Rick Buckler Tribute

17th February 2025 was a very sad day for fans of The Jam. It was the day drumming legend Rick Buckler passed away after a short illness, aged just 69. The outpouring of love that followed on social media spoke volumes about how much he meant to us. I hope his family and close friends drew comfort from knowing how much of an impact Rick had on so many people's lives. My thoughts go out to them.

To try and help others come to terms with losing one third of "our band", and for therapeutic purposes, I put the feelers out on X and Instagram asking people to share their memories of Rick with a view to putting together some kind of tribute here on my blog. This is the end result. I hope you will find it as heart warming as I do when you read what others have shared.

I feel privileged to be able to start the ball rolling with a photo taken by Kate Foxton in August 2024. Bruce was at home recovering from knee surgery when he had a surprise visitor. 

Russell Hastings of From The Jam posted an incredibly moving video online where he spoke openly about what Rick was like as a person. He knew him better than most having worked with him closely for many years. I'm sure I wasn't alone in feeling a lump in my throat when I listened to what he had to say. There was so much love and respect there. Russell also shared the above photo on his social media channels and kindly agreed to me including it in this tribute. Here's what he had to say:

"This was the last time Rick and Bruce saw each other. Rick phoned me and said he would like to pop in and see Bruce and asked if he was out of hospital. I told him he was at home and within two hours he arrived at the gate."

Apparently when Russell called round at Bruce's for a coffee the next day Bruce was happy to tell him about his surprise visitor.

The photo below was taken on March 21st 2025, when From The Jam played in Warrington. I bet Rick was with them all in spirit on that stage. Such a nice touch. ❤️

Someone else who got to know Rick over the years is DJ and presenter, Gary Crowley. He started his career in style back in 1977, by featuring The Jam in his own fanzine - 'The Modern World'. I featured a piece about it in this post on my blog.

Fast forward 31 years to the Lock Tavern, Camden. Rick was still playing with From The Jam. Gary carried out a fascinating and very relaxed interview with Bruce and Rick which was included in a special two disc DVD set. In it they share thoughts about each of The Jam’s albums, along with interesting memories.

Gary told me, “So many memories but I was so lucky to interview Rick & Bruce (& Russ & Dave) for the From The Jam - A First Class Return DVD. Some nice bits in it I thought…both were on great form that day and hearing their memories was so special."

Back in 2017 David Rhys Lewis got to meet Rick at a fund raising event in aid of The Rotary Water Barrel Project, named 'Drummers on Top of the O2'. A group of drummers, including Rick and Brett Buddy Ascott of The Chords fame walked across the top of the O2 arena, then played a snare drum. It was not for the faint hearted!

Sadly David lost his photos of the event, but here is one I found on this page. There's a lovely tribute from Brett to accompany it.

And on the subject of The Chords, Chris Pope posted a great photo on X. Speaking about Rick he simply said, "Such sad news. I knew Rick since the 70s. You were a fantastic drummer and always a gentleman. RIP"

When I was putting together my 40th anniversary fanzine, it was a pleasure to include poetry written by my dear friend Joe Praks. Joe is a massive fan of The Jam and following Rick's passing felt compelled to write a poem dedicated to him. The accompanying image was taken from a letter Rick wrote for members of The Jam's fan club circa 1978. The letter appears in my first "The Jam Scrapbook.

On hearing of Rick's passing, I chatted privately and publicly to a number of fans. Quite a few of us commented on the fact that the way we were reacting was as if we'd lost an old friend. My mind immediately rewound to teenage days crouched over my record player, listening to those precious albums and singles on repeat. How much those songs spoke to me.

I recalled the last time I saw The Jam play live on the Beat Surrender tour in Bridlington. December 6th 1982. It was Rick's birthday. Instigated by Paul Weller, the crowd sang happy birthday to him. And for a moment the unmistakeable air of sadness floating around the room lifted, as we temporarily forgot this was to be the last time we would get to see The Jam play live.

Although for years we all knew a reunion was never going to be on the cards, I believe Alex McLaughlan's story outlines what many of us hoped might happen one day.

It's early '78. I've just turned 15. My cousin and I are browsing in Listen Records in Glasgow. He’s five years older than me and all I really know about music has been filtered down to me by him. He is moving on from Alice Cooper and David Bowie and getting into punk and – because he was the big brother I never had – so am I.

