The Jam’s Bruce Foxton shares health update following medical “procedure”
The Jam bassist Bruce Foxton has revealed that he’s recently undergone “an immediate procedure”, and will now take a break from touring.
Foxton was a founding member of the iconic punk-rock three piece alongside singer Paul Weller and drummer Rick Buckler. Following the release of their debut album, 1977’s In The City, The Jam became one of the most defining bands of the era, creating a further five records before parting ways in 1982. Since their split, Weller has kept The Jam in the past, swiftly moving on to form The Style Council before embarking upon an esteemed solo career.
On the contrary, Foxton has been keeping the group’s legacy alive since 2007 when he joined the tribute band, From The Jam. The band frequently tour around the United Kingdom, but they’ll be going about their business during the foreseeable future without Foxton.
In a statement on Facebook, the bassist provided an update on his longstanding health problems. “To all my lifelong wonderful fans, as a lot of you know my health has not been good for the past few years and the latest news is that I have had to go into hospital for an immediate procedure,” his message began.
While Foxton is optimistic for the future, he revealed, “It is with much regret and sadness that I will not be able to perform again with From the Jam until I have made a full recovery. The band has done everything to help me for the past couple of years and have even suggested several times that I take time off to look after my health and recuperate.”
Foxton didn’t provide a timeframe on how long he expects his recovery to take, but he did say “with God’s will I will see you all in the not too distant future on the Setting Sons 45th-anniversary tour.” From The Jam are set to begin touring the aforementioned album, released in 1979, on October 2nd at The Engine Rooms in Southampton. The run of dates concludes on May 17th, 2025, at the Limelight in Belfast.
In an additional update from the band’s X account, they refuted claims from the Daily Mirror that Foxton had been “rushed to hospital”, and also said “rather than ‘sad’ this is positive news as Bruce is taking time to convalesce.”
Although Foxton stated that his health issues have been a problem for “the past few years”, the bassist refrained from specifying the details or the intricacies of the procedure.
Health permitting, Foxton will return to performing with From The Jam upon making a full recovery with the group remaining the closest thing to seeing The Jam play live. In the 2015 documentary, About The Young Idea, Weller dismissed a potential reunion, remarking, “Absolutely, categorically, fucking no. To me it would be against everything we ever stood for. More than ever the older I get, the more I want to see what I can do. I just want to push it as far as I can.”
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