THE RUTS DC: Interview with the punk legend about their new album

The Ruts DC are back! So the UK punk legend will release a new album called „Music Must Destroy“ on the 16th of Sepetember 2016. We were able to talk to Ruts DC drummer Dave Ruffy and bass player John „Segs“ Jennings about the bands past, present and future. Here we go!

Interview with The Ruts DC

AFL: Hey how are you? Thank you for taking time for the interview! First and maybe the most important question. Is your band name The Ruts DC, The Ruts or is both the same? Where’s the difference and for what stand DC?

Segs: The Ruts DC is a continuation of Ruts. The Ruts singer was Malcolm Owen. Sadly, he died in 1980. We decided to carry on playing together but the record company at the time (Virgin) insisted we kept the name. We felt the need to modify it, albeit slightly. DC is an abbreviation of DA CAPO –a musical term meaning back to the beginning.

„Personally, I write from the heart, a troubled soul and a concerned mind.“

AFL: You will release on 16^th September your new album „Music Must Destroy”. How satisfied you’re with the album and what can the listeners expect?

Segs: We haven’t completely finished the album yet but we are very happy with what we have so far. It’s fairly diverse but It has its roots most definitely, in the “Rock” genre rather than our previous Reggae Dub based release Rhythm Collision Volume 2. Generally, we class ourselves as Dub Rock.

AFL: Is there a difference between „Music Must Destroy” and your older releases?

Segs: Ruts Albums 1 and 2 -The Crack and Grin and Bear it featured Malcolm Owen on lead vocals. The DC was added for Album 3 -it was called Animal Now This saw me taking the main duty on as Lead Singer although Ruffy and Paul Fox both sang songs on it too so the sound changed. Album 4-Rhythm Collision Volume 1 was a total departure as it was a dub reggae release. In 1982 we split up shortly after touring with this album and there was a gap until 2007. Paul Fox (original Ruts and DC guitarist) died. We came back with Rhythm Collision volume 2 in 2011 –another Reggae Dub based album. On this new album Leigh Heggarty joined us on guitar so yes – there are many differences on this new album!

AFL: Which themes your threat in „Music Must Destroy” and where do you get your inspiration for your lyrics?

Segs: Lyrically, the album generally reflects the things we see and feel around us. Personally, I write from the heart, a troubled soul and a concerned mind.

AFL: You’ve released a video to the song “Psychic Attack” for a few days. Why you choose specially this song for a video and also your first single for your new record.

Ruffy: Psychic Attack is the first punk rock song we have written for the Ruts since 1980 so it seemed fitting to be the 1^st release from the new album.

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AFL: Do you plan a European tour later this year to promote your new album? If yes have you some dates?

Ruffy: We have no dates as yet; we are totally concentrated on finishing our album.

AFL: Your foundation was in 1978. Since then you played countless shows. What was the craziest thing that ever happen on a show and what was your all-time favorite show you play?

Ruffy: That’s a hard one to answer, but for me playing and headlining the Marquee club in London in ’78 and ’79 was most memorable as I spent so much time there as a teenager watching lots of bands like Taste, Free and Led Zeppelin

AFL: What have changed in punk-rock since you start to play shows since today. Do you miss the early times in punk-rock and was in former times everything better?

Ruffy: I don’t miss the old shows so much, back in the day there was a lot of violence at gigs between rival tribes of youth. I think these days’ people have a broader range of taste in music. I don’t really like stereotypical bands, for me Punk Rock was about originality

AFL: Which three songs you’re like to play live at most? Why these?

Ruffy: I still enjoy playing S.U.S. It Was cold and In A Rut, they are well written songs and the message remains the same.

AFL: If you could choose a band you can play a show together. Which band would you choose and where would you play the show?

Ruffy: I’d like to play Brixton Academy with Iggy Pop or Wembley with the Foo Fighters.

AFL: What are you doing beside of making music with The Ruts. Have you steady jobs? What are you making in your spare time?

Ruffy: I write a lot of music and I also play drums for Dexy’s and I have a rhythm and blues organ lead trio called the Duplicates.

AFL: What are your favorite bands at the moment? Do you have any all-time favorite record?

Ruffy: I like Jack White’s stuff and QUOTSA, the Foo Fighters are still rockin’ and of course the mighty Iggy Pop, his last album “Post Pop Depression with Joshua Homme is amazing

AFL: Thanks for taking time for the interview! I’m looking forward of the upcoming record. Have you any last words?

Ruffy: Thank you!