The Jam drummer gives up on Paul Weller reunion

Former The Jam drummer Rick Buckler has given up trying to convince Paul Weller to reunite the legendary British band.
The group were one of the U.K.’s most popular acts in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but Paul decided to break up the band in 1982 against the wishes of Rick and bass guitarist Bruce Foxton.
Rick had tried to remain friendly with Paul in the hope of reuniting, but he has now given up after losing touch with the Town Called Malice singer.
“It’s Paul’s choice really,” he tells Britain’s Daily Star newspaper. “Myself and Bruce have tried very hard to stay in touch with Paul over the years but it’s all fallen on stoney ground, so unfortunately you just give up.
“You just have to stop sending them Christmas cards in the end, there’s only so much you can do, I’m not holding my breath.”
Paul went on to have success with his next band The Style Council, and has also released a string of successful solo albums.
And Rick acknowledges that his old bandmate’s hit-filled career means there’s no need for him to return to performing with The Jam.
“He seems absolutely dead set against there ever being any kind of reform, and every time he gets asked about it it’s always a categorical no,” Rick adds. “I don’t know why he’s taken that view but that’s up to him, and of course it takes three to tango in this case. I suppose Paul feels he doesn’t need to, he certainly doesn’t want to.”
The drummer had hoped the frontman would agree to a one-off reunion after the opening of a 2015 exhibition celebrating the group, but Paul turned down the offer.
The 59-year-old singer has other distractions besides his solo career, and last month he became a father for the eighth time when his second wife Hannah, 31, gave birth to a daughter, Nova.