Dave Ruffy

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David Ruffy Biography
1978 – 81 David was an original member and co-writer of The Ruts and Ruts D.C, including the singles “Babylon’s Burning”, “Something that I Said”, “Jah War”, “Staring At The Rude Boys”, “West One”, “A Diifferent View” and albums “The Crack”, “Grin and Bear It”, “Animal Now”, “Rhythm Collision” and “The John Peel Sessions”
1980 Toured, tour managed and cut four tracks with ska legend Laurel Aitken including, “Rudi Got Married” (became his first UK chart single in 1981), ”Honey Come Back To Me”, “Big Fat Man” and “It’s Too Late”. Also cut tracks for Secret Affairs “I Spy” label.
Recorded one of a double album “Sanity Stomp” by Kevin Coyne on Virgin Records.
Recorded “Chez Moi” album and toured with Valerie Lagrange.
1983 Toured and recorded with Prefab Sprout
1983 – 88 Started working on and off with Aztec Camera recording “Pillar to Post” single for Rough Trade. Then joined the group to tour, record and promote the albums “Highland Hard Rain”, “Knife” and “Love”. From these albums came the singles "Oblivious", "Walk Out To Winter", "All I Need Is Everything / Jump", "Still on Fire" and "Deep & Wide & Tall". Appeared in all their T.V. and video appearances during this time. Big involvement in producing their biggest selling track in the U.S, a version of Jump by Van Halen, done in the style of the Velvet Underground. and you can see him on most of their videos including "Somewhere In My Heart".
1985 Recording for Pete Townshend’s “Iron Man” album.
Joined The Waterboys and the first gig was at the 100.000 seat Ahoy stadium in Rotterdam, supporting Simple Minds where they received three encores. They went on to play most European festivals over the next couple of years including a spectacular appearance at Glastonbury, touring and promoting their “This is The Sea” album.
1986 The Waterboys moved to Dublin to work on the “Fisherman’s Blues” album. Appearance on The Tube and a double album was compiled from the concerts which became ”The Live Adventures Of The Waterboys.
1986 Went to Moscow with “Everything But The Girl” for a series of concerts
1987 Got a request from Karl Wallinger of World Party to tour the U.K. and North America to promote his first album “Private Revolution”. 1987 cont. After rehearsals at Prince’s “Paisley Park” studios in Minneapolis, they embarked on a very successful tour, finishing in the U.K with a gig supporting U2 at wembley stadium and a filmed and recorded appearance of Ship of Fools at “The Secret Policeman’s Ball” for Amnesty International at the London Palladium.
1988 – 89 Worked with soul singer Mica Paris playing in London as well as recording and appearing on TV dates and video for “My One Temptation”
1989 Toured with Yazz on the 1st ever “Acid House” tour of the U.K promoting her number 1 “The Only Way Is Up” single and “Wanted” album and also did TV promo and recorded a live album and video.
Along with U.K. reggae legend Dennis Bovell, provided rhythm section duties on the “Hope and Despair” album for Edwyn Collins, which they also toured throughout Europe.
1990 Started work with Sinead’O’Connor after meeting in Dublin in 1986 whilst working with the Waterboys. Stayed with her band for about two years touring and promoting “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” album, which featured the single “Nothing Compares 2 U” . Both single and album reached 1 in sixteen countries including the U.S. The band played a huge sellout U.S. tour. Was asked by her manager (the late Steve Fargnoli) to be musical director and co-ordinate the band and production staff. Did a lot of major concerts in Europe and recorded her “My Special Child” EP and appeared on “Year of The Horse” concert video, before leaving in November 1990 for the birth of daughter Charlotte.
1991 Recorded the 1st live breakbeat CD “David Ruffy’s Drums” which has been used on many hit records, including “All The Things She Said” by TATU.
Completed some recording for Neneh Cherry’s “Homebrew” album.
Recordings and TV appearances with Alison Moyet.
Started long partnership with the late Kirsty MacColl playing concerts as well as writing for and playing on her “Titanic Days” album. Also did numerous TV appearances including “Later With Jools Holland” show.
1992 Recorded Tracks on “Coincidence and Likely Stories” with Buffy Saint-Marie.
Toured the US with Adam Ant and recorded a live abum which was released as a double album alongside “The Very Best of Adam Ant” in 1993.
1993 Recordings and TV appearances with Alison Moyet’s “Essex” Album
Writing and recording “Rocks In The Head” with Roger Daltrey at Abbey Road as well as touring with Kirsty MacColl and Adam Ant.
