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Saturday, April 11, 2009

The Greatest Band.....EVER


As you see, most of my posts are about obscure US punk and such. Every once in awhile, I will post something from the other side of the pond for fun. I just wanted to make one thing clear. THE JAM IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE BAND. Bar none. I saw them at The Warfield in 1982 on their Trans Global Unity Tour at the Warfield Theatre in San Francisco. I ditched school with some classmates and we spent all day running around the city. My buddy Tanie (or Toni as we all called him) was a Thai prince....or so he said. But we had the best day of my life. Not only did we see The Jam, we went around back of the venue and met The Jam. Yes I know that was common practice for them in the UK, but here we did not know that they did that. It was a unforgettable experience. A few years ago, in the same venue I saw Weller solo after his wonderful album As Is Now and I have to admit it was tired and fucking boring. Too bad Paul. Maybe you really do need Bruce and Rick. Even though he had a cracking backup band, which included the twat from Ocean Color Scene and....man I forgot who the drummer is, damnit! They just were plain...well, boring. My wife and I left 3/4 through the set. I spent $60, had Thai dinner, had an idiot try to lift my wallet...no worries, Kennyhel77 is a big and mean man, so I thwarted that! But it all comes back to this. I love this band to death, even nearly 30 something years. I might post some boots that I have for fun, dunno. If so, readers, fans or whatever, let me know, and I will. I just wanted everyone to know about my first love.
Ken

11 comments:

  1. hey kenny.hows things?yes please mate id love to hear some jam boots if you could post some that would be great.cheers mate

    i might have some flesheaters stuff for you later

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  2. So what is it you are trying to say Ken? Oh you think the Jam are okay? I got it now : - )


    Vote me in for any Jam boots!

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  3. Well it would be hard to post something that the wonderful blog Mondo de Muebles hasn't already posted, but let me take a look. Gobshyte, would it be ok to post the Afflicted album that I got???? Being that they were from San Francisco and all.
    Ken

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  4. Great story, reminds me of one of my own. Not sure if you checked the June 2008 Mojo but I remember Paul Weller saying something to the effect of "I would re-form The Jam if I were face down in the gutter and completely out of pot" http://cover.mojo4music.com/Item.aspx?pageNo=1783&year=2008

    Having never been in a band for an extended period of time I wouldn't begin to understand the animosity that can build up. I hope one day there will be a Jam reunion till then I'll have to wait for you to post some bootlegs

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  5. Filmore, from what I have heard, Paul has spoken to Bruce, and I think some of the problems are gone. Though with Bruce and Rick doing From The Jam, and by all accounts that I have heard, is that they're great, Paul might be harboring some ill will again. I have seen some bad photos of Paul out and about on town, shitfaced and stumbling in Europe. The face down part is already there, he just needs to buy some pot to get The Jam back and running
    Thanks for

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  6. I actually typo'd the n't Paul said he "Wouldn't re-form.... but your news sounds more promising. Sound Effects is a total dessert island disc for me and the 3 disc re-issue of Snap is pretty good. Graham Coxon has also done the band justice with his covers of All Mod Cons and Billy Hunt. Best band indeed! You Tube had a pretty funny performance of The Jam on American Bandstand with Dick Clark. Funny because I think every band that appeared on AB lip-synced. Not sure if it's still posted. Paul's solo stuff is very good but without Bruce & Rick it's like somebody took the venom out of a rattlesnake.

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  7. agreed. Never did see them on American Bandstand. Remember watching PIL on there and Johnny walked around the dancers while the music was playing. It was pretty funny. As for Weller, the only solo stuff that I have been able to get into was As Is Now, which I felt like was a TRUE return to form. Who knows on the reformation thing. Sting said it would be a cold day in hell when The Police would reform. Hell is pretty cold right now I guess.
    Ken

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  8. For most of us (of a certain age) The Jam will always remain essential listening. Esspecially this side of the pond. I was havin a chat with an old mate a few weeks back, where we concluded The Jam had always be a Punk Rock band to us. 'Setting Sons' is still up there in my top 10 LP's ever.
    J

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  9. Setting Sons is my alltime fave. Yes indeed, they are essential listening. Love them.
    Funny enough, I don't care for the Style Council all that much aside from their first few singles

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  10. A Jam reformation doesn't look likely Kenny. From The Jamm are going from strength to strength over here and Bruce and Rick may just feel that they don't need Weller anymore.
    I sometimes think that the only way certain bands will get back together is if everyone is penniless.
    As long as one member is doing alright it never, or rarely, happens.

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  11. you´re blog is really fucking good! nice that you´re a huge jam-fan. me to. there is alot of good us punk you´re posting that i´d never heard of before. keep it up!
    /kriss, punk from sweden

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