The Ruts - Babylon's Burning - Top Of The Pops - 1979

[strugglebuggietv]

hippunks

[barkingwolf1]

first time I listen to them was around 2002,2003 i think and I still can't fucking believe Owen is dead for 32 years now...

[fortieschic]

This is one of my all time favourite punk tunes...its awesome!!

[steve5ist]

This track was originaly called " London`s burning " but they had to change it because the Clash beat them to it.

[pikecordoba]

remember gladstone park it got dark

[MrMiamiswaggz305]

does he mean what I think he means when he says Babylons burning

the system of things or random ass lyrics

[kix7711therealone]

@MrMiamiswaggz305 its a metaphor for rioting. i think its a historical reference to a riot in babylon

[puskascat]

@kix7711therealone No, Babylon is a term used by Rastafarians to mean an oppressive state (it's part of their identification with somehow being a tribe of Israel, or something like that). The Ruts were big reggae fans.

[kix7711therealone]

@puskascat so when they say babylons burning they are talking about a riot against the oppresive state. so i was right.

[steve5ist]

@kix7711therealone

A little known fact is this tune was originaly called "London`s burning " but they had to change it because the Clash beat them to the title.

[MrMiamiswaggz305]

@kix7711therealone

thx man always good to know =D

[doves5000]

One of the best tracks ever played on TOTP. I remember the chin hitting the floor when this came on a rarity and never happens today

[tomahawkbungle]

komodo i meant.

[CraigG1960]

I think that early iron Maiden and some of those other new wave of British heavy metal bands were very influenced by the Ruts. Listen to this next to Maiden's first LP and you'll see what I mean.

[metamaggot]

shame the video's shot....

[cpdaddy7]

Tony Blackburn will rot in hell

[modsheff1]

@cpdaddy7 Hopefully along with bastard simon cowell

[tomahawkbungle]

@modsheff1 and fucking cunting louis walsh, the 3 of them should be thrown into a big fuck off cage with 3 hungry kimodo dragons..that would be a good reality tv show to watch.

[shookrunner]

Ruts - best band since the Rutles!

[eltonjazz]

Love the ruts, great, they tell the truth. Luv em!!!!!!

[amberwhite100]

Felt like lidtening to this in light of what has happened over the past few days and hopefully won't happen tonight in London.

[ucanseethejoin]

Blackburn said back in 1978 Down in the tube station at midnight was a load of rubbish and said he didn't like Thin Lizzy as well.

[nsmith4cg]

best punk band ever

[mysterywhylay]

The Ruts were sensational :)

[ucanseethejoin]

I like this one and the Sex Pistols C'mon everybody two tracks which Blackburn wouldn't play on Pick of the Pops

[KevthePoet]

@ucanseethejoin Blackburn played two seconds of reggae and refused to play anymore claimingthat itwasn't real music. Well that, to me, is proof that Blackburn was possessed by a demon, we can only have pity :-)

[tamaria6564]

Classic and still got original vinyl

[popcorntommy]

I saw Ruts live around 1979 at romeo and juliets in Bristol. I was 13, we went backstage to get autographs and ended up hanging out for a while. I had a mop of blond hair and one of the bands girlfriends said I looked like oliver twist, then the band started singing food glorious food ! They ended up giving me a lift down the road in their transit van, the rest of the band were still larking about but Malcolm was subdued in the back seat. I guess his smack had kicked in. R.I.P.

[MyDenmon]

I'm 46 and I remember as if it was today, everything they wrote, they were completely punks but their dub parts were genious : God bless'em.....Sorry for my bad english but I'm from Paris...

[Afterglow1010]

it only got on a uk tv show because it had to because of it's chart position. The only one playing it on radio was John peel. Just shows you how many listeners= How much power John peel had.

[mrgbuz]

used to follow these guys around rip mal

[AnGoosen]

one of the best intros ever along with take 5 Dave Brubeck. Awsome tune.

[ForestGrump]

Saw The Ruts at Jacksdale Grey Topper shortly before Malcolm Owen died. Top band, top gig, top venue, top night. Brilliant.

[MENSFORTHHILL99]

should have played this for the royal wedding we just had to endure.

[kirkwanglers32]

I Was in the Army On Leave.

When i heard this Punk Era.

I Loved it as the Sex Pistols were to the Istablishment but i took the Queens Shilling.

Along Came the Falklands 1982.

Soverin soul,not now.

Forsess personel like lambs to the Slaughter.

[SuperTruth77]

Don't know about Babylon, but I would pay to see Tony Blackburn burning to death 'with anxiety'... he still slagging off punk even today.

DLT I can forgive- he was a tit but at least was serious about the music he liked (he first got me into Steely Dan).

Batesey I can also forgive 'cos he's fairly laid back about life in general.

Blackburn- no excuses, and still infecting Radio 2 today with his putrid filth 'personality'...

[flaxonx3]

@SuperTruth77 Good assessment of the Radio One djs, thought Blackburn was a creep when I was a kid and now know he's one. That moronic voice & gormless personality did it for me let alone what comes out of his mouth. Cretins like him were too thick to realise that if the likes of him had championed punk, that generation may as well have given up and gone home.

