Bassist/singer Bruce Foxton was an integral part of the Jam, the British

band that helped revolutionize rock in the late '70s with its intelligent

brand of punk. He has spent recent years as a member of the Irish band

Stiff Little Fingers.

Foxton was born 44 years ago today in Woking, England. He joined the Jam

in 1974, two years after the group's leader Paul Weller and guitarist

Steve Brooks first came together as a folk duo in Woking. The two had

formed the Jam in 1973 with drummer Rick Buckler and guitarist Dave Waller;

Foxton replaced the departing Waller and Brooks, making the Jam a trio.

The Jam were one of the key bands in London's mid-'70s punk-rock movement.

In addition to their melding of punk with elements of the '60s British

Invasion, the Jam became known in Britain for the mid-'60s mod style of

their clothes and haircuts.

The Jam's debut LP, In the City (1977), and its title track were

hits in England. The Sex Pistols appropriated a riff from the song for

their "Holiday in the Sun." After press attacks on the same year's

This Is the Modern World, Weller considered breaking up the band.

But in 1979, the Jam returned with All Mod Cons, after having

three UK hits: "News of the World" (RealAudio

excerpt), a take on the Kinks' "David Watts," and "Down in the

Tube Station at Midnight." That same year's concept LP, Setting Sons,

dealt with class struggles and spawned the British hit "Eton Rifles," as

well as the single "Heatwave." The Jam had their most popular LP with

1980's Sound Affects and the #1 hit "Start!," yet never managed

to become a success in the U.S.

After 1982's The Gift, the Jam split. Foxton signed with Arista

Records as a solo act in 1983 and released Touch Sensitive and

the single "Freak." Soon, however, Foxton decided he wanted to be part

of a band again and spent time in many, including 100 Men, Built Like

Stone, Sharp and the Rhythm Sisters.

In 1991 singer/guitarist Jake Burns called Foxton and asked him to

replace the departing bassist in his band, Stiff Little Fingers. Formed

in 1977, Stiff Little Fingers (named after the Vibrators song) were

lyrically and musically similar to the Jam. SLF had split and re-formed,

with a few temporary lineups along the way, before Foxton joined. The

original incarnation of SLF was known for such politically minded songs

as "Suspect Device" and "Alternative Ulster."

SLF's Flags and Emblems (1991) included "Beirut Moon," which was

banned in Britain because it criticized the British government for not

acting to free hostage John McCarthy in Lebanon. Get a Life was

issued in the UK in 1994 and in the U.S. the next year. It received

attention from fans of such bands as Bad Religion, Therapy and Rancid,

who had cited SLF as a big influence.

Foxton and Stiff Little Fingers toured behind Tinderbox, which

includes "You Never Hear the One That Hits You," in 1997. Their most

recent LP, this year's Hope Street (including "Bulletproof"), was

issued with a best-of collection in the UK and with a live album in the

States. SLF did a brief supporting tour of the U.S.

Other birthdays: Tommy Evans (Drifters), 72; Archie Bell, 55; Greg Errico

(Sly & the Family Stone), 53; Barry Gibb (Bee Gees), 52; Gloria Estefan,

42; D.J. Spigg Nice (Lost Boyz), 29; and Conway Twitty, 1933-1993.