The Ruts
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Biography
London, United Kingdom (1977 – 1980)
In A Rut with dub reggae classics like Give Youth A Chance and Jah War, they were most similar to The Clash in terms of stance and influence, walking the walk and talking the talk.After meeting at the Deeply Vale Free Festival, The Ruts were formed on 18 August ]1977, the band consisted of Malcolm Owen (vocals), Paul Fox (guitar), John “Segs” Jennings (bass) and Dave Ruffy (drums). [1] As part of the Misty in Roots People Unite collective based in Southall, west London, the band were active in anti-racist causes and played a number of benefits for Rock Against Racism.
On 11 February 1980, the band returned to a BBC studio for their third Peel session, two tracks of which - “Demolition Dancing” and “Secret Soldiers” - later appeared on Virgin’s posthumous Grin & Bear It album.
By this time singer Malcolm Owen was suffering with health problems; a combination of sore throats and a heroin addiction. A UK tour was arranged, the ‘Back to Blighty’ tour, but a number of dates had to be cancelled due to Owen’s condition. What turned out to be the last Ruts gig with Malcolm took place at Plymouth Polytechnic on 26 February 1980.
Many of the Ruts best gigs were RAR (Rock Against Racism) gigs with Misty in Roots, and Jah War was written in response to the Southall Riots where the police attacked the Anti-Nazi League that were protesting a National Front march through the predominantly British Indian Southall area.
Top Albums
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The Crack
39,735 listeners15 tracks
Released:
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Something That I Said - The Best Of The Ruts
4,696 listeners17 tracks
Released:
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The Peel Sessions
15,675 listeners14 tracks
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The Crack/Grin And Bear It
1,631 listeners22 tracks
Released:
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Numantikon
I guess I'm not the only one who has to thank Henry for making me discover this guys...
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Edmund_Kemper
Henry wasn't fucking around about this band. They really are that good!
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thrillseeker01
I followed their lorry from Trafalgar Sq to Viccy Park for the RAR concert.They played their set about 4 times!
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paddypunx
Gandissimi!!!
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northernbeach
What do you think about my band? http://www.facebook.com/northernbeach?sk=app_2405167945
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pinkpressthreat
@rozali - Henry Rollins has taste, hey :))
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wutsmainaem
The Ruts!
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rozali
checking out henry's fav band. cool.
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ThisCharmingBoy
Wow. Listening to a greatest hits collection and pretty much loving every second of it.
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pinkpressthreat
This photo on my page, it's from an Exeter (U.K.) gig, in '78 I think, which I remember reading about in the music weeklies (I think the shot was in "Sounds"). The gash you see above Malcolm's nose was caused when he threw a cymbal into the air and butted it as it came down. He played the remainder of the gig, If I remember rightly, and was then strong-armed down to casualty by his worried cohorts to have stitches put in.
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rockxxz
Love them
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Damn7Boy7
Learn more about modern russian underground scene! http://www.drunkenrussians.blogspot.ru
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gazingshoe
fightin' fightin'
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Alcohippie
Jah War is fuckin' awesome!!!
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xcaelax
the ruts!!!!!!
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drownedinsound2
LOVE THIS BAND!!
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Hugo_A-Go-Go
Without a doubt, the best second wave UK punk band.
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karlkandinsky
What a bloody great band
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WasteNoReason
Oldschool Punk & Hardcore <---join my group
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Manoloxines
how cool are these lads?...11 out of 10!
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