[rubitchen]

@SuperTruth77 unsung,underplayed and ahead of there time!!!!!

[TrevorBexon]

I want to have a dangerous riot to this song

[chizywales]

Malcolm Owen was one the best punk vocalists,even to this day no one has really come near.

[harryhammerfist]

classic

[philipm06]

Fucking brilliant

[fortieschic]

This is one of my all time favourites tunes.....brilliant!!

[sweeetly]

Thank God for Punk!

[WolvoExPunk]

I was 15 when I became a Ruts fan. Still a Ruts fan now. Whats age got to do with it? I've more respect for a 14 yr old Ruts fan than a 24 year old Westlife fan.

[drew23ski]

its good so it is

[5WE11]

Classic 

[birdandthe]

more shallow hollow nonesense.

[PaulBrimble]

@birdandthe what a twat you are, why comment if you don't like it retard

[birdandthe]

@PaulBrimble getting a bit old arent you for 14 year old punk music ?

[PaulBrimble]

@birdandthe 14 year old punk music?, it first came out in the 70's or have you been on the glue again

[birdandthe]

@PaulBrimble yes i know it came out in the late 70s, and the ruts along with the boomtown brats was music for 14 year olds THEN !!! TWAT !!!

[Cacteur]

@birdandthe In 1979, I was 24, and you dunno crap mate....

[kilroyskittle]

love in vain stay off the horse

[totalstranga]

I got into punk back in 89/90 and for some reason I never checked out The Ruts until 2008 (never met anyone in Michigan who had heard of them). I could punch myself in the face for overlooking these guys. One of the best bands of that era

[birdandthe]

@totalstranga chuck your record collection in the thames

[crowsonatv]

Class!!!

[birdandthe]

@crowsonatv  lower

[TheEXBASSIST]

U WOT?

[Dillboy]

Best band in the world at that time...

[TheMrEMeat]

Honestly would this ever get on a pop tv show in North America regardless what era, no it wouldn't. Its why us North Americans are always trailing so far behind the UK music wise.

[thewelly1973]

@TheMrEMeat need to get shot of all the rap shit mate

[mrfudgeyhead]

@TheMrEMeat

I think America has a better indie scene(From personal experience with the experimental acts around the LA area) since fads blow up really big in the UK. That said though, both of our cultures are dominated by the corporate soul killers who toss out shitty music for preteens to vest their ears in.

It's such a shame what's happened though, we can't have good messages or smart men in our media/entertainment anymore because people just don't want to think.

[booberlink]

@TheMrEMeat Believe me, modern UK 'Popular' music is terrible now :( Its nearly all American artists or poor quality replications to sell records.

[scrappy5011]

@TheMrEMeat Believe it or not but this song did do well in the US because of a movie called Times Square back in th early 80"s.

[wibeseeker]

@TheMrEMeat

North America has given us loads of brilliant punk music - from Iggy to the New York Dolls to the Ramones to the Dead Kennedys to Fugazi to... honestly, the list goes on and on... doesn't matter whether it's from the UK or the US of A - if it's good, it's good!!!

[Haophil]

@TheMrEMeat I loved this song, almost 30 years (?) ago

[Anibalruido]

@TheMrEMeat wtf? u are retarded america has had a lot of success with music in general....lot of it is really underground..u brits are ignorant and dont know shit about american music

[Anibalruido]

@allfantasticimages right right thanxs dood for clearing that up for me xD

[su0rtin]

@Anibalruido You're ignortant for judging all British people by a statement on youtube. I'm British and my favourite band, The Misfits, are American. I still think British music is more pioneering though. Why is it that every generation in America has received an enormous influx of British music since the 1960's. You've had 60's British invasion the New Wave and also The New Wave of British Heavy Metal, MTV started of by playing endless videos of British New Wave acts.

[marynightshade]

Great song-nice and PISSED OFF!

[darrylprojectile]

FUCKING WICKID SHIT omg fuck

[jaytv777]

fucking ace

[yorkie6687]

"With ignorence and hate"! Fucking excellent band live! R.I.P. Malcolm.

sadly missed!

[pawnsacrifice1]

the best punk single ever imo

[bopkick5]

this brings back all mi memories from the 70s

[VONCEIL1]

L.B.H ANYONE?

[Alembic25]

The Ruts could turn out a totally authentic reggae choon no problem.

[philseayjet]

First band I saw live as a 15 year old! Went back stage and they were great. Malcolm was fantastic and signed his name for me with a big anarchy A.

[src456]

@philseayjet you lucky bugger :(

[philseayjet]

@src456 Thanks, It now feels quite an honour in a weird way! Phil

[kirkwanglers32]

I liked The Ruts Malcombe Owen Overdosed Rip Bud.

[sapporojack]

Amazing band, you just wonder how they were persuaded to mime on TOTP

[mudfries]

aye, they were a great band, of all the peel sessions that were recorded the ruts one is the best, if you dont have ' find it! it really is 1st class, they dont make bands like that anymore.

[kirkwanglers32]

Shame the Lead singer Od.