Ruefrex, originally called Roofwrecks, were a punk rock band from

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingd ...

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label=Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. North ...

, formed in 1977.

History

The band was formed in 1977 by Paul Burgess and Tom Coulter at the Boys Model School in Belfast, Coulter originally acting as vocalist but sticking to bass when Ivan Kelly joined.Ogg, Alex (2006) ''No More Heroes'', Cherry Red Books, , p. 474-477 Kelly left in 1979 to join London band

The Wall ''The Wall'' is the eleventh studio album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd, released on 30 November 1979 by Harvest/EMI and Columbia/ CBS Records. It is a rock opera that explores Pink, a jaded rock star whose eventual self-i ...

, and was replaced by Allan Clarke. By the time of their first release, "One By One" on Terri Hooley's

Good Vibrations "Good Vibrations" is a song by the American rock music, rock band the Beach Boys that was composed by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Mike Love. It was released as a single on October 10, 1966 and was an immediate critical and commercial hit, toppi ...

label, they had also been joined by guitarist Jackie Forgie.Gimarc, George (2005) ''Punk Diary'', Backbeat Books, , p. 281Lazell, Barry (1998) ''Indie Hits 1980-1989'', Cherry Red Books, , p. 193 They had two hits on the UK Independent Chart, "Capital Letters", which reached number 31, and "Wild Colonial Boy" which reached number 46. They released their debut album, ''Flowers for all Occasions'', on Kasper Records in 1985.Holland, Roger (1985) "Rue Fuss", '' Sounds'', 14 December 1985, p. 30 It received a five-star review from '' Sounds'', with Roger Holland describing it as a "positively heroic album". They were notable for their anti-sectarian stance at a time when

the Troubles The Troubles ( ga, Na Trioblóidí) were an ethno-nationalist conflict in Northern Ireland that lasted about 30 years from the late 1960s to 1998. Also known internationally as the Northern Ireland conflict, it is sometimes described as an "i ...

were at their height in

. A later line-up of the band featured Gordy Blair who also performed with Highway Star, the band that was to become

Stiff Little Fingers Stiff Little Fingers are a punk rock band from Belfast, Northern Ireland. They formed in 1977 at the height of the Troubles, which informed much of their songwriting. They started out as a schoolboy band called Highway Star (named after the D ...

. In 1976 he joined Belfast punk band

Rudi Rudi, born Albert Rudolph (January 24, 1928 – February 21, 1973), also known as Swami Rudrananda, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Rudi was a spiritual teacher and an antiquities entrepreneur in New York City.Swami Rudrananda udi ''Spiri ...

. Forgie joined Colenso Parade and later formed the Black Taxi Ballads.Strong, Martin C. (2003) ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, , p. 275

Discography

''One By One'' (EP)

Recorded at Wizard Studio's, Belfast. Released: Good Vibrations

OT 8 OT VIII or OT 8 ( Operating Thetan Level 8) is the highest current auditing level in Scientology. OT VIII is known as "The Truth Revealed" and was first released to select high-ranking public Scientologists in 1988, two years after the death of Sc ...

1979. Tracks: #One by One #Cross the Line #Don't Panic Line Up: *Alan Clarke - Vocals *Jackie Forgie - Guitar *Tom Coulter - Bass *Paul Burgess - Drums

''Capital Letters/April Fool'' (7 inch)

Recorded at Downtown Radio Studio,

Newtownards Newtownards is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles (16 km) east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. It is in the civil parish of Newtownards and the historic baronies ...

. (Taken from Downtown Radio session master March 1980) Released: Kabuki Records AR 71983. Line Up: *Alan Clarke - Vocals *Jackie Forgie - Guitar *Tom Coulter - Bass *Paul Burgess - Drums

''Paid In Kind/Perfect Crime'' (7 inch)

Released: One to One Records X11984. Produced, Engineered and Directed by Ruefrex and Keith McCormick. Recorded at Unknown. ('The Perfect Crime' from Downtown Radio session, March 1980) Line Up: *Alan Clarke - Vocals *Gary Ferris - Guitar *Tom Coulter - Bass *Paul Burgess - Drums

