Bruce Foxton, longtime bassist of British band The Jam, has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. The 70-year-old made the diagnosis public in a statement on Facebook - just days after he had to cancel two concerts on short notice. In his post, Foxton described how he discovered his Parkinson's disease during the course of his cancer treatment.
It was no secret that he had been treated for cancer and continued to go for regular checkups, he wrote. What the public had not known until now: the cancer therapy itself had caused significant problems, and while investigating these issues, it came to light that he would be living with Parkinson's going forward.
He described the diagnosis as a severe blow. "As anyone who has to come to terms with this diagnosis knows, it's a huge shock", Foxton said. It takes time to let it sink in and to accept that body and mind have to deal with something that is completely beyond his control. He now has to manage the challenges physically and mentally day by day, sometimes things go better, sometimes worse.
Concert cancellations and rumors about a hospital stay
The statement was triggered by two concerts canceled on short notice last weekend. As Foxton explained, extreme heat and a persistent bronchial infection had taken a severe toll on him, which is why his doctor had advised him to rest. The cancellations had once again sparked speculation about his health condition, which he found understandable.
The musician refuted rumors about a hospital stay: fortunately, such a stay had not been necessary, he had recovered at home and was feeling significantly better by now. Despite the diagnosis, Foxton announced that he wanted to continue performing live as long as he was able. The official diagnosis and the appropriate medication had given him a new opportunity to do what he lives for.
From The Jam through From The Jam to his own band
In the 1970s and early 1980s, Foxton was part of The Jam alongside singer and guitarist Paul Weller (68) and the late drummer Rick Buckler (1955-2025). With the band, he celebrated four number-one singles in Great Britain; among the best-known tracks are "Going Underground", "Start", and "A Town Called Malice". In 2007, Foxton founded the successor formation From The Jam together with Buckler and singer Russell Hastings. In early 2025, he announced that the dates through May of that year would be his last with this group.
Foxton had already made his cancer diagnosis public in 2023: after a lymph node was identified as malignant, he underwent immunotherapy. The following year, knee surgery followed. Additionally, the musician wears custom-made hearing aids because four decades on stage have caused him hearing loss; for years, he has also suffered from tinnitus.
