The Ruts

The Ruts

The Ruts are a British punk band from Hayes, United Kingdom, active from 1976 to 1983. The group’s line-up is Malcolm Owen on vocals, Paul Fox on guitar, John “Segs” Jennings on bass and Dave Ruffy on drums. Their music combines punk rock with dub, reggae and post-punk, and they are often associated with the British punk scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Style and songs

The Ruts play direct punk tracks alongside dub reggae-influenced songs. Their best-known material includes “Babylon Is Burning” and “In A Rut”, as well as “Give Youth A Chance” and “Jah War”. “Jah War” is written in response to the Southall Riots, when police attack Anti-Nazi League protesters during a National Front march in Southall.

Politics and live work

The band is part of the Misty in Roots People Unite collective in Southall, west London, and takes part in anti-racist causes. It plays a number of benefits for Rock Against Racism, and many of its notable live appearances are RAR gigs with Misty in Roots. The group also appears on BBC sessions, including a third Peel session recorded on 11 February 1980, with “Demolition Dancing” and “Secret Soldiers” later appearing on the posthumous Grin & Bear It album.

Later period

By early 1980, Malcolm Owen is dealing with health problems, including sore throats and heroin addiction, and a UK tour called Back to Blighty has several cancelled dates because of his condition. The last Ruts gig with Malcolm Owen takes place at Plymouth Polytechnic on 26 February 1980. Owen dies of a heroin overdose on 14 July 1980, aged 26.

Place in punk

The Ruts are closely associated with The Clash in terms of outlook and influence, combining political commitment with punk and reggae elements.