The Ruts

The Ruts emerged from London's Southall district in 1977, fusing punk's insurgent energy with reggae's dub-inflected textures at a moment when Britain's streets crackled with racial tension and economic despair. Fronted by Malcolm Owen, whose voice careened between anguished howl and melodic precision, the band carved out a sound that refused punk's typical three-chord limitations. Guitarist Paul Fox deployed jagged, effects-laden lines while bassist John "Segs" Jennings and drummer Dave Ruffy locked into grooves that nodded to their shared love of roots music.

Their 1979 debut The Crack captured this volatile chemistry, with "Babylon's Burning" becoming both chart hit and protest anthem. The album demonstrated harmonic sophistication rare in punk, moving fluidly between thrash and skank. Owen's death from heroin overdose in July 1980 ended the band prematurely, yet their blueprint for punk-reggae fusion influenced generations. The surviving members continued as Ruts DC, prioritising dub experimentation over commercial accessibility. The Ruts remain emblematic of punk's possibilities beyond nihilism, proof that rebellion could contain complexity.