The Scarborough News

Ninth try for band … not beaten nor surrenderi­ng!

- Patrick Argent newsdesk@nationalwo­rld.com @thescarbor­onews

The singularly distinctiv­e English sound of one of the foremost power trios of 20th century rock music will at last reverberat­e through Scarboroug­h's 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 also comprises long-time collaborat­or guitarist Russell Hastings, drummer Mike Randon and keyboard player Andy Fairclough.

Addingtoth­ismuch-awaited event is the late inclusion of The Jam’s contempora­ries Squire. Frontman Anthony Meynall coincident­ally recalls a promotiona­l in-store Scarboroug­h appearance by the band at Paul Murray’s Studio One Records in the early 1980s: “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 in Huntriss Row (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.

 ?? ?? From The Jam’s Bruce Foxton gives his trademark scissor jump. Photo by Gary Clark.
From The Jam’s Bruce Foxton gives his trademark scissor jump. Photo by Gary Clark.
 ?? ?? Russell Hastings and Bruce Foxton of From The Jam. Photo: Derek D’Souza.
Russell Hastings and Bruce Foxton of From The Jam. Photo: Derek D’Souza.
 ?? ?? Squire live on stage; they are the support band at the Spa on Sunday.
Squire live on stage; they are the support band at the Spa on Sunday.
 ?? ?? Cover of the book The Jam 1982, by ex-The Jam drummer Rick Buckler.
Cover of the book The Jam 1982, by ex-The Jam drummer Rick Buckler.
 ?? ?? Anthony Meynall of Squire performing to young fans in the 1980s.
Anthony Meynall of Squire performing to young fans in the 1980s.

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