The Jam drummer Rick Buckler died aged 69 this week following a short illness. The musician, born in Woking, was the former drummer of the Jam from its formation in the early 1970s until their breakup in the early 80s. He is known for songs like Town Called Malice alongside bandmates Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton. Earlier this month, Rick was forced to cancel a spoken word tour due to his "ongoing health issues". On 1 February, a statement was posted on Facebook which read: "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." Although he had health issues, his cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Meanwhile, Paul paid tribute in a post which read: "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.". Bruce commented: "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.".
Fans were devastated by the news, rushing to social media to pay tribute to the star. One user posted: "RIP Rick Buckler. Thanks for all the good times and great memories." Another commented: "So sad to hear the news of Rick Buckler of the Jam passing. First band I ever saw live and still the best I’ve ever seen. RIP Rick.". Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
