Jamaican reggae icon Max Romeo, best known for the global hits “Chase the Devil” and “War Ina Babylon”, has passed away at the age of 80.
Romeo, whose real name was Maxie Smith, died on Friday in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica, due to complications related to the heart.
The veteran musician rose to fame in the late 1960s with the controversial hit “Wet Dream”, a song that, despite being banned by the BBC, it went on to become a UK Top 10 single and stayed on the charts for 25 weeks.
The track cemented his place as one of reggae’s most distinctive voices.
Speaking about his passing, his lawyer Errol Michael Henry said: “To hear of his passing is quite shocking. 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.”
Romeo began his musical journey in 1965 as the lead vocalist for the Emotions, before becoming a prominent figure in the 1970s reggae scene. His music was deeply intertwined with Jamaica’s political landscape, and his 1971 track “Let the Power Fall on I” became an anthem for the People’s National Party during its successful 1972 election campaign.
His 1976 album “War Ina Babylon”, produced under Island Records and backed by Lee “Scratch” Perry’s Upsetters band, is still considered a cornerstone of roots reggae. One of the standout tracks from the album, “Chase the Devil”, has been widely sampled by major global artists such as The Prodigy and Kanye West.
In 1978, Romeo relocated to New York, where he expanded his artistic pursuits—co-writing and starring in the musical Reggae and later lending his vocals to the Rolling Stones’ track “Dance” on their Emotional Rescue album.
Max Romeo’s legacy remains deeply rooted in reggae’s rich history, and his music continues to resonate with fans across the world, including in Kenya, where the reggae genre enjoys a passionate following.
