BRUCE Foxton has kept the door ajar for a Jam re-union.

Modfather Paul Weller and Foxton did not speak for nearly 30 years following The Jam’s acrimonious split, but the pair have recently rekindled their friendship, playing and recording together.

“It’s been well documented that we had a fall out after The Jam split,” said Foxton, who penned Jam songs News Of The World and Smithers-Jones.

“It was not over why the band split up, but afterwards over other things.

“It took the passing of my wife and the death of John Weller, Paul’s dad and the Jam’s manager, to bang our heads together and for us to realise it was ridiculous and petty, and that life is too short for such nonsense.

“I can’t see Paul coming back and reforming The Jam.

“He is doing well in his own right and I’m happy with my own lot.

“We don’t speak every week or hang out as he has his own life and so have I, but we do chat on the phone and will probably work together in the future on something.

“But you never say never in life, do you? Too much has happened along the way. It will be a very spontaneous thing if we played together as a band again.”

The former Jam pair aired the band’s classic tracks Eton Rifles and The Butterfly Collector at the brief Royal Albert Hall re-union in 2010, and Foxton added: “The place went bonkers when I jumped up on stage with Paul. The old roof nearly came off.

“I’ll never forget that, but it was fantastic that Paul and I renewed our friendship. That means more to me than anything else in the world.”

Foxton returns to the Ribble Valley next Wednesday when From The Jam perform an acoustic set of Jam classics at Clitheroe’s Grand Theatre.

Special guest will be Simon Townsend, brother of Pete Townsend, The Who’s guitarist. The show will be followed by a special question and answer session.

“I was so nervous about playing the songs acoustically, and how they would sound. It felt like I was walking the plank on the first night,” added Foxton.

“Maybe it was because we didn’t have the power of a band, but I found it incredibly nerve-wracking, although it did sound OK.

“I was always nervous of playing live. It was the same when we were in The Jam. I wanted to hide and Paul was often sick before he went on stage.

“I think it is good that you are anxious because it gives you that edge. It also means that we still care passionately about the music. I’m privileged to write songs that have touched a lot of people, and I love what I do.”

  • From The Jam Acoustic: That’s Entertainment plus Simon Townsend. Clitheroe Grand Theatre, Wednesday, March 19. Details from 01200 421599.