Bad news is that Paul Fox the brilliant guitarist with one of my favourite punk bands The Ruts has been diagnosed with cancer.
They already had tragedy when their vocalist Malcolm Owen died just as the band were at their prime - and I'm sure if he had lived they could have progressed to being one of the best ever bands from that era.
Anyway, this seems a great gig to raise some money for Paul Fox and celebrate their excellent music. Cool of Henry Rollins to get involved.
RE: The Ruts with Henry Rollins: cancer benefit gig
Well, it was an amazing night - very emotional of course as Paul Fox looked very frail but it was so uplifting and his guitar was out of this world! Such a real shame about the tragedy surrounding The Ruts as they should and could have been one of the greatest bands to come out of Punk.
The gig was sold out and it was a great party atmosphere - lots of old Punks turned out to play songs and celebrate Tony Barber from Buzzcocks, one of The Blockheads, members of Bad Manners and other Ska bands - John Otway was hilarious then came Tenpole Tudor who of course did the classic "Swords of a Thousand Men", TV Smith from The Adverts was excellent - "Gary Gilmore's Eyes" sounded so great. Splodgenessabounds played, but that was the only low bit - U.K. Subs played some of their superb early classics like "CID", "Tomorrow's Girls", "Stranglehold", "Warhead" and "Emotional Blackmail" then The Damned stormed through "New Rose", "Neat Neat Neat", "Love Song" "Smash It Up" and more. Misty in Roots came on and played some of their great icy reggae and reminded everyone how they and The Ruts used to tour together for the Rock Against Racism cause. Tom Robinson and TV Smith did a couple of songs and then the main event - The Ruts back on stage together for the first time in so many years with a very happy Henry Rollins taking over on vocals. Rollins was excellent to - he did a great job he sang really well and it wasn't long before you atopped comparing and thinking about how good a singer Malcolm Owen was. They did all the classic songs that should be up there with other classics from the Clash and the Pistols - "Babylon's Burning", "Staring at the Rude Boys", "SUS", "In a Rut", "Jah War" and more. It was a good cause too and Paul Fox looked so pleased with the reaction and warmth - a superb guitarist.
Well, Otway was more of a comedian/poet/performer than a punk anyway so, no there were never any geek punks...! But it was classic watching him play that guitar, I wish I had videoed it - there is like a spring joint in the middle of the two guitars and he sort of flapped both up and down - it was great! Mind you he could have seriously prevented himself from ever having children...!
How long before Mattias buys one of these?
RE: The Ruts with Henry Rollins: cancer benefit gig
Brian of Nazerath
Guest
2007.07.19 23:08
I met John once and he was a sound guy, playing with his kids and smoking a pipe, way cool. John, Skin from Skunk Anansie and myself were sitting and talking music, nice bloke really.
Ahhhh, but you can't beat slipping a fresh slab of black vinyl out of it's sleeve - just the slightest hint of static - opening up the record player lid and placing the record down. Then slowly moving over the needle and gently putting it onto the gro
RE: The Ruts with Henry Rollins: cancer benefit gig
Brian of Nazerath Back:I met John once and he was a sound guy, playing with his kids and smoking a pipe, way cool. John, Skin from Skunk Anansie and myself were sitting and talking music, nice bloke really.
Where did you meet him? A Festival? He did seem a very decent chap - bloody funny too. I really wished I'd filmed him doing his cover of The Sweet's "Blockbuster" on that twin guitar thing.
Good news is that they are going to release a DVD of the gig so there may be some chance to see it again!
RE: The Ruts with Henry Rollins: cancer benefit gig
2007.07.02 15:43 
