The Ruts

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The Ruts were a reggae-influenced British punk band notable for the 1979 top 10 hit "Babylon's Burning" (right), and an earlier single "In a Rut", which was never a hit but was much played and highly regarded by disc jockey John Peel. The band consisted of Malcolm Owen (vocals), Paul Fox (guitar), John "Segs" Jennings (bass) and Dave Ruffy (drums). As part of the People Unite collective based in Southall the band were active in anti-racist causes, and a song "Jah War" is about the Special Patrol Group's violence in Southall in 1979, in which Blair Peach was beaten to death and a member of the collective Clarence Baker was severely injured.

After Malcolm Owen's death from a heroin overdose on the 14th of July 1980, aged just 26, the band continued as "Ruts D.C." but never repeated their earlier success. As Ruts D.C. the band toured Germany in the autumn of 1980, playing a noteworthy concert at the small cult club 'To Act' in rural Bavaria (Weißenohe, near Nuremberg). However, without the charismatic voice of Malcolm Owen (and guitarist Paul Fox now handling the vocals), the band just wasn't as brilliant.

Malcolm Owen had just weaned himself off the drug, when he bought a bag of heroin on the 14th of July. Because his tolerance had gone way down, he took too much, leading to the fatal overdose in the bathtub of his mum's house in Hayes, near London, and eventually his death. Ironically, the b-side "H-eyes" of "In a Rut" was a song against heroin use, and another song, "Dope for Guns" from the album "The Crack" was also an anti-drug song.

He has since been remembered by critics and fans as one of the best punk-rock singers ever.

Contents 1 Discography 2 Singles 3 Albums 4 Audio sample

[edit] Discography

[edit] Singles

• "In a Rut [b/w H-Eyes]" (1978 Label:People Unite)

All remaining are on the Virgin label.

• "Babylon's Burning [b/w Society]" (1979)
• "Something That I Said [b/w Give Youth a Chance]" (1979)
• "Jah Wars [b/w I Ain't Sofisticated]" (1979?)
• "Staring At The Rude Boys [b/w Love in Vain]" (1980)
• "West One (Shine On Me)[ b/w The Crack] (1980)

[edit] Albums

• The Crack (Virgin) 1979
• Grin & Bear It (Virgin) 1980 - semi-compilation
• The Peel Sessions 1986

As Ruts DC

• Animal Now (Virgin) 1981
• Rhythm Collision (Bohemian) 1982

[edit] Audio sample