Rick Buckler

Rick Buckler (born Paul Richard Buckler, (1955-12-06) 6 December 1955, Woking, Surrey, England), is the English former drummer of The Jam, an English [mod] band that enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom from 1977 until disbanding in 1982. Although spearheaded by the songwriter Paul Weller, the rhythm section of Buckler on drums and Bruce Foxton on bass guitar were an integral part of The Jam's sound and success. The Jam split at the behest of Weller.

Q reported in March 2006 that Buckler was dismissive of the jazz leanings in Weller's post-Jam band The Style Council, after Weller played his ex-bandmate tapes of his new songs. Weller has not spoken to Buckler socially for more than 20 years.

In 1983, Buckler joined 'Time UK', featuring himself, Jimmy Edwards and Ray Simone, both formerly of 'MasterSwitch', Danny Kustow from the Tom Robinson Band and former Sparks/Radio Stars bassist Martin Gordon. Gordon's tenure was brief – he recorded demos and performed only one gig with the band before being replaced by Nick South of Sniff 'n' the Tears and Steve Marriott's All Stars. Time UK sold nearly 60,000 copies of their first single, "The Cabaret".

Buckler was reunited with Foxton and Edwards as 'Sharp', who recorded some songs for the short-lived Unicorn record label. These recordings have subsequently been re-issued on a Time UK anthology. Buckler started a furniture refurbishment business after Time UK's demise and produced and mixed the album Bound for Glory by The Highliners and drummed for them in 1990.

From November 2005, Buckler played drums in 'The Gift'^[1] with Russell Hastings (vocals/guitar) and Dave Moore (Bass), the band playing exclusively material by The Jam.^[2] In 2007, Bruce Foxton joined the line-up (with Moore moving to rhythm guitar and keyboards) and they began touring under the name of From The Jam. On 15 September 2009 Buckler announced that he would no longer play and tour with the band. He was replaced by Mark Brzezicki formerly of Big Country.

In 2011 Rick Buckler returned in a new band If, co formed with Tim V from Sham 69 on vocals, and featuring Ian Whitewood on second drums,Tony Feedback on guitar, and Al Campbell on bass. As of 2013 Buckler is managing a number of other musical acts, including singer-guitarist Sarah Jane and vocal band 'The Brompton Mix'.^[3]

Rick Bucklers autobiography That's Entertainment: My Life in the Jam^[4][5] was published by Omnibus Press in May 2015. In the book Buckler tells The Jam story from growing up in Woking and meeting fellow members Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton at school, through their formation in 1972 and tells of the band's early years before signing to Polydor records as well as a year by year account of The Jam's progress.

References

External links

• The Jam Fan (official website as run by Rick Buckler)
• Rick Buckler
• If official website
• Time U.K. (official website)
• The Jam Fan Myspace Page
• Interview with Rick Bucker for Mudkiss
• 2013 video interview with Buckler