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The Ruts were a British punk rock band formed in London in 1977, featuring Malcolm Owen on vocals, Dave Ruffy on drums, Vince Segs on bass, and Paul Fox on guitar. Their debut single, "In A Rut," narrowly missed the Top 40 but led to three sessions with BBC Radio One and a contract with Virgin Records. Their follow-up single, "Babylon's Burning," became a hit, reaching the top ten, along with a few other successful singles. The band garnered attention from hard-line Skinheads who opposed their anti-racist stance, resulting in violence at some of their gigs. This turmoil contributed to Owen's struggles with heroin addiction and subsequent depression. Tragically, Owen's last release with the band, "Staring At The Rude Boys," was followed by his death from a heroin overdose on July 14, 1980. After his passing, the band continued with Paul Fox taking over vocal duties under a new name.

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