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Casbah Club member:

Bruce Foxton

Bruce Foxton was given his first guitar (a toy one) at 4 years old and soon began guitar lessons. At 13 he would play rhythm guitar at his local social club, standing behind the curtain because he was too young to actually play onstage.

Bruce Foxton

He went on to play in a series of local Woking bands and in 1974 he finally left printing college (his Mum made him finish college whilst he was playing gigs with The Jam at night) and became a founder member on rhythm guitar, later changing to bass, with The Jam, one of the most successful and exciting groups of their generation. Bruce’s unmistakeable bass lines were hugely influential on the band’s sound and The Jam had 4 number one hit singles and released six albums receiving countless awards during their monumental career before the well publicised split in 1982.

Bruce went on to record solo material with his own band including former Hitmen Pete Glenister (now recording with Alison Moyet), Anthony Thistlethwaite on sax (ex Waterboys violinist and currently playing bass with The Saw Doctors) Roddy Lorimer & Simon Clarke (brass section with Eric Clapton) and Steve Lillywhite’s brother Adrian on drums. The album “Touch Sensitive” was produced by Steve Lillywhite and singles “Freak” and “This Is The Way” did respectable business with “Freak” entering the charts at 23. Foxton then hooked up with Rick Buckler and Jimmy Edwards in Sharp as well as recording and playing with new bands 100 Men, Built Like Stone and The Rhythm Sisters, gigging around the UK and Europe. But it was in 1990 that his old friend Jake Burns called.” Would you like to join Stiff Little Fingers cos the old bass player wants out?”

Since 1990 Bruce has written, recorded and toured with Stiff Little Fingers.” I think the solo experience made me realise what I’m best at doing, being part of a band and contributing to songwriting, as opposed to running the whole show myself.” said Foxton.

SLF’s albums include “Flags & Emblems”, “Get & Life”, “Tinderbox”, “Hope Street”& “Guitar & Drum”. Stiff Little Fingers are one of the most exciting live acts in the UK. The band still holds the record at Glasgow’s Barrowlands for the St Patrick’s Day concerts and continues to tour successfully throughout the UK and the rest of the world.

In December 2005 Foxton left SLF to play full time with Casbah Club.