were a English rock band active in the late 1970s and early ’80s. They were one of the most popular groups of the day, achieving eighteen straight Top 40 singles in the UK from their debut in 1977 to their swansong in 1982, including four #1 hits. Two of these eighteen singles were available on an import-only basis; they remain the best-selling import singles of all time in the UK. They also released six albums in their day, the last of which, The Gift, hit #1 on the UK album charts. Massively popular in Britain, as well as much of the rest of Europe and beyond, they never gained much commercial success in North America, but they did retain a considerable cult following. They drew upon a variety of stylistic influences over the course of their career, including punk rock, British Invasion, American soul, mod music, and even British psychedelia. Even into the 1990s their music proved to be highly influential on many successful British guitar pop bands from The Smiths in the ’80s to Britpop groups Blur and Oasis more recently. Despite the group’s limited fame in the United States, they remain a major influence on popular American groups such as Green Day. They are one of the most successful British groups of all time.

Formation (1972-1976)
The Jam formed in Woking, Surrey, England in 1972.
The line-ups were very fluid at this stage, consisting of guitarist and lead vocalist Paul Weller
and his various friends at Sheerwater Secondary School.
The line-up began to solidify in the mid ’70s with Weller, guitarist Steve Brookes,
drummer Rick Buckler, and bassist Bruce Foxton.
Through their early years, their sets consisted of early American
rock and roll covers by the likes of Chuck Berry and Little Richard.
They continued in this vein until Weller discovered The Who’s "My Generation"
and became fascinated with mod music and lifestyle. As he said later,
“I saw that through becoming a Mod it would give me a base and an angle to write from,
and this we eventually did. We went out and bought black suits
and started playing Motown, Stax and Atlantic covers. I bought a Rickenbacker guitar,
a Lambretta GP 150 and tried to style my hair like Steve Marriott’s circa ’66”.
[1] Eventually Brookes left the band, and was not replaced,
inviting Weller to develop a combined lead/rhythm guitar
style heavily influenced by The Who’s Pete Townshend as well as Dr. Feelgood guitarist Wilko Johnson.
The line-up of Weller, Foxton, and Buckler would persist until the end of The Jam’s career.
They were managed by Weller’s father, John Weller, who still manages Paul’s career.
Around 1976, Weller had another stylistic revelation after seeing the Sex Pistols.
He recalled later, “The Pistols’ noisy garage band racket and Rotten’s
youthful amphetamined arrogance. I loved it! It was so YOUNG and EXCITING,
and of course, there were NO FLARES - one of the most hideous fashion
creations ever!” [2] In the following two years,
the Jam gained a small following around London from playing minor gigs,
becoming one of the new lights on the nascent punk scene. In many ways,
however, they stood out from their punk peers.
Though they shared a youthful outlook, short hair, crushing volume,
and lightning-fast tempos, The Jam wore neatly tailored suits where others wore ripped clothes,
played professionally where others were defiantly amateurish,
and portrayed clear influences in 1960s rock where others were disdainful of the past.
Indeed, they were tagged by some journalists as “revivalists”.
That criticism notwithstanding, they were signed to Polydor Records in early 1977.

Mid 1973 - Sheerwater Youth Club, Woking - The Jam's first ever gig
Mid 1973-1975 - Various gigs in the Woking area
1973 - Kingsfield Social Club, Woking - Talent contest - Won by The Jam playing Reelin' an' Rockin'
1975 - Fulham Greyhound, London
October 1976 - Outdoors in Soho Market, London
October - December 1976 - Gigs at The Marquee, 100 Club and The Nashville, London

1977
February 26 - The Hunt Hotel, Linslade, Leighton-Buzzard - My local pub at the time! - Review coming shortly...
March 1 - Flanagans, Putney, London
March 2 - Red Cow, Hammersmith, London
March 5 - Leicester Polytechnic
March 9 - Red Cow, Hammersmith, London
March 11 - Keynes College, University of Kent
March 16 - Red Cow, Hammersmith, London
March 18 - Hope and Anchor, Islington, London
March 23 - Red Cow, Hammersmith, London
March 24 - The Rochester, Soke Newington, London
March 25 - Royal College of Art, London
March 30 - Red Cow, Hammersmith, London
March 31 - The Rochester, Soke Newington, London
April 16 - Leeds Polytechnic - Review by John Hamblett, NME
April - The Roundhouse, London
May - First nationwide tour, "White Riot Tour" with The Clash
June 4-July 24 - Nationwide headlining tour
September - The Nashville, London
September 11 - The 100 Club, London
September-October - Tour of Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands
October 6-October 18 - First American Tour
October 6 - Whiskey-A-Go-Go, Los Angeles
October 13 - The Rat,Boston MA, USA
October 16 - New York
November 17-December 18 - Nationwide tour promoting "This Is The Modern World" LP
15:30 November 26 - Friars, Aylesbury - Extra gig because the evening show sold out so quick! - Review coming shortly...
19:30 November 26 - Friars, Aylesbury

