
Right around the time I heard from the dub-inspired Skintologists about their new album , I also received in the mail a five track EP from one of my all time favorites, Ruts DC. I've written about them plenty over the last several years , and a conversation about all time favorite albums NEVER goes by without me mentioning their final album, 1982's might, mighty Rhythm Collision Vol. 1. There's a reason that my very first tattoo was the simple triangle that the Ruts used (and continue to use) as a logo. [...]

I'm truly honored to be able to post these photos that involve some of my favorite people on the planet...these are previously unpublished shots of Ruts DC (thats The Ruts without deceased lead singer Malcolm Owen for those who don't know) taken in NYC by Godlis . Above are, left to right, Dave Ruffy (drums), Paul Fox (guitar), and Segs Jennings (bass, vocals). Godlis seems to think they were either taken in December 1980 or January 1981 here in New York. If accurate, Ruts DC were yet to [...]

This is a fantastic candid shot of Marley hanging out, and checking out some records. If you look closely, you'll notice that LP on top of the few he's holding is the first Ruts album, The Crack . I can't fault his taste. Thanks to Bob at Blue Note Records in South Florida - be sure to visit him when in Miami/Fort Lauderdale for all of your used vinyl needs.
" Ahead of his forthcoming 'Cash Antics Vol 3' release on Well Rounded in 2012 and a new ep of originals on Ramp Recordings here's a season's gift from Bad Autopsy bless him :) " BAD AUTOPSY - Rut (Nice 'n' Slow) FREE 320!! Merry Xmas :) by Well Rounded Records

Looks like I was a wee bit premature in posting that piece earlier today on Ruts doings & goings-on. I somehow missed this story over at Louder Than War from a few days ago. It basically announces something I've known about for a few months now, but have kept under my hat out of respect to the band. Basically the news is that Ruts DC are working on a second volume to their essential dub masterpiece, Rhythm Collision Vol. 1, recorded with the Mad Professor, and self-released in 1983. I've heard a couple of rough [...]

Two brief items of note for Ruts fans: The fourth annual Paul Fox tribute show is taking place in Middlesex, London (ish), on October 15. See the flyer below for more info. Thanks to Martin P. for the news. Also, the ever excellent Eccentric Sleeve Notes recently ran a great career overview and interview with Dave Ruffy from 2008 discussing the Ruts, Laurel Aitken, Prefab Sprout, Aztec Camera and Edwyn Collins. Read it here .

Herşey bir rüzgara bakıyor abi Bakmayın esrar çekip mayıştıklarına Bir gün varya bir gün bu mağribli çocuklar Bir gün yakacaklar Paris'i İngiltere'nin zengin kesimleri ve orta sınıflar hâlâ yaşananlara bir anlam vermeye çalışadursun Londra'nın yoksul merkezlerini bilenler için yaşananlar sürpriz olmadı. Gençler bir zamandır işsizliğe ve kesintilere öfke kusuyordu The Guardian’ın internet sitesinde henüz iki hafta önce Londra’nın yoksul mahallelerinden Harringey’de gençlerle yapılmış söyleşileri içeren bir video haber yayımlandı. Hükümetin kesinti programı kapsamında Harringey’deki [...]

I've gone high concept this week, and that is not a reference to this week's cover art which is by my friend Davie Kaufmann. No, I mean there's a gimmick: all the songs on Summer Fridays 4.10 are less than two minutes long. All 33 of them (maybe even 34). With this kind of criteria, we don't really have much in the way of new music (two songs by my count) but quality remains high of course. I've tried to vary it up as much as possible because the bulk of the two-minutes-or-less songs in my collection are of the [...]

For something different, some indie stuff on Saturdays. To start us off, The Ruts' classic West One from 1980. Babylon's Burning may be their best known tune from 1979. But it is this later tune for which I remember them. It was released in 1980 and was their last single, their career being ended by singer Malcolm Owen's sad death from an overdose (more info from Wiki here ). The track itself has huge drums, a saxophone part that isn't an embarassment and a mid-song change of direction to show their dub reggae influences. [...]

