The Ruts
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1977 in Hayes, England |
| Founder | Paul Fox, Malcolm Owen, John "Segs" Jennings, Dave Ruffy |
| Defunct | 1983 (initial disbandment) |
| Fate | Reformed in 2007 |
| Headquarters | Hayes , England |
| Products | Punk rock and reggae music |
The Ruts (later known as The Ruts D.C.) are an English band blending reggae elements with punk rock, best recognized for their 1979 UK top 10 hit "Babylon's Burning" and their earlier track "In a Rut," which received considerable airplay on BBC Radio 1 thanks to DJ John Peel. Their upward trajectory was tragically interrupted in 1980 when lead vocalist Malcolm Owen died from a heroin overdose. Following this, the group shifted their musical style and continued as Ruts D.C. until their split in 1983.
The band reassembled in 2007, shortly before original guitarist Paul Fox passed away due to cancer. The current lineup of The Ruts D.C. includes founding bassist John "Segs" Jennings and drummer David Ruffy, joined by guitarist Leigh Heggarty.
Origins (1977)
Paul Fox first encountered Malcolm Owen and Paul Mattocks while attending school in Hayes, where they initially formed the progressive rock group Aslan. After Aslan dissolved in 1975, Fox became part of the funk ensemble Hit & Run alongside Dave Ruffy.
The Ruts officially came together in Hayes in August 1977 when Fox reunited with both Ruffy and Owen. The definitive lineup featured vocalist Malcolm Owen, guitarist Paul Fox, bassist John "Segs" Jennings, and drummer Dave Ruffy. Their debut live performance took place on 16 September 1977 in Northolt, Middlesex, sharing the stage with Mr. Softy, another band that included Fox.
Rock Against Racism involvement, debut release, BBC Peel Sessions (1978–1979)
Early on, The Ruts became involved with political and anti-racist movements, motivated partly by witnessing National Front recruitment efforts targeting youth. They participated in the Rock Against Racism campaign and formed connections with British roots reggae group Misty in Roots, who invited them to record under their People Unite label. Toward the end of 1978, The Ruts issued their first single "In a Rut"/"H-Eyes," which sold approximately 20,000 copies.
In a 1979 interview, Malcolm Owen explained that their participation in Rock Against Racism was driven more by the consistent gig opportunities it provided rather than strong political convictions: "We gigged solidly in the clubs... they were giving us gigs when no one else was." Dave Ruffy later emphasized their friendship with Misty in Roots and highlighted how music served as a unifying force amid escalating racial tensions. John "Segs" Jennings noted that their lyrics were shaped by personal experiences and working-class backgrounds rather than intentional political messaging, influenced by encounters with racial profiling by Southall police. Informal gatherings with Misty in Roots also introduced The Ruts to reggae music.
Their single "In a Rut" attracted attention from BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, resulting in several Peel Sessions throughout 1979. These BBC appearances brought The Ruts to the notice of Virgin Records executives, leading to a recording contract signed in spring 1979.
The Crack, "Babylon's Burning," "Staring at the Rude Boys" (late 1979–early 1980)
Following their Virgin Records signing, The Ruts released the single "Babylon's Burning" in 1979, backed with "Society." This track merges punk rock energy with reggae rhythms and addresses urban unrest within the UK. Its early success earned them an appearance on Top of the Pops on 21 June, propelling the single into the UK top 40 charts. Ultimately reaching number 7 and remaining charted for eleven weeks, it became one of the most successful punk singles in UK history, selling around 230,000 copies—just below silver certification status. Their subsequent single "Something That I Said" also reached the UK top 30.
In late 1979, The Ruts supported The Damned on tour. Their debut album The Crack was released on 29 September 1979 and peaked at number 16 on UK album charts. Opening with "Babylon's Burning," this album version includes police sirens and alarms absent from the single release.
To promote The Crack, they issued the dub-influenced single "Jah War," featuring politically charged lyrics inspired by London's Southall riots and the death of Blair Peach. Due to its controversial nature, "Jah War" faced an unofficial ban from British radio and failed to chart.
In 1980, The Ruts embarked on their first headline tour and collaborated with Jamaican ska musician Laurel Aitken on his track "Rudi Got Married." In April of that year, they released "Staring at the Rude Boys," a two-tone-inspired single that reached number 22 on UK singles charts.
Passing of Malcolm Owen and conclusion of The Ruts' original era (June–December 1980)
Although The Ruts enjoyed considerable success, Malcolm Owen's persistent heroin addiction intensified following his separation in 1980, leading to tensions within the group. While working on their second album after The Crack, the band canceled several UK tour dates. After recording one last single with Owen, titled "West One (Shine on Me)," they dismissed him and released the track soon afterward.
Owen later reconciled with the band and rejoined to record new material. Tragically, on 14 July 1980, at age 26, he died from an accidental drowning caused by a heroin overdose. A month after his death, "West One (Shine on Me)" reached number 43 on the UK charts.
