The Ruts - Staring at the Rude Boys TOTP 1980

Top of the Pops 17 April 1980

[@any2fillings209]

I remember thinking back in the day that their songs were getting stronger and better. I would have loved to see and hear more from The Ruts. Unfortunately it wasn’t to be. It was a huge loss in every way. The band was a massive talent.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

Poor malcolm died way too young and ended what could have been a band bigger than the clash, rip malcolm and foxy

[@Whitehorse_crimefighter]

How small do you think the clash was?

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

@volatile8664 clash we're popular, I spoken to many people who were teenagers back then and they all day that the ruts were going to be huge, massive bigger than the clash

[@ianbrodie8658]

​@@matthewjdouglas6471 Naah.

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

@ianbrodie8658 they were going to be massive. writing was getting better and they could play really good. I guess we'll never know. They had more songs on the radio than the clash back in 79

[@robertevans6596]

Malc, oh my dear boy. You will always be missed so badly, as will Foxxy! Pound-for-pound there is a case to call these heroes the best ever British band!

[@aidankilmartin2521]

Great track ,and a proper performance ,The Ruts a class act without a doubt

[@donaljoseph1]

Simply awesome. This song helped define my teenage years. Still listening to the Ruts many years later.

[@lioii]

Such a huge loss to music, Malcolm Owen is still sorely missed...

[@sw8541]

Great band, wrote some great songs.

[@Hummeldumm]

Best punk singer ever. Absolute charisma.

[@ianwhitehead691]

ThE RuTs 🧷 R.I.P Malcolm ♥️

[@asboukcomfortable1670]

Least these boys could play! Every pub in Hackney E5 London forever played these tunes! RIP Paul & the genius M. Never surrender ! N4 summer days lol 😆 😅 🙃 Uk 🇬🇧

[@TheIkaraCult]

The Ruts were phenomenal

[@petekelsall4299]

Fantastic song, I like it just a much now as I did in 1980.

[@protestthisyouloser1093]

This is amazing

[@cookster1001]

Brilliant

[@444turk]

He had so much talent to give I hope his family know how good he / they were

[@Tcb0835]

Rollins said that after hearing this song, he and other members of the DC music scene were of the opinion that these guys were about to become the biggest band on the planet. But for the terrible loss of Malcolm Owen, they just might have been right.

[@TheGrumpyDrummer]

Brilliant!

[@kevinadamson5768]

Punk classic 😊

[@krisscanlon4051]

I wanted to get further into New Model Army but then realized it was the Ruts I was jonesing for😅! Straight to the point with this lot

[@tintomara6209]

The Ruts were a big influence on N.M.A who used to cover In A Rut as an encore.

[@2018Clarity]

Fuckin loved this song RIP Owen!

[@alanfox7312]

The band deserved more recognition

[@deniseflowers4092]

Only 214 views?!

[@protestthisyouloser1093]

Only the select few get to digest

[@craigl5729]

it was a terrible few months ,first Ian Curtis then Malcolm,both way too soon ...so sad still

[@S-Theo]

check out Dag nasty cover

[@charlieoscar09]

TBF The Rude Boys got on really well with The Punks ......I should know

[@paulmajor8865]

Sadly 3 months later Malcolm Owen was found dead in the bathroom in his parents house aged only 26.

[@David-h4z2s]

A Message to people don't Inject herolin

[@djinnxx7050]

​@@David-h4z2sNever tried herolin, is that some new gear?

[@stuartmorley3836]

Such a pity he discovered smack... R.I.P.

[@princegroove]

Suede head singer?

[@VincentRE79]

Malcolm Owen

[@scottfraser7118]

Thought you meant his Haircut

[@The.Last.Guitar.Hero.]

Jesus if only music was this edgy now :( Foxxy doing the nazi salute lol, obviously nobody noticed

[@djinnxx7050]

Solid track but very clearly displays the disconnect between the music, its themes and the angst behind it, whilst attempting to be tolerable enough to be commercial. In other words, it's so painfully restrained and nuetured especially compared to their peers. The cover by Gallows brings that aggression forward.

[@purplekief8154]

Hmmm