The Jam: About the Young Idea, Somerset House

Somerset House are opening up the archives of superstar band The Jam with a spectacular new tribute retrospective to one of the greatest musical talents around. Now That's Entertainment.

For their summer exhibition, Somerset House, in collaboration with Nice Time Inc Productions, presents the first comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the British punk band which stole our hearts with their smart tailored suits and silky voiced frontman Paul Weller.

Who were The Jam?

Leading the mod revival in the late 1970s and early 80s, The Jam clocked up a wapping 18 consecutive UK top 40 singles and more than 14 million global album sales during their brief yet influential career. We often credit The Jam music as engaging a disenchanted British youth and for transforming the musical landscape in Britain.

Somerset House Jam exhibition

Curated by Nicky Weller, the former head of the band’s fan club and Paul Weller's sister, Tory Turk, Russell Reader and DJ Gary Crowley, this show tracks the band’s phenomenal journey from the corridors of Woking’s Sheerwater Secondary Modern school in 1977 to their break-up in 1982. Designed around album artworks and original graphics from artist Anthony Burrill, the exhibition devotes a room to each of the six album covers. Step into the ‘front room’ and you'll discover the band’s debut record, In the City, the pithy album which launched the trio onto the punk rock scene, while the last room pays tribute to the band’s final gig, The Gift, performed in Brighton in 1982.

The Jam: About the Young Idea provides an intimate insight into the legacy, culture, politics and music of this extraordinary band through fan memorabilia, unseen material, personal letters and original stage outfits all taken from the personal archives of Paul Weller, Richard Buckler and Bruce Foxton, along with those belonging to the Weller family and music archivist Den Davis. All three members support the exhibition and Weller explains, "when we were in the band, I would never have thought that, some 35-odd years later, there would be an exhibition in our name at Somerset House”.

Jam fans will also be thrilled to hear that Universal Music is marking the exhibition by releasing a limited edition Greatest Hits album featuring some previously unavailable recordings. So if you can't get enough of Going Underground or Town Called Malice, pay a visit to Somerset House and relive the glory days of one of the greatest British bands in history.