From The Jam try for Scarborough Spa gig for ninth time

From The Jam's Bruce Foxton gives his trademark scissor jump. Photo by Gary Clark.

The singularly distinctive English sound of one of the foremost power trios of 20th century rock music will at last reverberate forcefully through the Spa complex this weekend as From The Jam make their greatly anticipated and much-delayed appearance at the venue.

The concert has been cancelled no less than eight times (February and April 2020, January, May and November 2021 and, in 2022, April, June and most recently earlier this month), due to an unusual sequence of unforeseen circumstances and events, ranging from Covid to band members’ sudden illnesses.

The seemingly unprecedented number of postponements may even approach a record.

The tour began life to mark the anniversary of The Jam’s Setting Sons album; then, delayed, became a tribute to the band’s Sound Affects album; and now marks the 40th anniversary next month of the release of The Jam’s final single, Beat Surrender.

Led by original The Jam bassist Bruce Foxton, who makes his Scarborough debut, From The Jam's line-up comprises long-time collaborator guitarist Russell Hastings, drummer Mike Randon and keyboard player Andy Fairclough.

Adding to this much-awaited event is the late inclusion of The Jam’s contemporaries Squire. Frontman Anthony Meynall coincidentally recalls a promotional in-store appearance by the band at Paul Murray’s Studio One Records in the early 80s: “Our audience were too young to go to concerts so in October 1983 we did a nationwide tour of record shops, including Studio One in Scarborough, advertised through our fan club.

"We played at 4.30pm between schools out and the bus home! For many it was the first time they’d seen a band play and they remain fans to this day. We’ve already heard from many on Facebook that they’re coming to this weekend's concert. We’ll be at the ‘merch stall’ to meet them again!”.

The previously billed support band The Truth, led by Dennis Greaves, known to many Scarborough live music aficionados from Nine Below Zero’s highly memorable appearances at the Westwood art school, were unavailable for this latest rescheduled date.

The Jam’s drummer Rick Buckler, who appeared in the town as part of The Gift, with Russell Hastings, at the former rock venue Vivaz (coincidentally also owned by Paul Murray), is due to launch his fifth book next month. In ‘The Jam 1982’, Buckler relates the untold story of the final year of The Jam’s tenure, before they unexpectedly disbanded.

The undoubted leading protagonists of late 70s/early 80s resurgent Mod scene that emerged from the punk/new wave explosion, The Jam were a major force at the forefront of British music, latterly becoming a highly influential factor on the Britpop genre of the 90s. Their music and associated revivalist Mod culture retains an enduring quality that still resonates profoundly to this day.

From The Jam, supported by Squire, appear at the Spa on Sunday October 30 from 7.30pm. ‘The Jam 1982’ by Rick Buckler and Zoe Howe is published by Omnibus Press on November 17.