1978
February 14 - Paris
February 24 - The Marquee, London - First of the 4 "London Blitz" gigs to promoting "News Of The World" single
February 25 - The Marquee, London
February 27 - The 100 Club, London - Review coming shortly...
March 2 - The Music Machine, London
March 11-April 18 - Second American Tour
April 78 - The 4 Acres Club, Utica NY, USA
June - Various UK dates
June - The 100 Club, London
June 18 - Lyceum, London
July 30-August 4 - "Seaside Tour" of the south coast, England
August 13 - Bilsen Festival, Belgium
August 25 - Reading Festival
October 20-December - 3 Irish gigs, followed by the UK "Apocalypse Tour"
November 29 - Wembley Arena, London
December 7 - Wembley Arena, London - Headlining the Great British Music Festival - Review coming shortly...
December 21 - Music Machine, London - "Xmas Party"

1979
16 February - Reading University
February - Somewhere in France
February - Somewhere in Germany
February - Star Club, Hamburg - 2 dates here
March 6 - Brussells
April - Third American Tour plus first Canadian dates
April 12 - Paradise Ballroom, Boston MA, USA
May 4-June 9 "Jam 'em In" UK tour
November 2 Marquee, London - Secret gig performing as "John's Boys" - Review coming shortly...
November 3 The Nashville, London - Secret gig performing as "John's Boys"
November 17-December 20 - Nationwide tour to promoting "Setting Sons" LP
November 17 - Friars, Aylesbury - Review coming shortly...
December 13 - The Rainbow, London
December 29 - The Rainbow, London

1980
February - Cambridge
February - Kent
February - Malver
February 22-March 31 - Fourth American Tour
February/March - St. Paul Civic Center, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA - Review by Scott A. McWaters
February/March - U.C.L.A (Royce Hall), Los Angeles, California, USA - Review by Gary Page
April 7 - The Rainbow, London
April 8 - The Rainbow, London
April 18 - Guildford - Charity show for Sheerwater Youth Club
May 19 - Barcelona
May 20 - Madrid
May 26 - Pink Pop Festival, Geleen, Holland
June - 3 UK dates
June - Wolverhampton Civic Hall - Review by David Potts
June 21 - Loch Lomand Festival
July - First Japanese Tour
August 9 - Turju Festival, Finland
October 26-November 19 - UK tour promoting "Sound Affects" LP
October 28 - City Hall, Newcastle
November 22-30 - European tour of Norway, Sweden, Holland, Belgium and Germany
November 22 - Gothenburg, Sweden
December 1 - Vredenburg Concerthouse, Utrecht, Holland
December 9-13 - Short UK tour
December - Cornish Coliseum, St. Austell
December 12 - Music Machine, London
December 14 - Music Machine, London - "Xmas Party"

1981
February - 3 UK dates
February 26-March 16 - European tour of France, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Scandinavia
March 20-April 20 - Fifth American Tour
March 26 - The Ritz, New York
April 27 - Liverpool - "RIGHT To WORK" benefit gig
May 13 - Second Japanese Tour - 4 dates
June 10 - Stockholm - Headlining the Swedish Festival
June 17 - Rainbow, London - promoting "Funeral Pyre" single
June-July - "Bucket and Spade Tour"
June-July - Leicester
June-July - Stafford
June-July - Bridlington
June-July - Skegness
December 12 - Michael Sobell Centre, Finsbury Park, London - Pro CND show
December 13 - Michael Sobell Centre, Finsbury Park, London - Pro CND show
December 14 - Hammersmith Palais, London - Pro CND show
December 15 - Hammersmith Palais, London - Pro CND show
December 19 - Hippodrome, Golders Green, London

1982
February 27 - Hammersmith Odeon, London
March 6 - Guildford - Secret gig in honour of John and Anne Weller's Silver Wedding Anniversary
March 12-April 8 - "The Trans Global Unity Express Tour" of the UK
March 21 - Bingley Hall, Birmingham
April 6 - The Playhouse, Edinburgh
April 8 - The Apollo, Glasgow
April-May - Tour of Sweden, Denmark, Holland, France and Belgium
May 13-June 5 - Sixth and final tour of America and Canada
May-June 1982 Kerrisdale Arena, Vancouver, BC, Canada - Review by Darren Cranwell
June 11-20 - Third and final Japanese tour
June 14 - Tokyo
September 20-October 1 - The "Oh Gawd, Not Another Tour" - Cut short by illness
October - Jersey
October - Guernsey
November 25-December 11 - The farewell "Beat Surrender '82" tour
November 25 - The Apollo Theatre, Glasgow
December 2 - Wembley Arena, London
December 10 - Civic Hall, Guildford
December 11 - Conference Centre, Brighton - The last ever Jam gig :