The Jam drummer Rick Buckler dies

Dave W · February 19, 2025, 07:06:17 AM

The Jam drummer Rick Buckler dies aged 69

Alanko · February 19, 2025, 07:37:06 AM

Can we rename this section of the forum 'deathwatch?'

Gutted by this, however. I gather Bruce Foxton has just announced his retirement as well. A wee bit of me was always holding out for a Jam reunion. Gutted because I don't even think of the Jam as an old band. They kicked off in the late '70s and ran into the '80s. Weller is still an active artist, not an oldies-circuit nostalgia act. Troubling when names from the '80s are starting to pass away.

Uwe's edit: I took the liberty to correct "Seller" into "Weller", I think that is what you meant, Alan!

uwe · February 19, 2025, 04:43:48 PM

Great trio they were. I really like Weller's solo stuff

and understand that much like Clapton and Sting he grew tired of the limitations of a power trio as a songwriter eventually, but man I wish he had gotten it over himself to grant the other two the indulgence of a one-off reunion tour or even just a handful of performances.

BTL · February 19, 2025, 06:18:01 PM

I'm a fan, but I'm not a student of the history. RIP.

Alanko · February 20, 2025, 12:28:22 PM

Quote from: uwe on February 19, 2025, 04:43:48 PM

Great trio they were. I really like Weller's solo stuff

and understand that much like Clapton and Sting he grew tired of the limitations of a power trio as a songwriter eventually, but man I wish he had gotten it over himself to grant the other two the indulgence of a one-off reunion tour or even just a handful of performances.

I listened to a best of the Jam compilation, and you can detect Weller's itchy feet as you get closer to the end of the band's tenure. The core power trio is in there, but suddenly there is Hammond organ, horns, layers of acoustic guitars etc. A soul influence starts to creep in.

uwe · February 22, 2025, 10:05:30 AM

Yes, and that happens with many trios: The chief songwriters grow tired of the format. Sting once said: "In a trio, no matter how good the people are, at the end of the day you are finding yourself painting with only three colors, that becomes confining for creating new music."

I understand where that statement comes from - when Sting started his solo career he didn't even want to play bass himself anymore, so eager was he to leave the sound of The Police behind.

There are exceptions to the rule like Rush, but they were not a single songwriter band, but a collaborative effort with an instrumental focus.

If Jimi Hendrix were alive today, I'd rule out that he would still play in a trio format.

Alanko · February 22, 2025, 02:51:08 PM

I do wonder where Jimi Hendrix would have gone, musically. I guess the bigger band at Woodstock was a hint at something, even if it was a couple of extra dudes on percussion and a fairly superfluous guitarist. Maybe Jimi would have had something like the Arkestra. A sort of sprawling, jazz-adjacent afrofuturist soundscape for Jimi to solo over.

Pilgrim · February 22, 2025, 05:46:24 PM

Quote from: uwe on February 22, 2025, 10:05:30 AMYes, and that happens with many trios: The chief songwriters grow tired of the format. Sting once said: "In a trio, no matter how good the people are, at the end of the day you are finding yourself painting with only three colors, that becomes confining for creating new music."

I understand where that statement comes from - when Sting started his solo career he didn't even want to play bass himself anymore, so eager was he to leave the sound of The Police behind.

There are exceptions to the rule like Rush, but they were not a single songwriter band, but a collaborative effort with an instrumental focus.

If Jimi Hendrix were alive today, I'd rule out that he would still play in a trio format.

I'm reading a bio of SRV. He preferred the trio because it gave him room to pursue his particular path. Not true for everyone, and as you mentioned, if the focus is more musical than writing, perhaps not a problem.