Rux is an influential
street punk band from
South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korean Demilitarized Zone, land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed ...
. 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
A band camp typically refers to a high school, college, or university marching band summer camp. Band camp is often mandatory for members of the band and constitutes the majority of the preparation a marching band makes before its marching season ...
''.
History
Rux was formed in 1996 when the punk music scene centered on Club Drug and
Crying Nut
Crying Nut () is a punk band from South Korea. They are often credited as being pioneers of the Korean punk and indie rock scenes.
The group began performing in 1995 in the Hongdae club scene in Seoul. They released their debut album, '' Speed U ...
. The name "Rux" is synonymous with "Ruckus".
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
Conscription in South Korea has existed since 1957 and requires male citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 to perform compulsory military service. Women are not required to perform military service, but they may voluntarily join the military.
...
for all Korean males, which frequently breaks up Korean bands. Following the release, the band went on hiatus from 1999 to 2002 while Won Jong-hee served in the military.
Skunk Label
Won Jong-hee owned and operated Skunk Label, a
DIY
"Do it yourself" ("DIY") is the method of building, modifying, or repairing things by oneself without the direct aid of professionals or certified experts. Academic research has described DIY as behaviors where "individuals use raw and sem ...
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
The Rosetta Stone is a stele composed of granodiorite inscribed with three versions of a Rosetta Stone decree, decree issued in Memphis, Egypt, in 196 BC during the Ptolemaic dynasty on behalf of King Ptolemy V Epiphanes. The top and middle te ...
" of Korean punk rock.
Skunk Hell
Under the banner of Skunk Label, Won operated two live music venues, called Skunk Hell.
The first venue, located between
Hongik University
Hongik University (, colloquially ''Hongdae'') is a private university in Seoul, South Korea. Founded by an activist in 1946, the university is located in Mapo-gu district of central Seoul, South Korea with a second campus(branch campus) in S ...
and
Sinchon
Sinchon () is a region of South Korea surrounding Sinchon-dong, Changcheon-dong, Nogosan-dong and Daeheung-dong. It is known for its numerous universities including Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Sogang University, Hongik Universi ...
, was an obscure basement venue described as the size of a "good-sized living room".
The second Skunk Hell opened in
Hongdae area
Hongdae () is a neighborhood in Seoul, South Korea near Hongik University, after which it is named. It is known for its urban arts and indie music culture, local shops, clubs and entertainment. The area is located in Mapo-gu in the western end ...
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. Skunk Hell closed its doors and Skunk Label fell out of use, as both Rux and Suck Stuff were quickly signed to Dope Records.
Skunk Hell opened in its third location in
Mullae-dong
Mullae-dong is a '' dong'' (neighborhood) of Yeongdeungpo-gu in Seoul, South Korea. The name "Mullae" comes from the neighborhood's old name, "Moraet-mal(모랫말)," which means "Sandy Village" in Korean.
The neighborhood is most well known fo ...
in 2015.
Band members
*Won Jong-hee (원종희): Vocals
*Ryu Myung-hoon (류명훈): Drums
*Lee Hyun-hee (이현희): Guitars
*Yoon Hyung-sick (윤형식): Bass
Former members
* Lee Hyung-wi (Guitar)
* Lee Seung-bok (Bass)
* Kang Dol-il (Drums)
* Park Jun-young (Guitar)
* Kim Seuk-yun (Drums)
*
Lee Ju-hyun (Bass)
* Park Gun-woo (Guitar)
* Paul Bricky (Bass)
* Joey Queen (Guitar)
* Lee Dong-hoon (Drums)
* Lee Tae-sun (Bass)
Discography
Albums
*
004.07.01Where are We Going? (우린 어디로 가는가)
*
007.08.17Rux the Ruckus Army
*
009.06.25Eternal Children (영원한 아이들)
Live albums
* (2005) The Skunx 2005 Live
Mini-Albums
*
999.05.01I Gatta Go
*
005.06.29Another Conception
Singles
*
011.09.02Dirty Punk (더러운 양아치)
Digital Singles
*
008.03.24Last 10 Seconds
*
009.04.07Wreck (만신창이)
*
010.06.15Out of the Blue
Compilations
*
998.??.??98 Punk Daejanchi ~ Our Minds are All the Same ''(#1 Budutga, #2 Don't Wake Up, #3 Lock, #4 Another Face)''
*
999.??.??3000 Punk ''(#7 45, #25 Sub)''
*
999.03.22Club Hardcore, Assa Obang ''(#6 Headless Fish, #14 Street)''
*
003.07.05We Are the Punx in Korea ''(#7 Our Minds are All the Same)''
*
006.04.202006 Skunk Compilation "Strike! Strike! Strike!!" ''(#6 And Again, #12 When I Die, #17 Oworui Norae 2)''
*
008.09.16No Future for You ''(#5 Everybody's Wicked)''
*
010.08.02Burning Hepburn - Life Goes on (Burning Hepburn) ''(#3 Life Goes on) (feat. Rux,
Crying Nut
Crying Nut () is a punk band from South Korea. They are often credited as being pioneers of the Korean punk and indie rock scenes.
The group began performing in 1995 in the Hongdae club scene in Seoul. They released their debut album, '' Speed U ...
)''
References
{{Authority control
South Korean punk rock groups
South Korean indie rock groups
Musical groups established in 1996
South Korean rock music groups