UPDATED - 20th February 7pm

I heard the news today that I have been longing to hear since I was fourteen. The Jam are reforming for a twenty-date tour and new material.

But (and this is a huge, Beyonce-sized but), it's going to be without Paul Weller. So, er, not so good then.

A few questions pop into my head:

Firstly, exactly how is this going to work? Bruce Foxton is a bass player, Rick Buckler is a drummer. There is no mention in the press release of any session musicians or additional musical backup. Maybe Bruce and Rick have a major new direction in mind. However, I can say with some confidence that a Drum 'n' Bass reworking of Jam classics is not the best way to go. I know because I already tried it. My teenage covers band did a medley of To Be Someone and It's Too Bad while our guitarist went out to buy some chips. Even Mez's rapping couldn't get us into that Roni Size-inspired groove.

Secondly, what about the stage setup? Are they going for the White Stripes-inspired positions of drummer on the left, guitarist on the right. Or will there just be a huge Weller-sized space in the middle of the stage just in case he does decide to turn up at the last minute?

Thirdly, without Paul Weller's support, are they only going to be able to perform Foxton compositions? To be fair to Brucie, he did write some great lyrics - News Of The World and Smithers-Jones to name but two - but it's not going to be much of a setlist if they can't play the really famous songs. Of course, other bands manage it. Status Quo rarely play any of Alan Lancaster's songs anymore, but then he wasn't the lead singer and guitarist (although I am not underestimating his manly contributions, of course).

Finally, are Bruce and Rick still going to have the energy that they had thirty years ago?

Seriously though, I hope that I will be able to eat my words later this year when the tour has been a huge success and the album is a number one hit (indeed, if Bruce and Rick want to send us some complimentary tickets, I'll be happy to write a glowing first-hand report. And I promise not to bring Mez, so you don't have to worry about being insulted). However, I'm not overly optimistic. Comebacks are never as good as the first time and I have a nagging concern that this project will be more of a Life After Quo: Volume One or Carry On Columbus than an All Mod Cons or Setting Sons. I still love The Jam as much as I ever did, but even if you had told me ten years ago that they would reform without Weller, I would have given you an odd look. I sincerely hope that the legacy of The Jam is not about to be ruined by a farce of catastrophic proportions.

EDIT: Since writing this blog earlier today, I have discovered the answers to some of those questions thanks to the official press release. Firstly, Bruce and Rick have recruited a couple of extra band members. These include singer/guitarist Russell Hastings who has previously performed in The Paul Weller Council (a tribute band). This also clears up the stage setup mystery. Secondly, they will be performing classics such as Going Underground and That's Entertainment. I can't see Weller being very happy about that, but that's what the press release is insisting.

So basically, this reunion is really more of an upmarket tribute act. It's starting to sound more and more like State Of Quo by the minute (a Quo tribute band with original drummer John Coghlan bashing the skins (rather than trying to sell them on The Life Laundry)). I'm actually even less thrilled than I was this morning (in fact, I don't mind admitting that I'm much more excited about Crowded House getting back together this year). When you consider that it costs fourteen pounds to see them at The Point in Cardiff (one of the smallest venues in the city) and I only paid a few pounds more to see Weller himself at the Cardiff International Arena, it all seems like a bit of a cynical cash-in to mark the thirtieth anniversary of In The City.

I still hope that I'm wrong, but really...it's going to be a disaster, isn't it?