For the hip-hop label, see Ruthless Records (Los Angeles).
Ruthless Records is an independent label founded in 1981 in Chicago by The Effigies. It was not really an organized structure, but a name used by some punk rock bands from 1981 to 1990: Big Black, The Effigies, End Result, Naked Raygun, Rifle Sport and Urge Overkill. The Effigies ran the label from its inception until 1984, when they found the label hijacked the group's priorities. They then handed it over to Big Black founder Steve Albini, who headed it until it was dissolved in 1990. edit code
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