In the wake of Owen's passing, Rat Scabies invited the remaining members on a brief tour to help them cope with their loss, with Jennings and Fox sharing lead vocal duties. Additionally, The Ruts supported Kevin Coyne on his 1980 album Sanity Stomp, which included five tracks recorded alongside the band.
The final release under The Ruts' original name was Grin & Bear It, a compilation consisting of B-sides, demos, outtakes, live performances, and Peel Sessions recordings. Issued by Virgin Records in late 1980, this album peaked at number 28 on the UK albums chart.
Formation of The Ruts D.C. and Animal Now (1980–1981)
Following Owen's death, Ruffy, Fox, and Jennings rebranded themselves as The Ruts D.C.—"da capo," meaning "from the beginning"—to signify a fresh chapter. Their musical direction evolved toward a blend of dub, reggae, and punk rock influences. In May 1981, they released Animal Now through Virgin Records, featuring tracks created both before and after Owen’s demise. During recording sessions, all members contributed lead vocals; however, Jennings assumed frontman responsibilities during live shows—a role he found difficult as he felt he was "walking in Malcolm's shoes."
In a 2009 interview, Ruffy and Jennings minimized Owen’s death as a major obstacle, highlighting his unreliability prior to passing and noting that they had been composing material independently as a trio. They described themselves as "a trio [with] a frontman" and pointed to collaborations with Aitken and Lagrange as evidence of their ongoing creative momentum. Despite efforts to find a new lead singer, no suitable replacement was identified.
Rhythm Collision, Vol. 1, and disbandment (1982–1983)
After releasing Animal Now, The Ruts parted ways with Virgin Records due to disagreements with the label, grief over losing Owen, and a desire for greater artistic freedom. Kevin Coyne provided a £1,000 loan to fund an independent album. Collaborating with dub producer Mad Professor at ARIWA Studios led to three initial tracks and culminated in the album Rhythm Collision, Vol. 1, released in July 1982. This record represented a full transition into dub reggae territory, departing from their earlier sound.
Neither Animal Now nor Rhythm Collision, Vol. 1 achieved chart success in the UK. Increasing pressure mounted following Owen’s death as comparisons to the original lineup persisted. Ultimately, The Ruts D.C. disbanded in 1983.
Period between breakups (1983–2007)
The contract with Virgin Records left The Ruts burdened by long-term debt. While Jennings and Ruffy preferred independence from labels, Owen and Fox had advocated for label support due to marketing advantages. By 1992, through contributions from band members, their debt had been reduced to £23,000. Jennings expressed no regrets regarding the deal despite its shortcomings but criticized Virgin for lacking full transparency.
In 1987, Dojo Records and Castle Communications issued Ruts Live, an eleven-track live album licensed from Link Communications. That same year saw BBC’s Strange Fruit release The Peel Session Album: The Ruts, compiling three Radio One sessions. Additional live albums followed over time including BBC Radio One in Concert (Windsong), another release titled The Ruts Live (Dojo), and Live and Loud! (Link).
In 1995, Caroline Records—Virgin’s American subsidiary—released a greatest hits compilation titled Something That I Said: The Best of The Ruts. The year 2000 brought forth In a Can, featuring previously unreleased demo tracks. Throughout the early 2000s numerous compilations, tribute albums, and live recordings emerged. Notably, Virgin issued Bustin' Out: The Essential Ruts Collection in 2001 which included an unreleased instrumental called "Denial" alongside an interview with Jennings. The 2005 tribute album Babylon's Burning: Reconstructed Dub-Drenched Soundscapes featured sixteen remixes and covers by artists such as Die Toten Hosen, Don Letts, Rob Smith, Dreadzone, and Groove Corporation.
In December 2006 Paul Fox came out of semi-retirement to perform classic Ruts material with his son Lawrence on drums under the moniker Foxy's Ruts while supporting British ska band Bad Manners on their UK tour.
Benefit concert and passing of Paul Fox (2007)
After a 24-year hiatus, The Ruts D.C. reunited on 16 July 2007 to hold a benefit gig supporting Paul Fox, who was battling lung cancer. Henry Rollins stepped in as the lead vocalist for this occasion. The lineup also included performances by Tom Robinson, the Damned, Misty in Roots, UK Subs, Splodge, John Otway, and the Peafish House Band. Sadly, Paul Fox died on 21 October 2007 at the age of 56.
On 25 January 2008, Shepherd's Bush Empire in London hosted an event where Rollins introduced a short film titled The Gig, documenting the benefit concert and raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. The evening featured live acts such as Alabama 3, T. V. Smith, members of the Members, Captain Sensible from the Damned, and Beki Bondage.
