Paul Weller opens up about the death of The Jam’s Rick Buckler: “I’m just really sad”
Paul Weller has reflected on the death of The Jam’s Rick Buckler and discussed his “regret” about not making contact with the late musician before his passing.
Buckler’s death was announced on February 18th, with Weller and The Jam’s Bruce Foxton leading the tributes to their late former bandmate, who passed away following a short illness. Weller initially stated he was “shocked and saddened” by the news and sent his “deepest sympathy to all family and friends”.
Weller and Buckler co-founded the iconic rock group in 1972 as teenagers, along with guitarist Steve Brookes, who left in 1975. They found fame as a trio alongside Foxton and etched their name in the history books before parting ways in 1982.
Now, in a new interview with Uncut, Weller said of his former bandmate’s passing, “I’m just really sad.”
The former frontman of The Jam continued: “I mean, Rick’s passing was a real shock; it was a real fucking … perspective-changing moment. Because even though we weren’t close and we hadn’t spoken for decades, nevertheless, we were intrinsically joined together and always will be, really, the three of us.”
Weller then explained how Buckler’s death put everything into a wider perspective and changed his outlook on life, sharing, “It made me realise how ridiculous it is not to speak to someone.”
He then revealed that he considered making contact with Buckler before his death, adding, “I thought, ‘Maybe, I think I’d really like to go and see him,’ even though we hadn’t seen each other or spoke for 40 years or whatever it’s been. But then I was like, ‘Maybe it’d be awkward, maybe he doesn’t want to see me.’”
Heartbreakingly, Weller later discovered through a mutual friend that he shared with Buckler that the late drummer also considered reaching out to him but, like Weller, decided against doing so out of fear it would be awkward.
Weller painfully continued: “I regret that, because I should have… I wish I’d have done that, just to see him one time. Because even though, like I said, we weren’t best of mates and all that… when he passed, I was just transported back to me little bedroom in Stanley Road with all four of us rehearsing in there.”
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.