Who are the surviving The Jam members? Drummer Rick Buckler dies at 69

Musician and drummer of rock band, The Jam, Rick Buckler, died on February 17, 2025, at 69. According to BBC, the news of his demise was shared by his family who mentioned that his death was peaceful. He suffered from a minor illness although no further details were made available.

Band guitarist, Paul Weller, shared his tribute to Rick Buckler through social media posts on February 18, 2025. Weller wrote:

“I'm shocked and saddened by Rick's passing. I'm thinking back to us all rehearsing in my bedroom in Stanley Road, Woking. To all the pubs and clubs we played at as kids, to eventually making a record. What a journey! We went far beyond our dreams and what we made stands the test of time. My deepest sympathy to all family and friends - P.W x.”

The band's surviving members are Paul Weller and Bruce Foxton. Foxton also paid his tribute in Weller’s post, expressing his shock and sadness upon hearing the news. He described Rick Buckler as not only a talented drummer but also a great person, highlighting how his unique drumming style played a key role in shaping their music.

Foxton shared his gratitude for the time they spent working together and extended his heartfelt condolences to Rick’s wife, Leslie, and his family during this difficult time. His family remembered him as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

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Rick Buckler also wrote a book about the band

Rick Buckler was born on December 6, 1955. He joined The Jam in the early 1970s, forming a trio with Weller and Foxton, whom he met in school. Their first album, In the City, was released in 1977, and over the years, they produced several albums and had four number-one singles before disbanding in 1982.

In 2022, Rick Buckler released the book, The Jam 1982, written along with Zoe Howe. While discussing the book with Jason Barnard, he said:

“To be honest, it wasn’t an easy book to write. I mean when I wrote my autobiography, I just focused on the really good stuff that happened with the band and probably what most people remember about the band from a sort of external point of view.”

He continued:

“So, tackling this issue of 1982 and why the band split up was quite difficult because I had to cast my mind back to what exactly was happening in that year. It was a bit emotional because I had to sort of remind myself of the really strange situation that we found ourselves in.”

In total, the band released six albums, with their final one, The Gift, reaching No. 82 on the Billboard 200 chart. After a world tour promoting the album, the group split up following Weller’s decision to move on.

Known for blending punk rock with 1960s soul and a mod-inspired style, the band achieved four No. 1 singles, including Going Underground, and Town Called Malice.

Rick Buckler stepped away from the music industry in the mid-1990s to focus on carpentry, restoring antique furniture in his workshop. In 2006, he returned to music with the band, The Gift, later rebranded as From the Jam. Buckler is survived by his wife and kids.