful). The other member, Bruce Foxton, also released some Music, the single 'Freak' being his best known track, and the accompanying album 'Touch Sensitive'.
Foxton went on to become a member of Stiff Little Fingers, working on a number of albums, until leaving in 2006 to resurrect the music of The Jam.
From The Jam, as the new band were called, went on what turned out to be a sell out tour, and accompanying DVD 'A First Class Return' reaffirmed the fact that these songs, with or without Paul Weller, were highly regarded, and there was a demand to hear them live again. The Jam were always in their element on stage, and Foxton and his new colleagues relished the prospect of performing the likes of 'Going Underground', 'Start', and 'A Bomb in Wardour Street'.
Foxton has since then played and toured these songs at every opportunity, and this year sees From The Jam sharing gigs with the likes of contemporaries The Undertones and The Beat.
It is nigh on forty years ago that The Jam first appeared before the public, but their songs still speak to us today. It has been said that the political and social circumstances of 2015 are in some ways like those of the mid 1970's, with controversy surrounding mass immigration and the EU, and the rise of the likes of UKIP and The EDL.
The coming election needs a soundtrack which documents what could prove momentous, and without a current resurgence of youth, like that of punk and new wave all those decades ago, perhaps the songs of The Jam can provide just what we need.
