Bruce Foxton
Encyclopedia
Bruce Foxton is an English rock and roll
musician who is best known as the bass player in punk rock
bands The Jam
and Stiff Little Fingers
.
played behind singer, guitarist, and songwriter Paul Weller. However, Foxton contributed greatly to transform recordings of Weller's compositions from what was presented to the group in demo form with his melodic and innovative bass parts, which have influenced many players. Foxton also took lead vocals on a few tracks, most notably the singles "David Watts" (a cover of a Kinks
track) and "News of the World
", which was his own composition. Foxton also penned other tracks, possibly the most notable being "Smithers-Jones
", done as a straightforward rock take for the B-side
of "When You're Young
" and later reworked with strings for the Setting Sons
album. Stiff Little Fingers would regularly perform the song live after Foxton joined.
Whilst in The Jam, Foxton discovered The Vapors
and co-managed the group with John Weller, Paul's father. Ironically, The Vapors enjoyed greater success in the U.S. than The Jam would ever have with the Top 40 single "Turning Japanese
", but broke up shortly thereafter.
After The Jam split, Foxton pursued a brief solo
career, and released the album Touch Sensitive (UK
#68). He had minor UK hit
s in 1983 and 1984 with the singles "Freak", "This Is The Way" and "It Makes Me Wonder", and played in several less well known groups, including Sharp, until he joined Stiff Little Fingers.
He stayed with Stiff Little Fingers for fifteen years, during which time they recorded five albums, namely, Flags and Emblems
, Get a Life, Tinderbox, Hope Street
, and Guitar and Drum
. During his time with the band, he wrote and co-wrote several tracks, and along with Jake Burns
, managed
the group for a while, after Russel Emmanuel gave up the job.
In 1994, Foxton and Buckler
collaborated on Our Story, a biography of their years in The Jam. It was around this time he became a source of fascination for comedians Stewart Lee
and Richard Herring
on their BBC Radio 1
music shows.
In 2006, Foxton toured with Bruce Watson
, Mark Brzezicki
and Simon Townshend
as The Casbah Club. When this band supported The Who
in Britain, Foxton encountered Paul Weller backstage for the first time in nearly 25 years. In February 2007, Foxton and Buckler announced they would be touring again as From The Jam, with members of Buckler's Jam tribute band The Gift.
In March 2008, they toured Australia and New Zealand
– a first for Foxton and Buckler. A complete concert (recorded in London, December 2007) was released on DVD in 2008 through the London-based indie label Invisible Hands Music
.
Foxton's wife Pat died in 2009 from cancer. On 5 May 2009, Foxton attended the funeral of Paul Weller's father John, who was instrumental in The Jam's success. Foxton played bass and contributed backing vocals on Weller's Wake Up the Nation
album, released in April 2010. The songs in question were "Fast Car/Slow Traffic" and "She Speaks".
On 25 May 2010, at the Royal Albert Hall
, Foxton joined Weller onstage for the first time in twenty eight years, to perform three songs, "Fast Car/Slow Traffic", "Eton Rifles", and "The Butterfly Collector".
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
musician who is best known as the bass player in punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
bands The Jam
The Jam
The Jam were an English punk rock/New Wave/mod revival band active during the late 1970s and early 1980s. They were formed in Woking, Surrey. While they shared the "angry young men" outlook and fast tempos of their punk rock contemporaries, The Jam wore smartly tailored suits rather than ripped...
and Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers
Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977, at the height of the Troubles. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star , doing rock covers, until they discovered punk. They split up after six years and four albums, although they...
.
Biography
In The Jam, he and drummer Rick BucklerRick Buckler
Rick Buckler , is the former drummer of The Jam, an English rock band that enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom from 1977 until disbanding in 1982...
played behind singer, guitarist, and songwriter Paul Weller. However, Foxton contributed greatly to transform recordings of Weller's compositions from what was presented to the group in demo form with his melodic and innovative bass parts, which have influenced many players. Foxton also took lead vocals on a few tracks, most notably the singles "David Watts" (a cover of a Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
track) and "News of the World
News of the World (song)
News of the World was a single by British group The Jam released on 11 March 1978. It reached #27 in the UK Singles Chart. "Aunties And Uncles " and "Innocent Man" appeared as its B-side...
", which was his own composition. Foxton also penned other tracks, possibly the most notable being "Smithers-Jones
Smithers-Jones
Smithers-Jones is a song written by Bruce Foxton for recording with his fellow bandmates in The Jam.Smithers-Jones differs from the majority of tracks by The Jam in that it was not written by guitarist vocalist Paul Weller. "Smithers-Jones" was originally recorded as a straightforward rock take for...
", done as a straightforward rock take for the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of "When You're Young
When You're Young
"When You're Young" was released as a one-off single by The Jam. Released on 25 August 1979, it charted at number 17 in the UK Singles Chart. The B-side, "Smithers-Jones", is widely considered to be Jam bassist Bruce Foxton's finest song-writing moment and also appears - with an orchestral...
" and later reworked with strings for the Setting Sons
Setting Sons
Setting Sons is the fourth studio album by British band The Jam. The group's critical and commercial favour, begun with their third album, All Mod Cons, continued through this album...
album. Stiff Little Fingers would regularly perform the song live after Foxton joined.
