The Jam star Bruce Foxton, 70, reveals Parkinson’s diagnosis after cancelling gigs

The Jam bassist Bruce Foxton has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s (Picture: Neil H Kitson/Getty) Bruce Foxton, one of the founding members of The Jam, has revealed that he’s been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The iconic bassist, 70, took to social media to share the news with fans just days after he cancelled two shows at short notice due to illness. In a statement, the English musician said that the diagnosis came to light after side effects from his cancer treatment were investigated. ‘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,’ he told fans on Facebook . ‘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. ‘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. The 70-year-old shared the news with his fans on social media (Picture: Alamy Stock Photo) Together with Paul Weller and Rick Buckler, Foxton was part of the iconic band The Jam (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock) ‘I have to manage the challenges I now face physically and mentally on a daily basis, and some days are better than others.’ Taking to the comments section, fans sent the bassist well-wishes. Foxton cancelled his show in Kidderminster on Friday and postponed the following night’s performance in Lincoln after high temperatures aggravated a chest infection. This led to speculation over whether he had been hospitalised. Addressing the recent rumours, he explained: ‘This latest knock back has brought about more speculation about my health, and that’s totally understandable.’ What is Parkinson's disease? Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition where parts of the brain become damaged over many years. It is primarily caused by a loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine, which is a chemical messenger responsible for coordinating smooth, purposeful body movements. Foxton, who stopped playing in From The Jam – which he formed in 2007 with The Jam drummer Rick Buckler and new frontman Russell Hastings – said he is going to ‘keep playing live for as long as I’m able to do it’. ‘It’s good for me, my future health and hopefully good for all of you who still enjoy coming along to join with me, Mark, Craig, and Andy to enjoy those great songs,’ he added. ‘I will be working hard every day to give the best performance possible.’ The former Stiff Little Fingers musician has a series of concerts planned in the UK for later this year, including an appearance at the 100 Club in London next month. Foxton sa