Yesterday was the birthday of the one and only Paul Weller.
The singer and guitarist with The Jam was born on May 25 1958.
The very first incarnation of The Jam was formed in 1972, Weller playing bass guitar with his best friends Steve Brookes (lead guitar) and Dave Waller (rhythm guitar).
Joined by Rick Buckler on drums, and Bruce Foxton soon replacing Waller on rhythm guitar, the four-piece band began to forge a local reputation, playing a mixture of Beatles covers and a number of compositions written by Weller and Brookes. Brookes left the band in 1976, and Weller and Foxton decided they would swap guitar roles, with Weller now the guitarist.
Their first visit to Wales was to the Roundabout Club in Newport, Gwent, April 27 1977, whilst their debut in Cardiff was on the Clash White Riot Tour at the Top Rank Suite, June 21 1977. They included the Top Rank on their second national tour that promoted their 'This The Modern World' album then later playing Cardiff University on the 'Apocalypse Tour' in November 1978.
Their final visit as The Jam was in Nov 10 1980 at Sophia Gardens though the band did play Afan Lido, Port Talbot and Deeside Leisure Centre in March 1982, called the 'Trans Global Unity Express Tour', before the band broke up at the end of a farewell tour in Dec 1982.
Weller' been a frequent visitor to Cardiff as a solo artist with a concert at Cardiff Castle being a memorable evening, June 2019.
