Aswad

Aswad

Aswad are a British reggae group, noted for adding strong R&B and soul influences to the reggae sound. They have been performing since the mid-1970s, and have released 21 albums. Their UK hit singles include the number one "Don't Turn Around" (1988) and "Shine" (1994). "Aswad" is Arabic for "black". They are three-time Grammy Award nominees.

History
The members of Aswad are UK descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean. They attended John Kelly/Holland Park School. Aswad was formed in 1975 in the Ladbroke Grove area of West London. 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 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 with Burning Spear and African 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. 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","Natural Progression", "Ghetto in the Sky". and the powerful jazz-influenced instrumental "Warrior Charge", which is still much played by roots reggae sound systems worldwide. The band continued making roots reggae and dub music, and in 1985, released Jah Shaka Meets Aswad in Addis 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 the New Chapter album (1981). They then followed this with the Michael Reuben Campbell-produced A New Chapter of Dub LP which was a dub of the entire New Chapter album. Clifton "Bigga" Morrison of Prince 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 at Meanwhile Gardens on the Sunday of the Notting Hill Carnival; the resulting live album Live 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 the backing rhythm for Dennis Brown's "Promised Land". Among Aswad's catalogue of hits is "Don't Turn Around", a UK No. 1 hit in 1988, originally recorded by Tina Turner as a B-side to her "Typical Male" single. They followed this up with UK No. 11 hit "Give a Little Love", and a reggae-flavoured rendition of "Best of My Love", first popularised and written by The Eagles. In 1989, they contributed the single "Set Them Free" to the Greenpeace Rainbow Warriors album. In the same year, they performed together with Cliff Richard the song "Share a Dream", recorded the previous year, at Wembley 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 of The Police's "Invisible Sun", performed with Sting. 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's Royal Albert Hall and Montego Bay's Reggae Sunsplash, to gigs in West Africa, Israel and Japan. 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, the band's line-up remained the same until Angus Gaye's death on 2 September 2022, aged 62. Aswad released their final studio album to date in 2009, with City Lock. They released the singles "What Is Love?" and "Do That Thing" in the same year. Aswad toured the UK in Spring 2025, including playing at the Lambeth Country Show, at Butlins resorts, Bournemouth's Reggae Weekender, and with Ali Campbell's UB40 at Colchester Castle.

Members


Current members
Tony "Gad" Robinson - bass, keyboards, vocals (1976-present)

Former members
Brinsley "Dan" Forde - vocals, lead & rhythm guitars (1975-1996, 2009) Angus "Drummie Zeb" Gaye - vocals, drums (1975-2022; his death) Donald "Dee" Griffiths - lead guitars (1975-1980) Courtney "Khaki" Hemmings - keyboards (1975-1976) George "Ras" Oban - bass (1975-1979)

Additional musicians

Albums (10)

Aswad
Island • 1976
Hulet
Island • 1979
New Chapter
CBS • 1981
Showcase
Island • 1981
Live And Direct
Island • 1983
Rebel Souls
Island • 1984
In Addis Ababa Studio
Jah Shaka Music • 1985
To The Top
Simba • 1986
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Aswad Aswad Aswad IMCD 58 CD Island 1976
Hulet Aswad Hulet 539 868-2 CD Island 1979
A New Chapter Of Dub Aswad A New Chapter Of Dub CCD 9711 CD Island 1981
New Chapter Aswad New Chapter CBS 85336 LP CBS 1981 1981
Showcase Aswad Showcase IMCD 57 CD Island 1981
Not Satisfied Aswad Not Satisfied
remastered
CBS 85666 LP CBS 1982 1982
Live And Direct Aswad Live And Direct IMCD 54 CD Island 1983
Rebel Souls Aswad Rebel Souls CD Island 1984
In Addis Ababa Studio Jah Shaka Meets Aswad In Addis Ababa Studio LP 850 LP Jah Shaka Music 1985 1985
To The Top Aswad To The Top SIMBA LP2 LP Simba 1986 1986

