United Kingdom 
MN2S Success Stories: Manchester Reggae Festival
8 years ago
Aswad is a British reggae group known for commercially successful music and longevity.
Aswad signed with Island Records for a successful period that included their most notable hits. The label also had Bob Marley, making it a target for the band.
Aswad collaborated with emerging artist Alwayne Love, who released “Africa The Motherland” through T25 Records Inc. in the summer of 2020.
Aswad is a British reggae group that formed in 1975 in the Ladbroke Grove area of West London. The original lineup included Brinsley “Chaka B” Forde (guitar/vocals), Angus “Drummie Zeb” Gaye (drums/vocals), Donald “Dee” Griffiths (lead guitar/vocals), George “Ras” Oban (bassist), and Courtney “Khaki” Hemmings (keyboardist). The band initially focused on roots reggae, creating music that addressed the experiences of Black youth in the UK. This early period produced tracks like “Three Babylon,” “It’s Not Our Wish,” and the jazz-influenced instrumental “Warrior Charge,” which continues to be popular among roots reggae sound systems worldwide.
Over the years, Aswad underwent lineup adjustments. After their self-titled debut in 1976, Hemmings was replaced by Tony “Gad” Robinson in 1976. Oban departed in 1979, with Robinson taking over bass duties while continuing on keyboards. Griffiths left in 1980, leaving Forde as the sole guitarist. With the core trio of Forde, Gaye, and Robinson, Aswad shifted towards a more commercial reggae sound, expanding their audience with the 1981 album *New Chapter* and its companion dub LP, *A New Chapter of Dub* (1982). They recorded *Live and Direct* in 1983 at the Notting Hill Carnival, documenting their live performance.
Aswad achieved international recognition with their 1988 UK chart-topping single “Don’t Turn Around.” This was followed by the UK No. 11 hit “Give a Little Love” and a reggae rendition of The Eagles’ “Best of My Love.” In 1994, “Shine” became a significant hit across Europe. The band has collaborated with various artists, including Dennis Brown and Sting, and holds the distinction of having performed with every ex-Wailer. Aswad continued to tour globally, playing at venues such as London’s Royal Albert Hall and Reggae Sunsplash in Montego Bay. Forde departed in 1996 for spiritual reasons, leaving Gaye and Robinson as a duo. Angus Gaye passed away in 2022, after which Tony Robinson became the sole remaining original member. Aswad’s most recent studio album, *City Lock*, was released in 2009.
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