A part of the 40th anniversary tour of The Jam’s debut album, In The City, founder member Bruce Foxton will be going underground at the Meca in Swindon.

Bruce will be bringing his band, From The Jam, to Swindon’s Regent Circus’ venue tomorrow, Easter Saturday, from 7.30pm. Joining him on stage will be vocalist and guitarist Russell Hastings and drummer Mike Randon.

Bruce was working with his brother Derek in a printing firm when he set up his first band with work colleagues. He left to join The Jam in 1977, forming the rhythm section with drummer Rick Buckler. The lead singer was Paul Weller. During the next few years the mod band hit the heights with singles such as The Eton Rifles, Going Underground, Town Called Malice. Bruce sang lead vocals on his own song, News of the World, and a cover of the Kinks’ track called David Watts.

Paul Weller’s father, John, had helped with The Jam’s success, and when he took over management of The Vapors, Bruce offered support slots during the May 1979 tour. The Vapors became a big hit in America and had a top 40 UK single with Turning Japanese.

The Jam split in 1982, and after a brief flirtation with a solo career and an an album release entitled Touch Sensitive, Bruce joined Stiff Little Fingers, performing and co-writing songs with Jake Burns, for 15 years. He got together again with Rick Buckler to collaborate on Our Story, a biography about The Jam, before joining Casbah Club.

In 2007 Bruce and Rick again strutted their stuff together on stage in From The Jam, touring Australia and New Zealand. But it wasn’t until 2010 that Bruce stepped on to the same stage as Paul Weller for the first time in 28 years. They performed three songs together, and two years later the Modfather returned the favour singing on three tracks of Bruce’s album, Back In The Room, released in 2012.

At the Swindon gig the band will be performing a selection of songs from In The City, as well as The Jam’s greatest hits. They will be supported by Peloton and there will be a DJ set by Mike Flay. Tickets are £20 from www.mecaswindon.co.uk - Flicky Harrison