The Ruts

Infobox musical artist | Img_size =
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Background = group_or_band
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Name = The Ruts


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Died =
Origin = London, England
Instrument =
Genre = Punk rock New Wave Post-punk
Occupation =
Years_active = 1978 – mid 1983
Label = People Unite, Virgin Records, Bohemian
Associated_acts = Ruts D.C.
URL = [http://www.myspace.com/therutsofficialpage The official Ruts Myspace Page]
Current_members =
Past_members = Paul Fox Malcom Owen Dave Ruffy Paul Jennings Gary Barnacle
Notable_instruments =

The Ruts were a reggae-influenced British punk rock band, notable for the 1979 Top 10 hit "Babylon's Burning", and an earlier single "In a Rut", which was not a hit but was much played and highly regarded by the UK BBC Radio 1 disc jockey, John Peel.

Career

was beaten to death and Clarence Baker was severely injured.fact|date=August 2008

The Ruts backed Laurel Aitken on a John Peel session for BBC Radio 1, in April/May 1980. The line-up was Aitken, Fox, Jennings, Ruffy, Owen and Barnacle.

Malcolm Owen died from a heroin overdose on 14 July 1980 at the age of 26. The b-side "H-eyes" of "In a Rut" was a song against heroin use, and two other songs, "Dope for Guns" from the album "The Crack", plus "Love in Vain" (b-side of "Staring at the Rude Boys") were also anti-drug songs.

The band continued as "Ruts D.C." (D.C. standing for Da Capo meaning 'back to the beginning') but never repeated their earlier success. As Ruts D.C., the band toured Germany in the autumn of 1980, playing at the small nightclub, To Act, in rural Bavaria (Weißenohe, near Nuremberg). However, without the charismatic persona, stage presence and voice of Owen (and despite guitarist Paul Fox handling the vocals), the band struggled to re-live their past glories.Fact|date=January 2008

On 16 July 2007 the band reformed for the first time in 27 years and played a special one off benefit gig for Paul Fox, following his diagnosis with lung cancer. Henry Rollins (of Black Flag), stood in for Owen. They were supported by Tom Robinson, The Damned, Misty in Roots, U.K. Subs, Splodge (Splodgenessabounds), John Otway; and the Peafish House Band which featured Lee Harris, (The Blockheads), Tony Barber (Buzzcocks) and Rowland Rivron, plus Edward Tudor-Pole and T. V. Smith.fact|date=August 2008

Fox, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in mid 2007, died on 21 October of the same year at the age of 56. [ [http://music.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,,2196406,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=39 Guardian newspaper obituary - October 2007] ]

Discography

Albums

*"The Crack" (September 1979: Virgin, V 2132) # 16 UK Albums Chartcite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages=
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5]
*"Grin & Bear It" (part-compilation) (October 1980: Virgin, V 2188) # 28 UK
*"Animal Now" (as Ruts D.C.) (May 1981: Virgin)
*"Rhythm Collision" (as Ruts D.C.) (July 1982: Bohemian)

elective compilation albums and E.P.s

*"The Peel Sessions" (December 1986: Strange Fruit)
*"Peel Sessions – Complete Sessions 1979-1981" (May 1990: Strange Fruit)
*"Something That I Said: The Best of the Ruts" (March 1995: Virgin)
*"Bustin’ Out: The Essential Ruts Collection" (June 2001: EMI)

ingles

* "In a Rut" / "H-Eyes" (May 1978: record label:People Unite, SJP 795 & RUT 1)
* "Babylon's Burning" / "Society" (June 1979: Virgin, VS 271) Also released as a 12 inch single # 7 UK Singles Chartcite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages=
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5]
* "Something That I Said" / "Give Youth a Chance" (August 1979: Virgin, VS 285) # 29 UK
* "Jah Wars" / "I Ain't Sofisticated" (November 1979: Virgin, VS 298)
* "Staring At The Rude Boys" / "Love in Vain" (April 1980: Virgin, VS 327) # 22 UK
* "West One (Shine On Me)" / "The Crack" (August 1980: Virgin, VS 370) # 43 UK
* "Different View" / "Formula Eyes" (as Ruts D.C.) (February 1981: Virgin, VS 396)
* "Whatever We Do" / "Push Yourself – Make It Work" (as Ruts D.C.) (July 1982: Bohemian, B 02)
* "Weak Heart" / "Militant" / "Accusation" (as Ruts D.C.) (March 1983: Bohemian, B 03)
* "Stepping Bondage" / "Lobotomy" / "Rich Bitch" (as Ruts) (May 1983: Bohemian, B 04)

Audio sample

ee also

* List of British punk bands
* List of Peel sessions
* List of performers on Top of the Pops
* Music of the United Kingdom (1970s)

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/therutsofficialpage The official Ruts Myspace]
*
* [http://www.punk77.co.uk/groups/ruts.htm The Ruts] on www.punk77.co.uk
* [http://punkmodpop.free.fr/ruts_pic.htm The Ruts] on Punkmodpop
* [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2747693.ece Obituary of Paul Fox, "The Times", 27 October 2007]