Not quite the Jam or the Troggs, but who cares?

Nostalgia tours are all the rage: does it matter if a band doesn’t boast many original members?

From the Jam’s set lists are based on the repertoire of Paul Weller’s old band.

I’ve been wondering this week about what constitutes a band being authentic, as in how many original members have to be in a band for a nostalgia tour to be considered a legitimate trip down memory lane. In particular, does the absence of the founding frontman in such a scenario render the show redundant? Two examples spring to mind, with the announcement of tours by British acts from days gone by whose original lead singers, for entirely different reasons, will not be joining them for a jaunt around Australia later this year. The first is From the Jam, an outfit so called because bassist Bruce Foxton made his name in English mod outfit the Jam and FTJ’s set list is made up of material from that group’s considerable repertoire. Foxton wrote a couple of those songs, such as News of the World and Smithers-Jones, but the bulk of the Jam’s catalogue came from its frontman, guitarist and singer Paul Weller. Since the Jam’s demise in 1982, Weller has gone on to have a successful solo career, following his 80s incarnation in the Style Council, and has made it clear he would never re-form the Jam with Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler. Buckler played for a time in FTJ as well, but quit in 2009. Before that he had an outfit called the Gift, which also played Jam songs. That band’s “Weller”, Russell Hastings, is now singer/guitarist in FTJ. From the Jam’s Australian tour begins in Newcastle, NSW, on September 8. The other nostalgia trip announced this week is by English veterans the Troggs, who will celebrate the 50th anniversary of hits such as Wild Thing, With a Girl Like You and I Can’t Control Myself by playing them in Australia, starting at Hervey Bay in Queensland on November 3. Guitarist Chris Britton is the only original member in that band. Singer Reg Presley died in 2013. In both these instances I can recognise that there are fans who will be happy enough to hear the material in concert, no matter the tenuous links to their origins. And if it gives enterprising, and ageing, musicians a paying gig, then why not? I’d like to canvas some opinion on this, so feel free to contribute at the email address below.

Finalists have been announced for the National Indigenous Music Awards in Darwin on August 6. The leading contender is Gurrumul Yunupingu, who is up for artist of the year against Emma Donovan and Dan Sultan, as well as being in the running for album of the year with The Gospel Album and song of the year for his contribution to the hip-hop reconstruction of Archie Roach’s classic The Children Came Back, also featuring rapper Briggs and singer Dewayne Everettsmith. The film clip for that one is also up for a gong. Briggs and producer Trials’ collaboration AB Original is also a contender for a few awards and will be among the performers at Darwin’s Amphitheatre. Also on the bill are Shellie Morris, Warren H. Williams and Triple J Unearthed NIMA competition winner Kuren.

Information has arrived on the debut album by English outfit David Brent and Foregone Conclusion. Brent, a former office worker turned travelling salesman from Slough just outside of London, has penned tracks including Lady Gypsy, Don’t Cry It’s Christmas and Please Don’t Make Fun of the Disableds for the album Life on the Road, to be released on August 19. A documentary, David Brent: Life on the Road, follows a week later.