Formed in Southall,West London, in 1977 by Malcolm Owen (vocals), Paul Fox (guitar), John “Segs” Jennings (bass) and Dave Ruffy (drums), Ruts were one of the most musically diverse bands to come out of UK punk.After their first single, ‘In A Rut’, received much support from John Peel, they found chart success in 1979 with ‘Babylon’s Burning’ first and ‘Something That I Said’. Both singles would be re-recorded for their furious and raw debut LP, “The Crack”.The album is a masterpiece that broadens the scope of punk by incorporating elements of R&B, classic rock and the influence of reggae and dub in tracks such as ‘Jah War’, while managing to create moments of dark and menacing atmosphere which fit the socially and politically-charged content of the songs. A few more singles in 1980 followed the LP release, but after several health problems Malcolm Owen died of a drug overdose in July of that year.The band would carry on as Ruts DC, but Owen’s tragic death put an end to the original line-up of one of the most unique and gifted UK punk bands.