Angus Gaye

Angus Gaye

Angus Gaye (24 September 1959 – 2 September 2022), better known as Drummie Zeb, was an English musician. He was the drummer and vocalist for the reggae band Aswad, as well as a record producer for other artists.

Early life Gaye was born in London on 24 September 1959. His parents immigrated to the United Kingdom from Carriacou, Grenada, as part of the Windrush generation. He grew up in the Ladbroke Grove area of West London and studied at the Holland Park School in his hometown where he met his future bandmates Tony Robinson and Brinsley Forde. Gaye took an interest in drumming after a cousin, who was a drummer, started living at his family home as a tenant. He would use anything he had at hand to use as a drum. His father bought him his first drum at the age of eight so he would stop damaging family property and Gaye eventually became a kit drummer in the local steelpan band called the "Metronomes".

Career In 1975, Gaye saw an advertisement for the band Aswad and turned up for the audition, where he was successful in getting the part of the drummer. They became the first British reggae group to sign with an international label, signing up with Island Records in 1975. Gaye was the only member who remained a part of the band throughout its existence. As the songs of the band became more commercial-oriented in nature in the 1980s, he started assuming most of the lead vocalist duties and eventually replaced Forde. Aswad gained popularity after the release of their debut single "Back to Africa" in 1976. They followed this up with Love Fire (1981), Rise and Shine (1994), which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Reggae Album, Dub: The Next Frontier (1995), and Cool Summer Reggae (2002). Aswad ultimately released 21 albums and received two more Grammy nominations. By 2006, he and Robinson were the only founding members still playing with the group. Aswad released their last album, City Lock, in 2009. Outside of Aswad, Gaye served as a record producer for Ace of Base whose 1994 rendition of the single "Don't Turn Around" became a global hit, and played what was described by David Katz as a "distinctive drum pattern" in Janet Kay's 1979 single "Silly Games" which peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart. He also worked with Sweetie Irie, Joe, Vanessa-Mae, Carroll Thompson and others.

Personal life Gaye had six children, including Soloman who is also a reggae artist. He died on 2 September 2022 at the age of 62. The cause of death has not been given.

Credits & Appearances (39)

Musicians
Composer 3
Aswad
Island • 1976
Showcase
Island • 1981
Artist ↕ Album ↕ Release ↕ Type ↕ Label ↕ Rec ↕ Rel ↕
Aswad Aswad Aswad ILPS 9399 LP Island 1976 1976
A New Chapter Of Dub Aswad A New Chapter Of Dub CCD 9711 CD Mango 1981
Showcase Aswad Showcase IMCD 57 CD Island 1981 1989
Drums 21
Artist ↕ Album ↕ Release ↕ Type ↕ Label ↕ Rec ↕ Rel ↕
Aswad Aswad Aswad ILPS 9399 LP Island 1976 1976
Live Burning Spear Live ILPS 9513 LP Island 1977 1977
Mawamba Dub (Warrior) D. Witter Mawamba Dub (Warrior) DRLP 1001 LP D-Roy 1978 1978
Marcus Children Burning Spear Marcus Children WRLP 102 LP Burning Spear 1978 1978
In Person Samantha Rose In Person EMPLP 902 LP Empire 1979 1979
From Me To You Me And You From Me To You CBLP 01 LP Castro Brown 1979 1979
Motion Motion Motion DDLP 4 LP Double D 1979 1979
R.A.P.P Presents Wicked City Archie Pool & Various Artists R.A.P.P Presents Wicked City Y 30 LP R.A.P.P. 197X
Mek It Run Dennis Bovell Mek It Run PSCD 75 CD Pressure Sounds 197X-2012 2012
Arise Honey Boy Arise DMLP 403 LP Diamond 1980 1980
Little Girl The Heptics Little Girl DRLP 1004 LP D-Roy 1980 1980
Gladiators The Gladiators Gladiators V 2161 LP Virgin 1980 1980
Brain Damage Dennis Bovell Brain Damage LP 6627 001 LP Fontana 1981 1981
Fly High Anansi Horace Faith Fly High Anansi DNLPS 005 LP Editions Namaco 1981 1978
Mi C-Yaan Believe It Michael Smith Mi C-Yaan Believe It ILPS 9717 LP Island 1982 1982
Capricorn Woman Janet Kay Capricorn Woman SGL 103 LP Solid Groove 1982 1982
My Desire Honey Boy My Desire DMLP 404 LP Diamond 1983 1983
Great British MC's Various Artists Great British MC's FADLP 001 LP Fashion 1984 1984
JA to UK MC Clash Johnny Ringo Meets Asher Senator JA to UK MC Clash FADLP 002 LP Fashion 1985 1985
High Times All Stars Explosion Various Artists High Times All Stars Explosion AL 8312 LP Alligator 1985 1985
Merrie Melodies The Massive Horns Merrie Melodies TOPLP 002 LP Top Notch 198X
Lead Vocals 1
Aswad
Island • 1976
Artist ↕ Album ↕ Release ↕ Type ↕ Label ↕ Rec ↕ Rel ↕
Aswad Aswad Aswad IMCD 58 CD Island 1976
Percussions 2
Aswad
Island • 1976
Capricorn Woman
Solid Groove • 1982
Artist ↕ Album ↕ Release ↕ Type ↕ Label ↕ Rec ↕ Rel ↕
Aswad Aswad Aswad ILPS 9399 LP Island 1976 1976
Capricorn Woman Janet Kay Capricorn Woman SGL 103 LP Solid Groove 1982 1982
Piano 1
Aswad
Island • 1976
Artist ↕ Album ↕ Release ↕ Type ↕ Label ↕ Rec ↕ Rel ↕
Aswad Aswad Aswad ILPS 9399 LP Island 1976 1976
Vocals 1
Aswad
Island • 1976
Artist ↕ Album ↕ Release ↕ Type ↕ Label ↕ Rec ↕ Rel ↕
Aswad Aswad Aswad ILPS 9399 LP Island 1976 1976
0 album
39 credits
20 labels
1976 - 2023