Rux

Rux

Jonghee of Rux performs in Skunk Hell on March 31, 2007.
Background information
Origin Seoul, South Korea
Genres Punk rock
Years active 1996–present
Labels Dope Records
Skunk Label
Members Won Jong-hee
Ryu Myung-hoon
Lee Hyun-hee
Yoon Hyung-sick

Rux is an influential street punk band from South Korea. They formed in 1996 and released their first recording in 1999. Lead vocalist Won Jong-hee, the only remaining original member, also ran Skunk Label and owned the punk music venue Skunk Hell. They gained notoriety in 2005 when friends of the band undressed on stage during the live nationwide broadcast of an episode of MBC concert show Music Camp.

History

Rux formed in 1996[1] when the punk music scene centered on Club Drug and Crying Nut. The name "Rux" is synonymous with "Ruckus".[2]

Rux released several songs on compilations and went through numerous personnel changes before releasing the seven-song compilation I Gatta Go. The title refers to conscription in South Korea for all Korean males, which frequently breaks up Korean bands.[3] Following the release, the band went on hiatus from 1999 to 2002 while Won Jong-hee served in the military.[4]

Skunk Label

Won Jong-hee owned and operated Skunk Label, a DIY record label for Korean punk bands founded in July 1998. Skunk Label went on hiatus while Won served his military duty. After Won returned in 2002, Skunk Label released We are the Punx in Korea, a 30-track compilation CD that has been described as the "Rosetta stone" of Korean punk rock.[5]

Skunk Hell

Under the banner of Skunk Label, Won operated two live music venues called Skunk Hell.

The first venue, located between Hongik University and Sinchon, was an obscure basement venue described as the size of a "good-sized living room".[6]

The second Skunk Hell opened in Hongdae area in January 2004 in the former location of Club Drug. Eventually weekly management of the live music schedule was handed over to Ryu Cheol-hwan of punk band Suck Stuff. At the end of 2008, Skunk Hell officially closed its doors, with Ryu and Won citing waning finances and the inability to secure a liquor licence, as well as market saturation of competing live music venues.[7] Skunk Hell closed its doors and Skunk Label fell out of use, as both Rux and Suck Stuff were quickly signed to Dope Records.

Music Camp incident

On Saturday, July 30, Rux was invited to appear on the MBC concert program Music Camp for their segment called “Is this song good?” The band members invited a large number of their supporters in the punk scene.

Toward the end of the performance, two punks disrobed and leapt around the stage in front of the live audience and the cameras. Between four and five seconds of full-frontal nudity was broadcast across the nation. The two streakers were mistakenly identified as members of the band Couch, although one was from Spiky Brats. Both were booked by the police without detention on charges of indecency and interference with a business. The police administered drug tests, but the results were negative.[8] Won was also arrested for inviting the two to appear on the show.[9]

Public response was furious, both against Rux and the broadcaster.[10] MBC cancelled Music Camp, and the Korean Broadcasting Commission considered heavy disciplinary measures. Then mayor of Seoul, Lee Myung-bak suggested that Hongdae concerts be regulated by authorities,[11] which prompted political rivals to compare Lee to former dictator Park Chung-hee.[12]

Band Members

Former Members

Discography

Albums

Live Albums

Mini-Albums

Singles

Digital Singles

Compilations

References

  1. ↑ Epstein, Stephen (2007). Cosmopatriots: On Distant Belongings and Close Encounters. Netherlands: Rodopi. p. 157. ISBN 978-90-420-2360-4.
  2. ↑ Twitch, Jon. "Broke in Korea 16" (PDF). Jon Twitch. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Domer, Nevin (November 26, 2004). "RUX Where Are We Going (2004)". PunkNews.org. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  4. ↑ Dunbar, Jon (Spring 2005). "Punks in Korea". Theme Magazine. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  5. ↑ Domer, Nevin (24 December 2004). "Various We Are The Punx In Korea". PunkNews.org. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  6. ↑ Brickey, Paul (March 2005). "A Clean Slate for Us Both: The autobiography of a Korean-American punk trapped in Korea" (PDF). Broke in Korea. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Twitch, Jon (Fall 2008). "Escape from Hell: Skunk Hell quietly closes its doors" (PDF). Broke in Korea. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  8. ↑ Unknown, Unknown (August 1, 2005). "Naked Bodies Shown for Five Seconds on Live TV". Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  9. ↑ Kim, Tae-jong (July 31, 2005). "Music show canceled after indecent exposure". Korea Times. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  10. ↑ Unknown, Unknown (July 31, 2005). "Punk Rockers' Privates in Affront to Korea's 'Bourgeois'". Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  11. ↑ Kwon, Ji-young (August 3, 2005). "Hongdae musicians apologize for flashing". Korea Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
  12. ↑ Unknown, Unknown (2 August 2005). "Seoul Mayor Blasted for Authoritarian Mindset". Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
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