1994 Abbey Road to record Adam Ant’s last album “Wonderful” for Columbia Records. On tour with Dave Barberossa as a two drummer line up.
1995 Touring with Kirsty MacColl
and consulting with co-author Keith Zimmerman, on John Lydon’s biography “No Dog’s No Irish, No Blacks”.
Released a lot of 12” dance records, including several records with his old friend Segs from The Ruts as “Wax Factor” on the “Good Boy” record label, as well as collaborations with Dave Barbe as “Moody” for the Deconstruction label.
Remixed tracks for Sub-Pop artists Pigeonhed featuring Shawn Smith from Brad, and Dub Syndicate, for On-U Sound and London band Terminalhead,
1998 Co-produced Australian act Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes album “The Devil Drives”
Records with The Waterboys and played and programmed their 1st album in seven years “A Rock In The Weary Land”.
1999 Started work with Kirsty MacColl on her “Tropical Brainstorm” which was to be her last album before her untimely death at the end of 2000. Co-wrote a couple of tracks and co-produced and programmed along with bandmate Pete Glenister. The album was released in 2000 and was well received, it produced the hit single “In These Shoes”. The touring band was expanded to include percussion and a brass section to help recreate the latin flavour of the album and was a great success live. The band appeared on “Later with Jools Holland” and toured the U.K.
2000 Released another breakbeat CD “Ruff Cuts”, co-produced with Lee Groves, another breakbeat / sample CD which can be heard on many releases including tracks by Fat Boy Slim. and "All The Things She Said" by tAtU
Worked again with Pete Townshend for his Lifehouse “Live” project which produced the “Live At Sadlers Wells CD 2001” and the “Live at Sadlers Wells DVD 2002”.
2002 Formed a production partnership with Mark Wallis at Good Luck Studios in South London. Worked with producer Mark Wallis on many projects through the 90’s as a drummer, other times as a programmer or a band “fixer” including Marianne Faithful, Francios Hardy, The Silencers as well as French band Les Objects and William Sheller.
2002 cont. Recorded and produced an album for The Stranglers entitled “Norfolk Coast” which received great reviews and produced two Top 30 singles “Big Thing Coming” and “Norfolk Coast”
Co-produced Alabama 3’s “Outlaw” album, with more great reviews and a radio hit single “Hello I’m Johnny Cash”
2003 Co-produced, programmed and played kybds and percussion on ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Award) winning album “Oceans Apart” by The Go Betweens which produced two hit singles “Here Comes a City” and “Finding You”.
2004/5Album by The Levellers “Truth and Lies”
Album for Mohair entitled “Small Talk” who have since been picked up by Q-prime management in the U.S.
Album for The Proclaimers “Restless Soul”
Irish Top 20 EP for St Julian
2006Album for new band BrotherManDudewriting production music and currently have a writing partnership called Gruff with friend and fellow musician Gary Tibbs.
2007 Recorded sessions at Luc Besson’s studio in France for Italian diva Patty Pravo with Gary Tibbs and Seamus Beaghen
Recorded and Produced tracks for Leah Mason
Joined Marc Almond’s group Played some sell-out dates and did T.V dates with Marc Almond
Reformed the Ruts for a one off gig with Henry Rollins as a benefit for Paul Fox. Guitarist and co-founder of band Who Has since Died R.I.P.
Recorded and co-produced “The Evangelist” by Robert Forster
Formed the Duplicates a trio with Seamus Beaghan on Organ and Matt Percival on guitar (an authentic rhythm and Blues combo) occaisionally including James Knight on saxophone
did Edwyn Collins’s comeback gig as part of the B.B.C’s electric proms in London
2008 writing and rehearsing mixing tracks and gigging with the Duplicates
touring England and Russia with Marc Almond
Writing some new production music
playing gigs and festivals with Edwyn Collins
Remixed Militant and Accusation with Segs and Steve Dub for a Rhythm Collision out soon on Echo Beach recordings. It went so well we started recording Rhythm Collision vol 2 with my 'ol buddy Segs . Laying down basic tracks at ARIWA with Mad Professor. (on to 2inch tape) really! it sounds great with sonic help from Steve Dub. and musical assistance from Seamus Beaghen. we shall be collaborating with special guests through 2009
Its Large!!
2009
look out for more Duplicates shows!
Just finished a great tour of Germany with Mr Marc Almond! 8 shows, first one in Bochum a little shaky, but all the rest were very good, the band reached new heights! especially in Berlin. the food was good the beer was better everyone says good morning! and the buses run on time.Marvellous! only downer was the promoter Lars had a crash on the autobahn, get well soon mate!
To book me for any drumming
programming or production work
please send an email to
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