Rudi were a punk rock/power pop band from Belfast, Northern Ireland formed in 1975. Throughout the late 1970s they were one of the most popular Northern Ireland punk bands. But while The Undertones and Stiff Little Fingers secured record deals with major labels and had chart success, Rudi didn’t hit the big time and became 'the band that time forgot'. Rudi split in 1982 leaving behind recordings that can still be found today. History Rudi formed in 1975 as a covers band, playing rock 'n' roll and glam rock hits. The original members were Drew Brown (drums), Leigh Carson, Graham "Grimmy" Marshall (bass guitar), Ronnie Matthews (guitar, lead vocals) and Brian Young (guitar, vocals). The band's name was taken from a single called "Oo Oo Rudi" by the Jook. Carson left, and after bassist Johnny Stewart joined, Marshall moved to drums and the group adopted a pop punk sound. Rudi were the very first punk band in Belfast. "We were the first punk band in Belfast ... Then punk broke and people identified with us. You thought you were the only people who were into this stuff. You didn't realise that two streets away, two other people were reading Sounds and NME." (Brian Young, Rudi) In the early days of punk, the band wore a stage uniform of boiler suits covered in painted punk slogans and Rudi song titles. The boilersuits had been stolen by drummer Marshall from his place of work. Original Stiff Little Fingers bassist Gordon Blair joined in 1977, replacing Stewart. Rudi’s early live set included the crowd favourite “Cops” which started and finished with the chant of “SS RUC” and a chorus of “we hate the cops”. It was written about the “Battle of Bedford Street” - a confrontation between punks and the RUC in Belfast city centre when The Clash gig at the Ulster Hall in October 1977 was cancelled after the insurance was withdrawn. As Belfast riots go, it was small scale but it was unique in that it was a non-sectarian “riot” by Protestant and Catholic punks. “Cops” was Rudi’s most overtly political song and one of the group’s more "punky" songs. On seeing Rudi perform at The Pound club in Belfast in January 1978, Terri Hooley the owner of Good Vibrations record shop decided to launch a record label. "Rudi took to the stage and they blew my mind. From the moment