Described by some as the nicest guy in rock, the former bassist from The Jam, Bruce Foxton has entered the UK top 40 album charts at Number 31, with his solo release, ‘Smash The Clock’.
Released on May 20, the album has also reached number 4 in the Independent Album Chart, with the vinyl edition hitting the Number 7 spot in that chart. ‘Smash The Clock’, co-written by Foxton’s From The Jam band partner Russell Hastings, the album also features Paul Weller, Wilko Johnson and Paul Jones, and was recorded at Weller’s Black Barn studios.
Foxton said,
“Russell and I are incredibly proud to be in the charts. Thanks to all who have bought the album. It is a great achievement all round.”
The last time Bruce featured in the Top 40 Album Charts was way back in 1982, with ‘The Gift’, which hit the Number 1 spot for The Jam. Released through Bruce and Russell’s own label, ‘Bass Tone Records’, ‘Smash The Clock’ was crowd-funded through a Pledge Music campaign, as was Foxton’s previous album, ‘Back In The Room’, released in 2012. Fans were able to help raise money for the album by purchasing items such as handwritten lyrics, signed CDs, LPs, and artwork. Bruce and Russell say of the project,
“its success was made possible by you the public getting involved, for which we can’t thank you enough.”
According to Foxton, ‘Smash The Clock’ means simply that “good music is ageless and timeless”. With the album described as “spirited, catchy and likeable” by TheArtsDesk, and as “power pop perfection” by Vive Le Rock, ‘Smash The Clock’ is able to capture From The Jam’s inimitable live performance energy, and put it on record. With driving bass riffs sitting underneath layers of inventive guitar parts, piano, and brass, each chorus quite rightly feels as if it’s been tailor-made for a crowded venue to sing their hearts out to.
From The Jam have gained a reputation for the kind of incendiary live performances that sealed the reputation of The Jam all those years ago. On their ‘The Public Gets What The Public Wants’ tour they play classic The Jam hits such as, ‘Down In The Tube Station At Midnight’, ‘Going Underground’, and ‘Town Called Malice’. Their acoustic ‘That’s Entertainment’ tour gives fans the opportunity to hear those songs in a stripped down form. In late 2016 they’ll be launching their ‘As and Bs’ tour, which will include rare tracks from The Jam’s back catalogue.
See Bruce Foxton’s official website for information about tour dates.
