The Jam were/are my favourite band of all time, A true working class band not formed out of art school. I saw them several times, their following was fanatical back in the day, it got a bit annoying once the Mod thing took off and everybody was 'in to them' tbh.
For a period they were the biggest band in the country, first to go straight in to No. 1 since Slade (with Going Underground - aided by some clever marketing I might add).
Cool dressers as well imo - particularly Weller.
I have everything they ever did, have most of TSC stuff as well (some good - some not so good) , plus most of Weller's solo stuff.
Weller could look after himself in his younger days (his dad boxed and encouraged him in 'the noble art') there is talk of him giving Foxton a black eye after a fight in the back of their van and also him hitting Sid Vicious over the head with a bottle.
He seems to make a habit of dissing people he once relied on, Buckler, Foxton, Steve White, Paolo Hewitt, numerous women. His other trait is plagiarism, (although I'd argue that he's taken bits of others songs, made new songs from them and actually improved them) I Still love his music though. Saw him in Dublin last year, brilliant gig with his 'band' Craddock, Pilgrim etc.
One criticism that can't be levelled at him is that he's lazy, he is always working and always evolving.
I digress - This isn't about Weller. The Jam were Paul, Bruce and Rick. The Woking Wondermen as Gary Crowley had it.
