Aswad | |
|---|---|
 Aswad in 2002 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | Tony Robinson |
| Past members |
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| Website | Official website |
Aswad are a Britishreggae group, noted for adding strongR&B andsoul influences to the reggae sound.[1] They have been performing since the mid-1970s, and have released 21 albums. TheirUK hit singles include thenumber one "Don't Turn Around" (1988) and "Shine" (1994). "Aswad" isArabic for "black". They are three-timeGrammy Award nominees.[2]
The members of Aswad are UK descendants of immigrants from theCaribbean. They attended John Kelly/Holland Park School. Aswad was formed in 1975 in theLadbroke Grove area ofWest London.[3]
The original members of Aswad were guitarist/vocalistBrinsley "Chaka B" Forde, drummer/vocalistAngus "Drummie Zeb" Gaye, lead guitarist/vocalist Donald "Dee" Griffiths, bassist George "Ras" Oban, and keyboardist Courtney "Khaki" Hemmings.[4] Aswad were the backing band ofBurning Spear's 1977Live album, recorded at theRainbow Theatre in London. Other contributors includedVin Gordon, andKarl Pitterson.[5]
Initially, the band produced music in theroots reggae vein, with members contributing songs individually and with Forde acting as the band's principal songwriter. The band's dynamic soon began to change however. Shortly after the release of their self-titled debut album in 1976, Hemmings left and was replaced by Tony "Gad" Robinson (the only time in the band's history where a departing member would be officially replaced by an incoming musician). The band then released their second studio effort,Hulet, in 1978, before George Oban ( who later played withBurning Spear andAfrican Headcharge ) departed the band in 1979, with Robinson taking over the position of bassist as well as continuing his role as keyboardist. The following year saw Griffiths depart, leaving Forde as the band's sole guitarist.[4] During this early period in the band's history they were distinctly different from Jamaican reggae acts, in that they wrote songs that dealt with the issues surrounding the experiences of black youths growing-up in the UK;[4] such as "Three Babylon" and "It's Not Our Wish","Natural Progression", "Ghetto in the Sky". and the powerfuljazz-influencedinstrumental "Warrior Charge", which is still much played byroots reggae sound systems worldwide. The band continued makingroots reggae and dub music, and in 1985, releasedJah Shaka Meets Aswad inAddis Ababa Studio.
Once the band's line-up had stabilised into the trio of Forde, Gaye, and Robinson, Aswad followed a more commercial reggae style, gaining a wider audience with theNew Chapter album (1981). They then followed this with the Michael Reuben Campbell-producedA New Chapter of Dub LP which was a dub of the entireNew Chapter album. Clifton "Bigga" Morrison ofPrince Far I's band, The Arabs, played bass on some of the tracks.Not Satisfied was a London roots-reggae album released in 1982. In August 1983, Aswad played live atMeanwhile Gardens on the Sunday of theNotting Hill Carnival; the resulting live albumLive and Direct is a faithful record of that event, where they played a live dub set. "Love Fire" gained wide recognition when it was used as thebacking rhythm forDennis Brown's "Promised Land".
Among Aswad's catalogue ofhits is "Don't Turn Around", a UK No. 1 hit in 1988,[6] originally recorded byTina Turner as aB-side to her "Typical Male" single. They followed this up with UK No. 11 hit "Give a Little Love",[6] and a reggae-flavoured rendition of "Best of My Love", first popularised and written byThe Eagles. In 1989, they contributed the single "Set Them Free" to theGreenpeaceRainbow Warriors album. In the same year, they performed together withCliff Richard the song "Share a Dream", recorded the previous year, atWembley Stadium as part of The Event (16 and 17 June 1989). Their next single, "Shine", was released in 1994 and was a big hit in much of Europe. Another track was the upbeat 1998 remake ofThe Police's "Invisible Sun", performed withSting.
The band also hold the distinction of having played with each one of the ex-Wailers.
The band has toured extensively, playing in diverse locations from London'sRoyal Albert Hall andMontego Bay'sReggae Sunsplash, to gigs in West Africa,Israel and Japan.[7]
Aswad underwent their first line-up change in sixteen years in 1996, when Forde departed the band for spiritual reasons, leaving Gaye as the only founding member. Once again, the remaining members opted not to seek to recruit a replacement musician, and thus Aswad became a duo of Gaye and Robinson. With the exception of a brief reunion with Forde in 2009 for the Island record label's 50th-anniversary celebrations,[8] the band's line-up remained the same until Angus Gaye’s death on 2 September 2022, aged 62.[9]
Aswad released their final studio album to date in 2009, withCity Lock. They released the singles "What Is Love?" and "Do That Thing" in the same year.[10]
Aswad toured the UK in Spring 2025, including playing at theLambeth Country Show, atButlins resorts,Bournemouth's Reggae Weekender, and withAli Campbell'sUB40 atColchester Castle.[11]
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Media related toAswad at Wikimedia Commons| International | |
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