With their unique blend of raucous punk rock laced with reggae and dub, the Ruts were one of the most exciting bands to emerge from Britain’s late-’70s scene. Their career was cut cruelly short by the death of their singer in 1980, but still the group released six crucial singles and a seminal album in their short lifetime, while the surviving members soldiered on as Ruts D.C. They were also a powerful force within Britain’s Rock Against Racism movement, ensuring a political legacy at least as vital as their music. On classic tunes like “Babylon’s Burning” and “In a Rut,” the band delivered rough-and-ready punk rock as strong as any of their peers in the first wave of U.K. punk, but “Jah War” showed they were similarly expert with reggae rhythms and dubwise production, and “Staring at the Rude Boys” showed they could blend punk sounds and West Indian themes, honoring each side equally.
Statement from the band:
We are beyond happy to announce our ‘Faces in the Sky’ UK headline tour for the winter of 2022.
Before this happens we are going to finish writing and recording our brand new studio album and release it for you all, play some fabulous festivals access the UK and Europe in the summer of 22 and then head out on our first major European headline jaunt for over 3 years in October 22. Most pressingly (10 days and counting) we get to tour with our friends The Stranglers, as their special guests, across the UK in late January and February 22, what a way to start the year and the fight back against Covid, we can’t wait to see you all.
Segs,Ruffy & Leigh
