Aswad (band)
| Aswad | |
|---|---|
Aswad, 2007
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| Background information | |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres | Reggae |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Labels |
Island, Grove Music, CBS (UK), Simba, Mesa, Ark 21, PROTV |
| Members | Angus Gaye Tony Robinson |
| Past members | Brinsley Forde Donald Griffiths George Oban Courtney Hemmings |
Aswad ("Black" in Arabic) is a long-lasting British reggae group, noted for adding strong R&B and soul influences to the reggae sound. They have been performing since the mid-1970s, having released a total of 21 albums.
The members of Aswad are UK descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean. They attended John Kelly/Holland Park School.
The original members of Aswad were guitarist/vocalist Brinsley "Chaka B" Forde, drummer/vocalist Angus "Drummie Zeb" Gaye, lead guitarist/vocalist Donald "Dee" Griffiths, bassist George "Ras" Oban, and keyboardist Courtney "Khaki" Hemmings. Aswad were the backing band of Burning Spear's 1977 Live album, recorded at the Rainbow Theatre in London. Other contributors included Vin Gordon, and Karl Pitterson.
Initially the band produced music in the Roots Reggae-vein, with members' contributing songs individually and with Forde acting as the band's principle 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 replaced by an incoming musician). The band then released their second studio effort, Hulet, in 1978, before Oban departed the band in 1979, with Robinson taking over Oban's role in addition to Hemmings'. The following year saw Griffiths depart, leaving Forde as the band's sole guitarist. 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; such as "Three Babylon" and "It's Not Our Wish", and the powerful jazz-influenced instrumental "Warrior Charge".
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