Ruder Than You was founded in 1989 at Penn State University in State College, PA. After graduation in 1990, the group relocated to Philadelphia. The band's music relies heavily on traditional ska and dancehall reggae as opposed to punk ska, which was what most of their cohorts were playing at the time. In 1992, they released their debut album,
Big Step, on Moon Records. Four years later they followed it up with
Horny for Ska. In addition to the two albums, the band has appeared on numerous third wave compilations. To support both CDs, the group toured and performed, regularly opening up for groups like
the Skatalites,
Steel Pulse,
the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, and
No Doubt. Since the band has been absent from live performing since 1998, many assume they have broken up. ~ Curtis Zimmermann