I pick up a Jam album sleeve. They are they latest band that we are getting into. I flip it over and look at the back and see the tracks listed, with the songwriter credits underneath. ‘Paul Weller’. ‘Bruce Foxton’. ‘Paul Weller’. ‘Paul Weller’. ‘Paul Weller’. ‘Bruce Foxton’. And so on until under the last track – ‘Wilson Pickett’. “Is that the drummer?” I asked. 

Back to the present… I’d given up hope – and any desire – of seeing a Jam reunion many, many years ago, but for sentimental reasons I wanted the three guys to be friends. Particularly as they got older, for I feared this time would come, where three became two. 

It would have been great to see them all sitting down with a cup of tea and having chat at one of the exhibitions that have been held in recent years. And seeing The Style Council documentary, where Paul, Mick, Dee and Steve played one song together, made me wish that the same could’ve happened with Paul, Bruce and Rick. 

I knew that the three would never be reunited on stage (not even just Rick and Bruce joining Weller in a one-off “guest slot” for a couple of Jam songs), given Weller’s comments on the situation. But just one performance, the three of them in a room. That would have been magical. But which song? What number from their back catalogue could they have performed? Paul and Bruce perhaps acoustically, with Rick perched behind a simple kit? My suggestion would’ve been “The Butterfly Collector”. 

And as a post-script, Rick is the only one of the three that I’ve met. He did a Q&A in the basement of a pub in Glasgow in 2019. He was a gentleman. Even when the slightly inebriated bloke beside me – who had asked the inevitable question about the band getting back together – said “Weller’s a bit of shit”, Rick defended his old mate. At the end of the event he waited patiently until every last photo had been taken and piece of memorabilia had been signed. 

Rest easy, Rick. Thank you for the music and the memories. And thank you for the direction in which you, Paul and Bruce pointed my teenage self.

Pete Del is himself a drummer and has a deeper appreciation than most of Rick's musical talents. He has been lucky enough to meet Rick many times over the years. And not only that but he got to play on his 'Great White' drums.

This came about because of Pete's friendship with Jam memorabilia collector extraordinaire - Den Davis. As some of you may already know, Den curated the London and Liverpool 'About The Young Idea' exhibitions. He also owns a recording studio just outside of Manchester, where Rick's drumkit is stored.

Pete recalls one particularly memorable visit to the studio, where he had the pleasure of setting up the drumkit. I'll hand over to him to tell you the rest.

I was lucky enough to meet Rick many times over the years. Visiting him a couple of times at his studio in North London in the mid-80s….he called me personally at home to invite me. I felt 10 feet tall that day!

Bumping into him in the toilets at The Marquee, walking around the About The Young Idea exhibition with him in Liverpool, but my lasting memory was when he was finally reunited with his drums. The Great White.

I’d set the kit up and he joked about what a pain that was… and I had done it all wrong, then shared some amazing stories some of which I could never repeat in public!!

As Bruce said, one of the good guys. Generous with his time and so humble, I think the attention he got embarrassed him a little but he was very proud of his legacy with The Jam and talked about it with same enthusiasm as fans like you and I would. 

Being with him looking at and playing a drum kit that was used to record some of the music I grew up on and still love was just about the most surreal but amazing experience I have had.

As those who bought a copy of my 40th anniversary fanzine and regular visitors to this blog will know, it was making a connection via social media with Steve Hinders that enabled me to put together all of my Jam-related blog posts. Naturally, we messaged each other when we heard the sad news about Rick. I just knew Steve would have something up his sleeve when I asked for memories and memorabilia.

He told me how his sister Lisa accompanied him when we saw the Jam in Cleveland, Ohio in 1979. She was 17.

"She loved the show," Steve said. "Afterwards we were able to chat with Paul, Rick, Bruce, and John. Lisa was quite enamoured with Rick. Before we left, she walked up to Rick and kissed him on the cheek."

The photo below was taken at the gig. Steve commented "I love that Rick's right arm and drumstick is in mid air. He was such a solid, passionate drummer."

