Russell Hastings on honouring the craft with authenticity

From The Jam, composed of Russell Hastings, Mike Randon, Gary Simmons and Andy Fairclough, are set to return to the Ribble Valley this weekend to perform at The Grand in Clitheroe as part of the Mod Weekender.

The Grand has been an unofficial home-away-from-home for Hastings, who first performed at the venue back in 2010 alongside long-time bandmate, collaborator and friend Bruce Foxton. This year, the four-piece will be heading to Clitheroe as part of the Ribble Valley Scooter Rally and Music Festival, commonly referred to as the Mod Weekender, taking over The Grand on Saturday, September 26th.

Ribble Valley will be filled with Mod subculture throughout the weekend, giving Clitheroe what will undoubtedly be a unique atmosphere, which comes at a time when Mod culture and Mod music is experiencing a fresh wave of interest. London-based sibling duo The Molotovs, composed of Mathew and Issey Cartlidge, built their reputation through intense live touring, playing over 600 independent venue gigs, which culminated in their high-charting debut album ‘Wasted on Youth’. Hastings himself has had the opportunity to pass down knowledge and even instruments to the next generation of Mod artists.

“He (Mathew) came down and bought a guitar off me at Christmas,” Hastings revealed. “That white Rick (Rickenbacker 330) that he uses, that's my old one. I'm in touch with them every now and again about songs and stuff like that, and I said to Matt that any time you want any sort of advice or rundowns on stuff, let me know, so yeah, it was cool,” Hastings added.

A bridge between two eras

Hastings is interacting with and directly influencing the next generation of Mod musicians, something that he has been doing since 2007 as a member of From the Jam. The Jam disbanded at the peak of their powers in 1982, meaning an entire generation of people were unable to see the trio of Paul Weller, Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler perform together. That inactivity made From the Jam the guardians and ambassadors of that impeccable legacy and a bridge to that era, giving them a live experience that was nostalgic to older audiences and exciting and fresh for younger audiences.

“When Bruce, myself and Rick were all on the road, when we were out touring right back in 2008, that was. We were out on the road, and it was great fun. The old people have seen us from the old days, but a lot of people haven't seen that. We were the bridge between that – the original band and us,” Hastings explained.

After forming as The Gift in 2006 with Hastings, David Moore and The Jam’s drummer Rick Buckler, the project evolved into From the Jam when Bruce Foxton joined the band in 2007, reuniting The Jam’s acclaimed rhythm section. Buckler departed the band in 2009 before he sadly passed away in 2025. While Foxton retired from touring due to health issues last year. Was there ever any consideration about bringing the curtain down on the project after Foxton’s retirement?

“Not really, no,” Hastings reflected. “There was enough hunger for it (to continue), and we never really thought about that, because I was the songwriter for the last three albums as well, for the Foxton and Hastings project, so I wrote all those songs, so I thought I could always go on and play,” Hastings added.

“You can only have one bus driver; otherwise, it gets too confusing."

It’s a decision that has paid dividends. The current line-up of Hastings, Fairclough, Randon and Simmons are giving audiences the chance to celebrate and continue experiencing an impeccable catalogue while also showcasing the fruits of the Foxton & Hastings partnership, which brought with it albums such as ‘Back In The Room’, ‘Smash The Clock’ and ‘The Butterfly Effect’.

“It's a big privilege,” Hastings said when asked about how much of a privilege it is to be celebrating The Jam’s music. “I was with Nicky Weller, Paul's sister, at the weekend. Nicky’s out on the road doing a few Q&As with me and on the road sometimes, and I know Nicky well, and we were talking about it, really, about the legacy and what a great thing it is that it's gone on for so long,” the band’s frontman added.

Prior to Foxton’s official retirement, From the Jam played approximately 100 shows without Foxton due to health reasons. Simmons stepped into the role as the band’s bassist on a temporary and later permanent basis, seamlessly playing with a distinct Bruce Foxton edge while incorporating his own style into the band’s sound. “Him and Gary would have conversations about how he used to play, so he was the perfect fit, really, because he was sort of, if you like, vetted by Bruce as well. And he was worked in by him,” Hastings said when it came to Simmons being the ideal fit for the band.

Foxton’s endorsement made Simmons the ideal fit as his successor and underlines the selflessness of Foxton – a trait that saw him and Buckler selflessly anoint Hastings as the bandleader in From the Jam. “There has to be one person, and that's how it has to be. You can't have several leaders; you can only have one bus driver, otherwise it gets too confusing. So Rick and Bruce used to sort of like to give that role to me, which is quite nice,” Hastings said. A huge endorsement, I asked? “Yeah, I thought so too,” Hastings added.

When it comes to From the Jam’s performances, they are a band that perfectly blends the distinct performance styles and personality that Rick, Paul and Bruce injected into The Jam’s songs while adding their own personality and incorporating their own style, creating a rich and unique live experience for fans. “None of us are trying to go out and be anybody else. We're not trying to go out and be Paul, Bruce or Rick, that's for sure. It wouldn't work so well like that if we tried to do that, but the energy and homage to the songs is there,” Hastings stated.

From the Jam inject authenticity into their performances, while openly honouring the musical craft. Tickets to From the Jam’s show in Clitheroe are available at https://www.thegrandvenue.co.uk/events/from-the-jam/