The Jam’s Bruce Foxton reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis: “A huge shock”
The Jam founding member Bruce Foxton has confirmed he’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
Foxton recently postponed a pair of shows in Kidderminster and Lincoln over the weekend due to illness, which led to speculation that he’d been hospitalised.
However, Foxton has now taken to Facebook to deny reports he was hospitalised, but he has opened up about his severe health struggles.
The bassist began by referencing the show postponements, stating, “Firstly, I just wanted to thank everyone for the messages wishing me well. Your love, support, and understanding means a lot. It was a difficult decision to cancel the shows last weekend (especially as my bag was packed!), but the brutal heat coupled with an underlying chest infection really knocked me for six, and the medical advice was to rest up while taking medication.”
He then denied he was hospitalised, admitting he’s “not sure where the rumour about being in hospital started,” before adding, “Luckily that wasn’t necessary, and I was able to rest up at home and I’m pleased to say that I’m feeling a lot better than I was.”
In light of the recent rumours, he explained, “This latest knock back has brought about more speculation about my health, and that’s totally understandable. It’s no secret that I’ve undergone treatment for cancer and am still having scans on a regular basis to keep an eye on that.”
Heartbreakingly, Foxton told fans, “However, what you don’t know is that the cancer treatment in itself caused some significant issues for me and investigations into all of that uncovered the fact that I’m now facing a future living with Parkinson’s Disease…and I’m determined to do that as well as I possibly can.”
The Jam icon then said the diagnosis has been “a huge shock,” admitting that “it’s taking a long time to let that sink in and for me to accept that my body and mind are dealing with something completely out of my control.”
Foxton said of his current health status, “I have to manage the challenges I now face physically and mentally on a daily basis, and some days are better than others.”
The musician, who stopped playing in From The Jam, who he formed in 2007, last year due to his ill health, said that decision “was hard to accept”. However, Foxton then said his medication “has given me another chance to carry on doing what I love and what I live for in a relaxed and supportive environment”, allowing him to return to the road.
Despite his health issues, Foxton vowed, “With your help I’m going to keep going and playing live for as long as I’m able to do it. It’s good for me, my future health and hopefully good for all of you who still enjoy coming along to join with me, Mark, Craig, and Andy to enjoy those great songs. I will be working hard every day to give the best performance possible.”
Foxton has a series of concerts planned in the UK for later this year, including an appearance at the 100 Club in London next month.
Tragically, last year, Rick Buckler, Foxton’s fellow Jam co-founder alongside Paul Weller, died aged 69 following a short illness.
Following Buckler’s sad death, Weller opened up about his “regret” about not speaking to him before he died, admitting, “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.”
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