Compilations (4)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
The BBC Sessions Aswad The BBC Sessions CD 5312791 CD Spectrum 1976-88 2009
Crucial Tracks Aswad Crucial Tracks MLPS 9833 LP Island 1976-89 1989
Roots Rocking Aswad Roots Rocking
The Island Anthology
CD Island 1976-90 1997
Reggae Greats Aswad Reggae Greats CD Island 1997

Credits & Appearances (8)

Production
Producer 7
Aswad
Island • 1976
Hulet
Island • 1979
Showcase
Grove Music • 1981
Live And Direct
Island • 1983
Rebel Souls
Island • 1984
To The Top
Simba • 1986
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Aswad Aswad Aswad ILPS 9399 LP Island 1976 1976
Hulet Aswad Hulet ILPS 9611 LP Island 1979 1979
A New Chapter Of Dub Aswad A New Chapter Of Dub ILPS 9711 LP Island 1981 1981
Showcase Aswad Showcase ASWAD 1 LP Grove Music 1981 1981
Live And Direct Aswad Live And Direct IMA 6 LP Island 1983 1983
Rebel Souls Aswad Rebel Souls ILPS 9780 LP Island 1984 1984
To The Top Aswad To The Top SIMBA LP2 LP Simba 1986 1986
Musicians
Backing Band 1
In Addis Ababa Studio
Jah Shaka Music • 1985
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
In Addis Ababa Studio Jah Shaka Meets Aswad In Addis Ababa Studio LP 850 LP Jah Shaka Music 1985 1985

Also Appears On (18)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Babylon Various Artists Babylon TAK 7100 LP Takoma
Young, Gifted And Black Vol 2 Various Artists Young, Gifted And Black Vol 2 TJODD 184 CD Trojan 196X-199X 2004
This Is Reggae Music Vol 3 Various Artists This Is Reggae Music Vol 3 ILPS 9391 LP Island 1976 1976
Jah Shaka Presents Dub Masters Vol 1 Jah Shaka & Friends Jah Shaka Presents Dub Masters Vol 1 MLPM 1001 LP Island 1978-81 1989
Classic Reggae Mastercuts Volume 1 Various Artists Classic Reggae Mastercuts Volume 1 CUTSCD 30 CD Mastercuts 197X 1995
Don't Call Us Immigrants Various Artists Don't Call Us Immigrants PSCD 28 CD Pressure Sounds 197X 2000
Ranking Miss P Presents Sweet Harmony Various Artists Ranking Miss P Presents Sweet Harmony TJDDD 101 CD Trojan 197X 2003
Step Forward Youth Various Artists Step Forward Youth VPGS 7059 CD Greensleeves 197X 2018
Countryman Various Artists Countryman ISTDA 1 LP Island 197X-82 1982
Dread Broadcasting Corp. Various Artists Dread Broadcasting Corp. TJDDD 167 CD Trojan 197X-8X 2004
Mastercuts Reggae Various Artists Mastercuts Reggae MCUTCD 01 CD Mastercuts 197X-8X 2005
Strictly For Lovers Various Artists Strictly For Lovers IRG 8 LP Island 197X-8X 1985
Reggae Love Songs Vol 2 Various Artists Reggae Love Songs Vol 2 TLSAN 014 CD Trojan 197X-9X 2005
Reggae Mandela Various Artists Reggae Mandela VPCD 2524 CD VP 197X-9X 2019
The Kings Of Reggae Various Artists The Kings Of Reggae RR 066-067 LP BBE 197X-9X 2007
Massive Various Artists Massive V 2346 LP Virgin 1985 1985
Massive 2 Various Artists Massive 2 V 2405 LP Virgin 1986 1986
Dubmission Various Artists Dubmission 524 294-2 CD Island 198X 1996
14 albums
8 credits
6 labels
1976 - 1997