The Jam were one of Britain's most successful and important
bands. Emerging in the era of punk and new wave, they brought a sound and a
look to an army of fans who still hold a devoted and unparalleled passion.
In their five-year career, between 1977 and 1982, The Jam had 18 top 40
singles, including four No.1 hits. In 1982, their last studio LP, The Gift,
went to the top of the album chart and Town Called Malice and Beat
Surrender were No.1 singles.
That same year, 21-year old freelance photographer Twink was commissioned
by The Jam to be their official photographer, capturing them not only on
stage, but also their life out of the public eye. A quarter of a century
on, this volume brings together for the first time more than 200 of his
outstanding photographs.
"For me and countless others," says Twink, "The Jam stand head and
shoulders above any other three-piece band you care to recall, and most
other bands - past, present and future ... They were the spokespeople for a
generation, social commentators empathising with dole-queue despair and
becoming idols to the country's disillusioned youth."
These stunning images capture The Jam's electrifying live performances as
well as their quieter moments - backstage, travelling and relaxing. "When
we needed a photographer to come on the road with us - someone who could
`access all areas' and take candid fly-on-the-wall shots - we had no doubt
that he was our man," write Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler in the foreword
to this book.
Twink's pictures of The Jam have already generated huge interest online and
in exhibitions. Now, through this special collection, they bring an
unforgettable period back to life, and give a unique gift to fans of The
Jam.
Born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1961, Twink's photographic career
began when he started taking pictures of motorcross and motorcycle trials
to raise the money to buy himself a motorbike.
From 1977 to 1982, working as a freelance photographer, Twink captured all
the energy, excitement and excesses of Britain's punk and new wave scenes.
His images of The Jam, The Boomtown Rats, Sham 69, The Stranglers - and
many other bands - appeared in countless music magazines and publications.
In 1981, Twink was approached by The Jam's drummer Rick Buckler to work
officially for the band. Twink's photographs appeared on the cover of The
Jam's platinum-selling final studio album The Gift. After photographing The
Jam for press and promotional activity in their final, most successful
year, Twink put his camera down for two decades.
A sufferer of bi-polar disorder, Twink's main occupation now is as an
ambassador for mental health awareness in the press and media, using his
photography to de-stigmatise mental health issues. In 2002, Twink succeeded
the comedian Spike Milligan as Patron of MDF The BiPolar Organisation and
now takes photographs for its quarterly magazine, Pendulum.
Four years after setting up the popular website in 2002, Twink held his first ever exhibition of The Jam photographs at the Mushroom Works gallery in Ouseburn, Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