Tom Kildare is guitarist with a fantastic Mod tribute band called The Rics. One of these days I am hoping I will get to see them play live because from the videos I've seen on their You Tube channel, they over deliver when it comes to covering songs by The Jam.

It understandably hit Tom hard when he heard the sad news of Rick's passing. When The Rics played at Manchester March of the Mods in aid of the Teenage Cancer Trust shortly afterwards, they dedicated a few songs to Rick.

In The Jam 40th anniversary scrapbook Tom shared a fantastic story about the time he saw the band in Liverpool in 1982. Here is his special memory about Rick from that gig.

I met Rick and the other guys after a gig in the Royal Court Liverpool. Rick and Bruce were very approachable. Myself and my mate Ricky stayed behind after the gig and we hid in the bar which was downstairs in the basement of the theatre. 

I spoke to Bruce first then went over to Rick and said how I admired him as a drummer he asked me if I played, but I told him I was currently learning the guitar. He wished me luck and then I asked for his autograph. He said "certainly young man". I was overjoyed. His memory will live on.

This tribute would not be complete without a soundcheck story and Brian Davidson's is a special one.

In Sept 82, along with my partner at the time, I travelled through to see The Jam play in Edinburgh. I had seen the band before, however this was my first time going to a gig that wasn’t in Glasgow.

We landed in the city centre super early, and decided to see the sights for a bit before heading out to the venue (Ingliston Showground).

We were walking down Princes St staring up at Edinburgh Castle, when we heard a couple of voices chatting as they passed us. We didn’t recognise the accents, however they definitely weren’t Scottish! We turned to look at them as they walked away from us, and then sprinted the 50 yards or so to say hello.

It was Rick Buckler & Bruce Foxton having a pre-gig wander. They were both lovely to us. Signed our gig tickets, and then invited us to their soundcheck at the venue!

Two hours later we were sitting with around 50 others, watching The Jam play a few songs including Move On Up (with an extended instrumental break) and Ghosts. The Jam were our favourite band, and this was just the best things ever.

The band came over at the end of the soundcheck, said hello signed a few autographs etc, and Rick thanked us all for coming! (Should have been the other way round.)

Later that evening, we watched the full gig, with a knowing nod when the soundcheck songs were played. Two months later, the band were no more.

Fast forward 40 years - me and my pal Stephen went to see Rick in Glasgow when he was on a talk tour supporting his memoirs. It was a great evening, with a lot of love in the room. We stayed behind to say hello to him at the end, and I mentioned to him that we had met before in Princes St Edinburgh in 82, and he had invited us to the soundcheck. He smiled, and said “ we always tried to have a special relationship with our fans it was really important to us, hope you enjoyed the gig”

The Jam created something unique, and Rick was its beating heart.

Thanks for making our lives that little bit better.

PS my ticket stub only has Bruce Foxton’s signature on it. The other half was taken on admission to the venue!

The two photos above were taken when Sarah Stevens met Rick at the ‘Here Comes The Weekend’ event in Woking in May 2024. He was there, speaking about his time in The Jam. Sarah told me, "It was a pretty special moment to meet him and he was so interesting to listen to. He was genuinely interested in what I had to say about The Jam, and how they changed my life at the age of eight. There is another event in May this year and I think it will be pretty emotional.”

I love the sincere expression on Rick’s face in the second photo. I can see why it is Sarah’s favourite.

Stuart MacGregor went along to meet Rick when he was giving a talk in Glasgow. They spoke afterwards. Stuart said "He was interested in hearing that my now wife and I spoke about The Jam a lot when we started dating 10 years ago. He was a proper gentleman!"

Kenny went along to one of Rick's Q&A sessions at the 100 Club in London in March 2023. He took the photos below. When I asked Kenny what he thought about the evening he said, "Rick spoke openly and honestly about his life, The Jam and after The Jam. He was very relaxed, chatty and happy to sign autographs afterwards.

And another great photo of Pat Ascott with Rick. It was taken at the Royal Crown in Rochester, Kent.

Within a few days of hearing the sad news I decided to host yet another poll on X. After asking people to nominate their personal favourite Rick driven songs, and adding a few of my own, we finished up with 52 tracks spanning different stages of his career. I know I’m not alone in saying that listening to each track whilst fully focussed on the drumming, was a whole new experience.

