Bruce Foxton, veteran musician and famed former member of The Jam, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The singer and bassist shared the health diagnosis recently, only months away from his 71st birthday.
Bruce Foxton confirms Parkinson’s disease diagnosis
The singer opened up about online speculations regarding his health and confirmed his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. He also revealed that the disease resulted from complications from old cancer treatment, according to his Facebook post.He wrote, “I’m now facing a future living with Parkinson’s disease … and I’m determined to do that as well as I possibly can. 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.” Since last year, the singer had also been dealing with a chest infection, which hindered his performance and resulted in him cancelling performances. He added, “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.”As for his diagnosis and treatment, the bassist mentioned that “having the right meds to help deal with symptoms has given me another chance to carry on doing what I love and what I live for in a relaxed and supportive environment”. He concluded the post by reassuring fans about the matter and saying, “I’m going to keep going and playing live for as long as I’m able to do it.”
What is Parkinson’s disease?
According to reports from the Cleveland Clinic, Parkinson’s disease is “a progressive condition that affects movement. It often starts with tremors, stiffness or slowness. It happens when brain cells that make dopamine stop working over time. There’s no cure, but medications and therapies may help manage symptoms to improve daily life.”
About The Jam
Paul Weller, Rick Buckler and Bruce Foxton founded the beloved band and rose to fame in 1977. After playing together for a couple of years and releasing music, the band split in 1982. They were known for addressing societal and political issues with their songs and were a pioneering force in the music industry at the time. Some of their best and most well-known songs include ‘Down in the Tube Station at Midnight’, ‘Going Underground’, and ‘A Town Called Malice.’ Two years after the band split up, Foxton released his debut album as a solo artist, ‘Touch Sensitive.’
