Rick Buckler, the drummer for English rock band The Jam, has died.
He was 69.
Former bandmate Paul Weller announced the news in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
“I’m deeply saddened at the news of the passing of Rick Buckler, my sincere condolences go to his family at this difficult time,” Weller wrote.
“From our rudimentary beginnings, the band evolved into the powerful force that it became, Rick’s evolution as a drummer, was such a vital part of that.”
“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,” Weller added.
The Jam were formed in Woking, Surrey, in 1972 while its three founders were in secondary school and went on to record a number of hits, including “That’s Entertainment” and “Town Called Malice,” which have appeared on a number of film soundtracks in the ensuing decades as shorthand for early 1980s new wave.
The band released six full-length albums before suddenly breaking up in 1982.
“I’m not the greatest in the world, but I did take a leaf out of Ringo Starr’s book,” Buckler said in an interview with The Strange Brew. “He realized that the song is the star. None of us were really outstanding musicians in a lot of ways, but I think we were trying to be as inventive as we possibly could, so that we worked well together as a band.”
Bruce Foxton, The Jam’s bassist, said he was “devastated to hear the very sad news.”
“Rick was a good guy and a great drummer whose innovative drum patterns helped shape our songs. I’m glad we had the chance to work together as much as we did.”
Russell Hastings, a guitarist who performed with Buckler and Foxton, also memorialized his former bandmate on social media.
“I’m am extremely saddened and shocked at the news of Rick Buckler’s passing,” he wrote. “We were great friends as well as band mates going back some 25 years. Rick was a loving, funny and sensitive guy as well as a big family man who he adored and was adored by many.”
“Rick and myself had a long overdue lunch back in August last year,” he said in a follow-up post. “We laughed about the past and we explained some of our feelings of the past but most of all we were grateful to be sitting chatting and smiling which is how it all began many moons ago. RIP my friend.”
No cause of death has been revealed, but his management company and family said he had faced “a short illness” prior to his death.
Buckler “passed away peacefully on Monday evening in Woking after a short illness with family by his side,” the company said in a statement.
He was a “loving husband, father and grandfather” who was “devoted to many” and will be “greatly missed.”
TMZ reported that Buckler canceled a spoken-word tour in the U.K. two weeks ago over health concerns.
Buckler continued playing music after The Jam disbanded, but also worked as a carpenter and furniture maker. In 2015, he released an autobiography, “That’s Entertainment: My Life In The Jam.”
“It’s just the fact that we’re still talking about it, and that people are still interested in it, the records are still selling,” he told The Strange Brew. “I have to pinch myself every morning and think well, wow.”
He is survived by wife Leslie and children Jason and Holly.