There were a few surprises along the way, but it was pretty clear from an early stage which song was going to take the crown. The vast majority agreed Rick took things into another stratosphere with his drumming on Funeral Pyre.

Here is a rundown of all 52 tracks.

2 Strange Town
3 Down in the Tube Station at Midnight (live)
4 A Bomb in Wardour Street
5 When You're Young
6 The Eton Rifles
7 Start!
8 To Be Someone
9 Town Called Malice
10 The Modern World
11 Private Hell
12 In the City (live)
13 Set the House Ablaze
14 Thick as Thieves
15 But I'm Different Now
16 All Around the World
17 Happy Together
18 News of the World
19 Just who is the 5 O'Clock Hero?
20 Wasteland
21 Ghosts
22 Art School
23 Burning Sky
24 Smithers Jones
25 Away from the Numbers
26 Precious
27 Little Boy Soldiers
28 Move on up
29 Carnation
30 Dreams of Children
31 Scrape Away
32 Man in the Corner Shop
33 Absolute Beginners
34 The Great Depression
35 It's Too Bad
36 Midnight Hour
37 Tales from the Riverbank
38 Circus
39 In the Crowd
40 Heatwave
41 In the Street Today
42 All Mod Cons
43 Disguises
44 Big Bird
45 Transglobal Express
46 The Cabaret (Time UK)
47 Later Day (From The Jam)
48 See Saw
49 Shopping
50 Playground of Privilege (Time UK)
51 Time for Truth
52 Dreamtime

Art by Lee Tyler

Next up we have a selection of personal tributes from fellow fans of The Jam. To me they say so much about what Rick and The Jam meant to so many of us. How they influenced us and helped to shape our lives.

Music is full of flamboyant drummers who twirl and throw their sticks and gurn for all they're worth while alternating between sitting and standing. Rick Buckler never seemed to move at all. It was effortless. It was magnificent.

With Bruce Foxton he formed the truly formidable and unmatched driving heart of the Jam soundscape. Paul Weller wrote the songs but Bruce, and especially Rick, drove them. Unequalled. Unforgettable. Forever missed.

Met him first time 1982 in Liverpool as a starstruck teenager, I left feeling an equal. Such a funny man and a true gent! And as for his drumming, those machine gun drum rolls, crashing symbols and drum patterns that was the seasoning in a delicious three course meal.

True story. Parents used to be publicans in the late 70s/early 80s in the centre of Leicester. My dad sent me down the road to his mate's pub to borrow a case of mixers (at 9am). I walked in through the back door. Standing at the bar supping bottles of Holstein Pils, was Rick & Bruce (no Paul). There was nobody else there. I just nodded and said something stupid like "Alright?"

Met him twice, but most memorably last May at Woking FC. Had a humorous pic taken with my wife, then I had the opportunity to thank him for everything The Jam gave us.

I watched The Story Of The Jam four times on Sky Arts. Always thought how "ordinary" the boys came across. Not a hint of "showing off" because they were in probably the most influential band EVER. They spoke so well and Rick, especially, impressed me with his approachability.

I remember he came running down the steps of The Grand Hotel Brighton once, to get into a waiting car, and a kid shouted "You're the best drummer since Keith Moon". Rick smiled at him as if to say "Hmm, not sure about that." Modest as ever. He will be sorely missed.

The Jam influenced all of us. We even started a band at 16 and I started playing drums due to Rick. I never did master Funeral Pyre! He will be sadly missed.

I've met him many times and have been privileged to have worked with him. Plenty of stories to tell :-)

I remember answering the door to the postman on my birthday and completely out of the blue received a birthday gift from Rick. Wasn't expecting anything and was shocked and delighted.... Mini signed guitars and signed sticks. Simple message "Happy Birthday Mag." That meant a lot.

I met them all backstage at the Rainbow theatre and got their autographs. My first ever gig. Was lucky enough to see them twice more at Alexandra Pavilion and Wembley Arena. Part of my teenage years and still a massive part of my life.

I saw The Jam at Bridlington Spa in July 1981 and they all stayed behind afterwards to do autographs. Feel lucky to have been able to experience that.

Rick gave so much to the band. A great drummer who I have to thank for taking my friend and I to the backstage party. A lovely man who will be dearly missed.