About time for Wild Weekend , edition 60. Afro, lofi, ancient blues and so much more for your money. Will melt away the clouds in no time. But first: a simple question. We know by now they can play the blues (a bit), but can white boys play reggae, too? If they're true roots fans and mix it in with a punk rock background, why not? Just ask the Clash. Or the Ruts, whose angry and rootsy Jah War remains a classic in the genre. "Fighting, fighting, too close [...]
The Ruts - Babylon’s Burning I wasn’t sure what to toss up on here today, so I opened the player, hit random and this track was what came up. I found it fitting and just thought I’d share this classic Rut’s tune. Later. http://www.myspace.com/theruts officialpage
Rising to the fore during the second generation of punk, London group The Ruts became one of the few from that genre to truly reach a wider audience. The beginnings of the imposing foursome actually veered towards the burgeoning "Oi!" movement before musical leanings saw them drift into grounds defined by reggae and dub. Part of their sound was also guided by their association with numerous

Johnny Reb From: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom Johnny Reb are a gang of reprobates (or maybe rebrobrates!) from Glasgow. They are relatively modest reprobates introducing themselves to the Devil via an email that simply said 'We're Johnny Reb & we're distinctly average'. Clearly a band in desperate need of the help of a PR company or maybe a self confidence counsellor. For a good twelve years these modest Glaswegian reprobates [...]
There have been so many RIP's lately...I almost feel like this is turning into an obituary blog. Oh well, what can I do? One of the reasons I ever started this thing was to document stuff like that for my own, um...pleasure would be the wrong word, but you know what I mean. Anyway, as my friend Martin mentioned, today is the 30th anniversary of the death of our beloved Ruts lead singer, Malcolm Owen. Here's looking at you, kid.

John Robb rightly remembers Ruts' frontman, Malcolm Owen, as well as one THE great UK bands, in a new article over at the Quietus. Can it really be three decades since Ruts frontman Malcolm Owen died? In 1980, just weeks after Ian Curtis’s suicide, another key frontman was dead. And while Curtis has become iconic, Owen and his band - who were already influential at the time of his death - have somehow have been nimbly airbrushed from the annuls of history. The Ruts, who burst onto the punk-rock battlefield in 1979, [...]

Oi! To The World! It's The Punk Rock Advent Calendar - With New Songs Added For Christmas 2009 Welcome to the Punk Rock Advent Calendar . In the true spirit of Punk and Christmas we present you with Twenty Five completely FREE Punk Rock Christmas songs for your listening and downloading delectation! A unique and free online advent calendar opening windows through to a "musical" experience of noise and goodwill. Buy Music: [...]

In 1979 things were starting to get a little tense in the UK. In May of that year Margaret Thatcher was elected Prime Minister, heralding the start of a conservative era that lead to the mess we’re in right now. Were there other factors? Of course, but when you deregulate and privatize everything and leave the functioning of society at its most important points to private interests, the financial being one of those, then you end up with a big, greedy balls up, which is where we’re at currently. In 1979 the punk era was winding [...]

Immer Chic / Vakula / Even Tuell / Move D & Benjamin Brunn - Rüts 3/3 (buy) Focusing on the more experimental side of house and techno, Meakusma bring us the third of three EP's in their Rüts series. Meakusma is the spin off label from the Brussels based club night of the same name whose upcoming line-ups include Surgeon, Shed & Aardvarck as well as guest slots abroad. For their third Rüts EP, Meakusma have brought together their most house friendly line up with tracks from 2008 heroes Move D & Benjamin Brunn, [...]

Forming in early 1978, The Ruts consisted of School friends. Paul Fox played guitar, Malcolm Owen did the vocals, John Jennings played bass, and Dave Ruffy played the drums. The bands sound was punk, reggae and dub influence. The band also took on various political causes due to the nature of the times. The were known for playing for many anti-racist causes. The would be reflected in the bands lyrics. The Ruts first single was titled "In A Rut" and it was originally released in May of 1978. The B-side was an anti-drug song about Heroin, it was titled "H-Eyes". [...]