Rewind: Malcom Owen 35 Years Ago Today

Thirty Five Years ago today Malcom Owen, lead vocalist of The Ruts passed away, he was only 26 years old. The best way of remembering him is not to spotlight his addiction to heroin but to turn towards the music that he made with The Ruts between 1977-80.

In my mind The Ruts were one of the best live bands around in the late 70's. Dave Ruffy and Segs Jennings provided a pulsating rhythm track that drew upon the energy of punk and the the deep cool vibes of reggae. Paul Fox added guitar that was so off the charts at times that you wondered if he had just stepped out of the future and was bringing back sounds that were quite alien to our ears and that would frame the sound of rock guitar for years to come, and Malcom Owen of course added the passion with lyrics and an intense vocal performance. Put together it was one of the most amazing sounds ever.

1979 Peel Session.

Savage Circle.

Babylon's Burning.

Dope For Guns.

Black Man's Pinch.

Criminal Mind.

1980 Peel Session.

In A Rut.

Secret Soldiers.

Staring At the Rude Boys.

Demolition Dancing.

Love in Vain. (B-Side to Staring at the Rude Boys)

There has been a lot of interest in The Ruts and Ruts DC down through the years (and rightly so!) and a new book has recently been published telling their story. You can get it from here.

Remembering Malcom Owen

Today is the 33rd anniversary of the death of Malcom Owen. Malcom was the fronman for the very excellent and vastly underrated South London band The Ruts. He died of a drug overdose at his parents house after a period where he had been clean. Listening to The Ruts at their prime one can only wonder what they could have become had Malcom stayed clean.

Click on the links to listen and to watch the music. 

Their first single was 'In A Rut' released in 1979 on Misty in Roots' People Unite Label.

1979 Peel Session.

Savage Circle.

Babylon's Burning.

Dope For Guns.

Black Man's Pinch.

Criminal Mind.

1980 Peel Session.

In A Rut.

Secret Soldiers.

Staring At the Rude Boys.

Demolition Dancing.

Love in Vain (b-side to 'Staring at the Rude Boys'). - Quite possibly one of the saddest songs ever recorded.

Listen to 'The Crack' Full Album Here.

The Ruts with Henry Rollins (Paul Fox Benefit 2007).

Watching that show again still brings a wee tear to my eye as we remember that only a few months after it that Paul Fox sadly passed away.

Shine On Me

As usual the date kind of passed me by, but on the 14th July it was 32nd anniversary of the death of Malcom Owen of The Ruts.

Malcom died of a heroin overdose at his parents home after a period of time being clean.

'West One (Shine On Me)' 

Released a month after Malcom's death, it is, in my mind, one of the best singles they ever put out.