''Wild Colonial Boy (Parts 1 and 2)'' (7 inch)

Recorded at Unknown. Produced by Hugh Matier with Ruefrex. Released: Kasper AT 11985. Line Up: *Alan Clarke - Vocals *Jackie Forgie - Guitar *Gary Ferris - Guitar *Tom Coulter - Bass *Paul Burgess - Drums

''Wild Colonial Boy/Even In The Dark Hours'' (7 inch)

Recorded at Unknown. Produced by Mick Glossop. Released: Kasper AS 31986. Line Up: *Alan Clarke - Vocals *Jackie Forgie - Guitar *Gary Ferris - Guitar * Gordy Blair - Bass *Paul Burgess - Drums

''In The Traps/Lenders Of The Last Resort'' (7 inch)

Recorded at Unknown. Produced by Mick Glossop. Released: Kasper AS 31986. Line Up: *Alan Clarke - Vocals *Jackie Forgie - Guitar *Gary Ferris - Guitar *Gordy Blair - Bass *Paul Burgess - Drums

''Wild Colonial Boy (Extended Version)/Even In The Dark Hours'' (12 inch)

Released: Kasper 2KAS 21985. Line Up: *Alan Clarke - Vocals *Jackie Forgie - Guitar *Gary Ferris - Guitar *Gordy Blair - Bass *Paul Burgess - Drums

''In The Traps/Lenders Of The Last Resort'' (12 inch)

Recorded at Unknown. Produced by Mick Glossop. Released: Kasper Records 2KAS31986. Line Up: *Alan Clarke - Vocals *Jackie Forgie - Guitar *Gary Ferris - Guitar *Gordy Blair - Bass *Paul Burgess - Drums

''Flowers For All Occasions'' (LP)

Recorded at Music Works,

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

, N7. (16th - 29th Oct 1985) Mixed at Sarm West. (4th - 8th Nov 1985) Produced by Mick Glossop. Released: Kasper ATLP 11985. Tracks #The Wild Colonial Boy #In the Traps #The Ruah #Mr Renfield Reflects #Correct Your Fireside Manner #The Sources of the Energies #By the Shadowline #Paid in Kind #Even in the Dark Hours #One by One #Flowers for all Occasions. Line Up: *Alan Clarke - Vocals *Jackie Forgie - Guitar *Gary Ferris - Guitar *Gordy Blair - Bass *Paul Burgess - Drums

''Flowers For All Occasions'' (LP)

Released: MCA Records USA Issue">United_States.html" ;"title="CA 5733 - United States">USA Issue1985.

''Political Wings'' (LP)

Recorded live at The Chocolate Factory, South London. Produced by Paul Burgess. Released: Flicknife [BLUNT 041] 1987. Tracks: #Political Wings #On Kingsmill Road #Playing Cards with Dead Man #Days of Heaven #Playing Adult Games Line Up: *Alan Clarke - Vocals *Jackie Forgie - Guitar *Gary Ferris - Guitar *Gordy Blair - Bass *Paul Burgess - Drums

''Flowers For All Occasions'' (CD)

This CD was re-issued to celebrate the band's reunion in August 2003. Only 100 copies were made. Most were distributed among fans, the remainder were sold by mail order. The release was a replica of the original but with a lyric sheet. 'Capital Letters- The Best of Ruefrex' (CD) More recently, Cherry Red Records revealed that the official release date for the album 'Capital Letters.... the best of..' was October 17, 2006. This CD includes previously unreleased material. Tracks are - One by One/Don't Panic/Capital Letters/April Fool/Perfect Crime/The Wild Colonial Boy Pt 1/Correct Your Fireside Manner/Even In Ihe Dark Hours/Paid In Kind/By The Shadowline/The Wild Colonial Boy/In The Traps/Flowers For All Occasions/The Lenders Of The Last Resort/Days Of Heaven/Playing Adult Games/The Fightin' 36th/Between Having And Wanting/Playing Cards With Dead Men/Middle-Ground

References

External links

Official Ruefrex Site
{{authority control Pop punk groups from Northern Ireland Musical groups from Belfast New wave musical groups from Northern Ireland Punk rock groups from Northern Ireland