Reggae legend Max Romeo dies aged 80

Max Romeo, an icon of Jamaican reggae music, has died at the age of 80.

The news was shared on the artist’s social media channels, confirming that he passed away from heart complications in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica on Friday (April 11).

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Max,” read a statement. “We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and tributes, and kindly ask for privacy at this time. Legends never die.”

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The highly influential artist is best remembered for his hits ‘War Ina Babylon’ and ‘Chase The Devil’, the latter of which was memorably sampled by The Prodigy on ‘Out Of Space’ in 1992.

Romeo was born Maxwell Livingston Smith in 1944 and began his musical career in Kingston in the mid-’60s with the vocal group The Emotions. His first major breakthrough came with the controversial single ‘Wet Dream’ in 1968, which was banned by the BBC but became a Top 10 single and spent 25 weeks in the charts.

Throughout the ‘70s, he was closely associated with the social democracy movement in his home country, with his song ‘Let The Power Fall’ being used by the People’s National Party during their successful 1972 election campaign.

His 1976 album ‘War Ina Babylon’, produced by Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and including backing from The Upsetters, was released on Island Records and included his most enduring songs. It is considered a seminal record in roots reggae.

Romeo relocated to New York in 1978 and he co-wrote the musical Reggae, in which he also starred. He also provided backing vocals on The Rolling Stones’ ‘Dance (Pt. 1)’ on their 1980 album ‘Emotional Rescue’.

In 2023, Romeo filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group and PolyGram Records over alleged unpaid royalties dating back to 1976.

“To hear of his passing is quite shocking,” said Romeo’s lawyer Errol Michael Henry. “He was a perfect gentleman, and a gentle soul. He had great love for his family, and he was a legend in his own right. You couldn’t meet a nicer person – which makes the loss more difficult.”

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