Whilst in The Jam, Foxton discovered The Vapors
The Vapors
The Vapors were a New Wave and power pop band from England, that existed between 1979 and 1981. They had a hit with the song "Turning Japanese" in 1980, which reached #3 in the UK Singles Chart, and #36 in the U.S...
and co-managed the group with John Weller, Paul's father. Ironically, The Vapors enjoyed greater success in the U.S. than The Jam would ever have with the Top 40 single "Turning Japanese
Turning Japanese
"Turning Japanese" is a song released by the English band The Vapors from their album New Clear Days, and the song for which they are known best. The song's lyrics consist mainly of the singer talking about pictures of his love...
", but broke up shortly thereafter.
After The Jam split, Foxton pursued a brief solo
Solo album
A solo album, in popular music, is an album headlined by a current or former member of a band. A solo album may feature simply one person performing all instruments, but typically features the work of other collaborators; rather, it may be made with different collaborators than the artist is...
career, and released the album Touch Sensitive (UK
UK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#68). He had minor UK hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
s in 1983 and 1984 with the singles "Freak", "This Is The Way" and "It Makes Me Wonder", and played in several less well known groups, including Sharp, until he joined Stiff Little Fingers.
He stayed with Stiff Little Fingers for fifteen years, during which time they recorded five albums, namely, Flags and Emblems
Flags and Emblems
Flags and Emblems is the fifth studio album by the band Stiff Little Fingers, released in 1991 .-Track listing:#" Long Way to Paradise " #"Stand Up and Shout" #"Each Dollar a Bullet"...
, Get a Life, Tinderbox, Hope Street
Hope Street (album)
Hope Street is the eighth studio album recorded by Stiff Little Fingers, released in 1999 .-Track listing:UK VersionDisc One Hope Street#"Hope Street" – 3:33#"Tantalise" – 3:18...
, and Guitar and Drum
Guitar and Drum
Guitar and Drum is the ninth studio album recorded by Stiff Little Fingers, released in 2004.- Track listing :#"Guitar & Drum" – 3:11#"Strummerville" – 3:19#"Can't Get Away With That" – 3:16...
. During his time with the band, he wrote and co-wrote several tracks, and along with Jake Burns
Jake Burns
Jake Burns is a singer and guitarist, and is best known as the frontman of Stiff Little Fingers.-Career:...
, managed
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
the group for a while, after Russel Emmanuel gave up the job.
In 1994, Foxton and Buckler
Rick Buckler
Rick Buckler , is the former drummer of The Jam, an English rock band that enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom from 1977 until disbanding in 1982...
collaborated on Our Story, a biography of their years in The Jam. It was around this time he became a source of fascination for comedians Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee
Stewart Lee is an English stand-up comedian, writer and director known for being one half of the 1990s comedy duo Lee and Herring, and for co-writing and directing the critically acclaimed and controversial stage show Jerry Springer - The Opera...
and Richard Herring
Richard Herring
Richard Keith Herring is a British comedian and writer, whose early work includes his involvement in the double-act, Lee and Herring...
on their BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
music shows.
In 2006, Foxton toured with Bruce Watson
Bruce Watson (guitarist)
Bruce Watson is a Canadian-born Scottish guitarist, best known for being a founding member of the Scottish-based rock band Big Country....
, Mark Brzezicki
Mark Brzezicki
Mark Brzezicki is a rock drummer, who is primarily known for his work with Big Country, and was a member of the groups The Cult, Ultravox, and Procol Harum. He has also played with Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, Midge Ure, Fish, The Pretenders and many others...
and Simon Townshend
Simon Townshend
Simon Townshend is a British guitarist, singer and songwriter. He is the younger brother of The Who's Pete Townshend, and is most associated with The Who and the various side projects of its original members, despite many other musical ventures in his career....
as The Casbah Club. When this band supported The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
in Britain, Foxton encountered Paul Weller backstage for the first time in nearly 25 years. In February 2007, Foxton and Buckler announced they would be touring again as From The Jam, with members of Buckler's Jam tribute band The Gift.
In March 2008, they toured Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
– a first for Foxton and Buckler. A complete concert (recorded in London, December 2007) was released on DVD in 2008 through the London-based indie label Invisible Hands Music
Invisible Hands Music
Invisible Hands Music is an independent record label based in London's Camden Town neighbourhood. The label was founded by musician Charles Kennedy. The company name first appeared on cassettes sold at gigs by Kennedy's first band Night World in 1987. The first CD release was Fretwork Southeast, a...
.
Foxton's wife Pat died in 2009 from cancer. On 5 May 2009, Foxton attended the funeral of Paul Weller's father John, who was instrumental in The Jam's success. Foxton played bass and contributed backing vocals on Weller's Wake Up the Nation
Wake Up the Nation
Wake Up the Nation is the tenth studio album from Paul Weller and was released April 19, 2010. It was nominated for the 2010 Mercury Music Prize....
album, released in April 2010. The songs in question were "Fast Car/Slow Traffic" and "She Speaks".
On 25 May 2010, at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
, Foxton joined Weller onstage for the first time in twenty eight years, to perform three songs, "Fast Car/Slow Traffic", "Eton Rifles", and "The Butterfly Collector".