For the 500 or so men and women packed into Oxford's Zodiac, this was a VERY special occasion. Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler's first UK tour together in 25 years. Russell Hastings (Vocals/Guitar) told us, during the sound check, that he expected to see grown men cry and he wasn't mistaken. I just hadn't intended to be one of them, but as Buckler, Foxton, Hastings and Dave Moore strolled onto the stage, I was overcome. I just couldn't help myself. This was going to be an emotional evening...
If anyone had told me, when I was 16, that almost 30 years later I'd be standing at the bar with a member of The Jam (Rick in this instance) chatting about the old days, listening to Bruce practicing the bass line for "Down In The Tube" and laughing about that time, at the Michael Sobell Sports Centre that Bananarama supported the greatest band on Earth, I'd have thought they'd been on the wacky backy
(Rick, incidentally, reckons he still doesn't know how Bananarama got on the bill - Siobhan Fahey must have been shagging SOMEBODY).
Yet here we were (N4 and me) courtesy of the band and their very splendid PR people (thanks fellas).
Watching the sound check, a certain amount of nervousness was apparent. Hastings, in particular, looked tense and edgy at times.
To be fair, his position as "From The Jam's" lead singer is perhaps the most difficult. It is inevitable that he'll be compared to the absent Mr Weller and, let's face it, any comparison with the Modfather would leave the best of us wanting. When you talk to Hastings, he is refreshingly honest about it and blunt when it comes to those who carp about his position in the band. He may be right in saying the're envious. After all, who among us wouldn't sell their grandmother into slavery to be doing what he does?
Here is Mr Hastings and Mr Foxton rehearsing "That's Entertainment" during the the sound check. No drums or anything. Just the two of them. Be quick because I'll probably have to delete it...
You have to hand it to Hastings - you've got to have a certain amount of courage to play and sing these songs in public.
After an absolutely storming sound check rendition of "Little Boy Soldiers" we spoke to Rick about the the forthcoming tour and, of course, how he was feeling about the evening ahead...
Looking around the hall, as the crowd assembled, the faces were mainly of middle aged men some of whom, I reckon, hadn't been to a gig since the last time they saw The Jam. They had that look about them - a mix of excitement at being allowed out and embarrassment that it was to see their teenage idols rather than for a round of golf or a pint down the pub.
Dotted among the men was more than a smattering of middle aged mums with their gangly, long haired sons. I could just hear the tea time conversations - "Take me to see The Jam dear. Pleeeeeease. You never take me out anymore". "Leave it out love, you're too old for all that". "Too old?! I'll show you, you boring old sod. I'LL GO with Charlie. I bet HE'LL take me, won't you Charlie?" "Yes Mum...."..
And so onto the moment that the now assembled throng had been waiting for - and, as Bruce, Rick, Russ and Dave strolled onto the stage, the crowd let out the most tremendous roar of anticipation and excitement.
It was a stunning, though not entirely faultless performance. Foxton, with his trademark scissor jumps never missed a beat, reminding us all of what a fantastic bass player he is. But Moore's guitar went out of tune at least once, Hastings missed a couple of notes and flagged, at times, under the sheer weight of expectation.
Nothing, however, could have dulled this crowd's delight at seeing the Jam again and make no mistake, this WAS THE JAM. Wellerless maybe, but few noticed (except the geezer who called, during a break and rather hopefully, for "Changingmaaaaaaan!!").
I stood and listened and felt and cheered and sniffed and bit my lip and screamed and SANG (this crowd sang their heads off) and I thought - it sounds like The Jam, it feels like The Jam, it looks like The Jam - this IS the bloody Jam.
And what a repertoire to choose from:- "The Gift", "The Modern World", "To Be Someone", "David Watts", "News of The World", "Smithers Jones", "So Sad About Us"... The standard of these songs - those by Paul Weller and from Bruce Foxton, as well from the Who and The Kinks - is a reminder of how good British song writing has been at its very best and (as if we needed reminding) of what a truly marvelous band the Jam were... and maybe still ARE.
If you are in any doubt about that, watch the video clip below. Keep in mind that this was recorded on a hand held camera, so try to forgive the sound quality. Just listen to the music and, most of all, to the crowd. Because that is why the return of the Woking Wonders is to be hailed a TRIUMPH.
It is a triumph for THE FANS. Because they adore this band and, whatever the cynics may say, the feeling is plainly mutual. It is the fans who make a band into something as special as The Jam and, as Buckler acknowledges, it is the fans who have kept The Jam alive. That's why he's right to be touring with Foxton playing this material. The fans deserve it.
