As the drummer with the Jam in the late 1970s and early 80s, Rick Buckler, who has died aged 69 after a short illness, helped to give the band its drive and urgency, as well as a smart, street-wise outlook in combination with his band-mates, Paul Weller on vocals and guitar and Bruce Foxton on bass.
Buckler was never a spectacular star drummer, but his contribution to the Jam’s distinctive, ever-evolving music was vital – as it had to be in a three-piece band, where there is no hiding place.
