Rick Buckler, the drummer for The Jam, has died at the age of 69, following a short illness.
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The passing of the legendary musician was confirmed by his bandmates Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton, who each shared separate statements on his death. The news of Buckler’s passing comes weeks after he was forced to cancel his spoken word tour due to “ongoing health issues”.
“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!,” wrote Weller in a tweet on his official X/Twitter page.
We went far beyond our dreams and what we made stands the test of time.
My deepest sympathy to all family and friends – P.W x
(2/4 – P.W) pic.twitter.com/bdROlSSOHt
— Paul Weller (@paulwellerHQ) February 18, 2025
He continued: “We went far beyond our dreams and what we made stands the test of time. My deepest sympathy to all family and friends.”
Bassist Foxton also paid tribute to his bandmate and shared a tweet on X/Twitter that read: “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.”
He continued: “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.”
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 – Bruce Foxton
(4/4) pic.twitter.com/aaQgimiQM1
— Paul Weller (@paulwellerHQ) February 18, 2025
Check out more tributes below.
The greatest band in history #TheJam
has lost its first member
The first of the trio that changed my life in so many positive ways to pass away is Rick Buckler & I’m shocked and heartbroken, he was just 69 years oldThe music he created with @paulwellerHQ & @BruceFoxton has… pic.twitter.com/23IPXjBCn4
— Liverpool 365: Moose (@PassNMoveMoose) February 18, 2025
Rick Buckler was a part of inspiration with The Jam that got me in to making music.
Rest well brother!
— Simmons And The Stags (@SimmonsStags) February 18, 2025
RIP Rick Buckler, his drums were a significant aspect of The Jam sound. https://t.co/zOcnvihI8p
— Matt (@MJP2509) February 18, 2025
Born on December 6, 1955, Buckler joined The Jam in the early ’70s and remained in the iconic Woking band with Weller and Foxton through to its breakup in 1982. The Jam had 18 consecutive UK Top 40 singles between 1977 and 1982, including four Number One hits – ‘Going Underground’, ‘Start!’, ‘Town Called Malice’ and ‘Beat Surrender’. The Jam were also one of the bands responsible for the mod revival movement in the UK.
Following the band’s split, Buckler went on to form the band Time UK. When they split, the musician moved into production, running a studio in Islington. In the mid-’90s, Buckler took a break from music and worked as an ad hoc carpenter.
He returned to music in 2005 and formed the band Gift, who performed exclusively old material from The Jam’s back catalogue. Foxton joined him in 2007 and the two began touring as From The Jam. However, Foxton quit the band in 2009 due to the fear of becoming a Jam tribute band.
Buckler went on to dabble in different roles within the music business and over the years he authored several publications on The Jam’s history.
He is survived by his wife Lesley and their two children, Jason and Holly.
