The Ruts

The Ruts (Malcolm Owen, Paul Fox, John Jennings, and Dave Ruffy) formed in London in 1978, and quickly veered toward a sound as inspired by ska and dub as much as punk and Oi. They were opposed to the racist undercurrent within the punk movement, and devoted their energy as much to supporting causes such as Rock Against Racism as producing hit U.K. singles such as “Babylon’s Burning.” After gaining the attention of famed DJ John Peel, Virgin Records released the Ruts' acclaimed, dub-centric debut, THE CRACK. Unfortunately, vocalist Owens succumbed to a heroin overdose in 1980. The band soldiered on briefly as Ruts DC, and reunited for a concert in 2007 to raise money for Paul Fox, who would subsequently die of cancer later that year.