I got to meet him at Ryde Theatre, Isle of Wight in about 2005. They were 'The Gift' then, before 'From the Jam'. The band spent ages chatting and my mate got one of his drum sticks. I was just happy to meet him.

Aged 14 and brother comes home from work and says “I’ve got us tickets to see the Jam at the Top Rank in Sheffield. First band I ever saw and blew my mind. Sound Affects tour. Went and bought the back catalogue and the rest is history. Best band in the fucking world. Shaped me RIP.

I didn't get the chance to meet him, but my best memory has to be when as a 15 year old school boy with my brother and then girlfriend I got tickets for Wembley Arena Beat Surrender tour first time I’d ever seen a live band truly unforgettable R.I.P Rick

I was lucky enough to see The Jam eight times including the first four at Wembley. But after the split I followed Rick’s next band Time UK and saw them a good dozen times around London over a couple of years. Wonderful times seeing him play small venues like the Marquee. RIP.

Here are my pictures from the Concert at Grona Lund in Stockholm the 10th of June 1981. An awesome moment for a 15 year old! We stood in the front row, and the there was a lot of pressure against the security fence, I had my old Kodak pocket Instamatic in my hand. The price for the tickets was 30 Swedish crowns.

I was eighteen when I first saw the Jam at Shepton Mallet. We had gone in a friend's car, but it broke down on the way - we managed to get it to a garage in the town but then needed to get a taxi to the venue - missed the first three songs.

After the most brilliant gig, we faced a long wait to get a taxi back to the garage to pick up the car. Steve Nichol from the brass section saw us waiting and asked us if we wanted to wait inside. We followed him into a bar and the whole band were there. They were all absolutely charming, Rick especially was very happy to chat. My ticket signed by all three of the Jam is one of my treasures.

The Jam have been a large part of my life since 1977. I was lucky enough to meet the man after a gig playing as The Gift. A really nice guy who will be sadly missed.

I never met him but my brother did when they did a signing for Tube Station at a record store in Bristol. He remembers queueing for ages. I saw him live in Bristol in 1979 when I was 15 and again in 2008 at Guilfest. What a drummer!

First saw them in Sunderland in the summer of 1977. It was a raucous affair with most of the audience drunk! However, you could tell they had something about them. Rick and the band certainly gave people so much pleasure over the years. RIP.

I was privileged to have met Rick when The Jam first appeared in Vancouver. I was 22 and he would have been 23 at the time. We had our lives ahead of us and I’m heartbroken to learn his has ended far far too soon.

Living in London we were spoiled. I got to see them loads of times. All great, but if I had to pick one... the secret gig at the Marquee in Wardour Street was a banger.

I was so lucky to meet them all as an 18 year old. Although I adored all of The Jam he was my absolute favourite and my drumming hero. This band touched so many.

Like a perfect stranger you rode into my life, then like the perfect lone ranger you rode away...

<><><>

I would like to finish with one of my own poems, which is something a little different.

Rick will be remembered first and foremost as a musician, but he also had another passion - carpentry. Dating back as early as his schooldays he made his own drum kit. In the 90’s, he stepped away from the spotlight and learned the art of cabinet making and furniture restoration. He went on to create many pieces. All of his furniture was stamped with his name. In the poem I’ve tried to combine both aspects of his life.

Hazy sun sends daggers of light

Through the empty workshop window

The only sound is the rustle of trees

Swaying in the breeze

To a distant beat

I picture you as you chiselled and sawed

Thoughts faraway

From the glare of stage lights

Carving your name in pieces of wood

As you have etched memories

Deep in our hearts.

<><><>

    Find me on X

   Kindred Spirit is on Instagram!

Email: kindredspiritfanzine@gmail.com


There are many more stories about Rick and The Jam here on my blog, which I feel even more privileged to have been able to post now. Links are provided below.

Paul Weller, The Jam and Riot Stories - Letters from Paul Weller, tea with the Weller family, Setting Sons sound checks, fanzines, poetry and a whole lot more.

The Jam Scrapbooks

Early days through to 1978.
1979 & 1980
1981 & 1982
Extras
40th Anniversary
Scrapbook Six
Scrapbook Seven