Bruce Foxton, the legendary bassist for The Jam, has revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. The 70-year-old music icon shared the news in an emotional Facebook post, just days after cancelling two shows at short notice.
Cancer Treatment Led to Parkinson's Discovery
Foxton, who has been battling cancer since 2023, explained that his new diagnosis came after investigations into side effects from his cancer treatment. In a lengthy message, he thanked fans for their support: "Your love, support, and understanding means a lot. It was a difficult decision to cancel the shows last weekend (especially as my bag was packed!), but the brutal heat coupled with an underlying chest infection really knocked me for six, and the medical advice was to rest up while taking medication."
He continued: "It’s no secret that I’ve undergone treatment for cancer and am still having scans on a regular basis to keep an eye on that. However, what you don’t know is that the cancer treatment in itself caused some significant issues for me and investigations into all of that uncovered the fact that I’m now facing a future living with Parkinson’s Disease…and I’m determined to do that as well as I possibly can."
Accepting the Diagnosis
Foxton described the shock of the diagnosis: "As anyone coping with this diagnosis will know it’s a huge shock, and it’s taking a long time to let that sink in and for me to accept that my body and mind are dealing with something completely out of my control. I have to manage the challenges I now face physically and mentally on a daily basis, and some days are better than others."
He noted that back in May 2025, it was hard to accept that touring with From the Jam was no longer an option. However, being officially diagnosed and receiving the right medication has given him another chance to continue performing in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Continuing to Perform
Foxton expressed his gratitude for the response at gigs, stating: "The response and love we’ve felt at our gigs has been second to none and I can’t thank you enough." He added that he intends to keep playing live "for as long as I'm able to do it" and will be working hard every day to give the best performance possible.
Overwhelming Fan Support
Fans flooded his post with support. One wrote: "As someone who lives with a long term health condition I get this fully. You must allow your health to come first and work in what you can and change the way you operate to accommodate that. Health cannot stop us, yet it will require us to adapt. Much love."
Another fan commented: "Thank you for your honesty in sharing your journey with cancer and Parkinson’s. It takes remarkable courage to face such challenges with the grace and humility you’ve shown...Your music has been the soundtrack to countless memories for so many of us. Seeing you continue to perform is a reminder that passion, creativity, and the human spirit can endure even when life presents its greatest challenges."
A third fan said: "Please look after yourself & put your health first, you have given us many happy years of great music & if you need to step back & take a well earned retirement, you can do so safe in the knowledge that there is a lot of love, admiration & respect for all that you have given us musically & be certain that there are lots & lots of us wishing you the very best. Thanks Bruce, love & best wishes to you always."
Another fan shared: "So sorry to read this, Bruce, but your resilience and determination is quite frankly, admirable! I hope the treatment can sustain you and that you will be able to carry on doing what you love - playing music. Best wishes to you."