New releases and ongoing activity (2008–present)
Following Fox’s death, Jennings and Ruffy kept The Ruts D.C. active by incorporating additional touring musicians including organist Seamus Beaghan, vocalist Molara Avon, and guitarist Paul Leigh Heggarty. Their collaboration with Mad Professor resumed with the 2013 release of Rhythm Collision Vol. 2, which predominantly drew from improvisational sessions featuring guest artists like Misty in Roots and Alabama 3.
In 2015, the book Love in Vain: The Story of The Ruts & Ruts D.C. was published, including a foreword penned by Henry Rollins.
The band announced a return to their punk origins in 2016 with Music Must Destroy. Jennings identified "Psychic Attack" as their first punk track since 1980; it was released prior to the full album on 16 September. Notable guest contributors on the record included Rollins on the title track, Jake Burns of Stiff Little Fingers, and Kirk Brandon from Theatre of Hate.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Crack in 2019, Jennings, Ruffy, and Heggarty embarked on a tour performing the album in its entirety. By this time, The Ruts D.C. had consolidated into a trio to preserve their foundational sound, as emphasized by Ruffy.
On 11 November 2022, The Ruts issued their album Counterculture? through their independent label Sosumi Recordings.
Legacy and influence
In 2010, John Robb of The Quietus recognized The Ruts as trailblazers of the "second wave punk rock," commending their intense and innovative "18-month assault." Robb attributed much of their early impact to Owen’s dynamic stage presence but noted that his untimely death curtailed their trajectory and left their potential unfulfilled. Nevertheless, The Ruts are regarded as "one of [the] key bands of their generation."
Henry Rollins has acknowledged The Ruts’ significant impact on his work, describing their album The Crack as "without peer" and among "the most important records of [his] life" as recently as 2024. He also acquired the original artwork used for that album’s cover, highlighting its cultural importance.
Brian Baker, guitarist for Bad Religion, credits "Babylon's Burning" as a pivotal influence due to its distinctive riff which he replicated across several Bad Religion tracks. Baker remarked that Paul Fox’s guitar playing inspired him to take up guitar himself and emphasized how the song’s unique tension set it apart from earlier punk groups like the Ramones and Sex Pistols.
Studio Albums
| Year | Album Title | Record Label | UK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Crack | Virgin | 16 |
| 1980 | Grin & Bear It | 28 | |
| 1981 | Animal Now (credited as Ruts D.C.) | — | |
| 1982 | Rhythm Collision (credited as Ruts D.C.) | Bohemian | — |
| 2013 | Rhythm Collision Volume 2 (credited as Ruts D.C.) | Sosumi | — |
| 2016 | Music Must Destroy (credited as Ruts D.C.) | Westworld/Sosumi | — |
| 2021 | Electracoustic Volume One (credited as Ruts D.C.) | Sosumi | — |
| 2022 | Counterculture? (credited as Ruts D.C.) | Sosumi | — |
| "—" indicates albums that did not enter the charts. | |||
Live Recordings
- BBC Radio 1 Live in Concert (Windsong International – shared release with Penetration)
- The Ruts Live (1987: Castle Communications)
- Live at Deeply Vale 1970's (2006: Ozit)
- Get Out of It Live (2006: Ozit)
- Live On Stage Ruts DC 2014 Sosumi SOSLP103
Selected Compilation Albums and EPs
- The Peel Sessions (December 1986: Strange Fruit)
- Peel Sessions – Complete Sessions 1979–1981 (May 1990: Strange Fruit)
- Demolition Dancing (1994: Receiver) – predominantly live tracks, featuring two collaborations with the Damned: "Shakin' All Over" and "In a Rut"
- Something That I Said: The Best of the Ruts (March 1995: Virgin)
- Bustin’ Out: The Essential Ruts Collection (June 2001: EMI)
- The Crack / Grin and Bear It (2003, EMI; both albums combined on one CD)
Singles
| Year | Single Title | UK |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | "In a Rut" | ― |
| "Babylon's Burning" | 7 | |
| "Something That I Said" | 29 | |
| "Jah War" | ― | |
| 1980 | "Staring at the Rude Boys" | 22 |
| "West One (Shine on Me)" | 43 | |
| 1981 | "Different View" (credited as Ruts D.C.) | ― |
| "Dangerous Minds" (credited as Ruts D.C.) | ― | |
| 1982 | "Whatever We Do" (credited as Ruts D.C.) | ― |
| 1983 | "Weak Heart" (credited as Ruts D.C.) | ― |
| "Stepping Bondage" | ― | |
| 2016 | "Music Must Destroy" (featuring Henry Rollins; credited as Ruts D.C.) | ― |
| "Psychic Attack" (credited as Ruts D.C.) | ― | |
| 2020 | "War on Crime" (credited as Ruts D.C.) | "—" |
See also
- List of British punk bands
- List of Peel sessions
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- Music of the United Kingdom (1970s)
External links
- Official Ruts D.C. website
- The Ruts profile at Punk 77