Aswad are Britain’s longest running reggae group. After forming in the 1970s, they proceeded to be become one of the UK’s top reggae bands of the 1980s. Hailing from Ladbroke Grove London, they were distinctly different from other Jamaican reggae acts as they wrote songs that dealt with issues that surrounded the experiences of black youths growing-up in the UK, such as ‘Three Babylon’, ‘It’s Not Our Wish’ and the powerful instrumental ‘Warrior Charge’ which featured in the film Babylon.
Drummie and Tony ‘Gad’ Robinson continue, to this day, to tour around the country keeping the Aswad name alive.
We gave Angus “Drummie Zeb” Gaye a bell to talk about the years gone by (if he remembers them) their renowned single “Don’t Turn Around” and their recording with the legendary Bob Marley.
You can check out more from Aswad at their myspace page – http://www.myspace.com/aswaduk
HTF: Hi Drummie… first of all, with you being part of Iconic band Aswad.. you made me my year of 88 as I had my first kiss at our school disco to your internationally acclaimed ‘Don’t turn around’…..
D: Laughs.. you make me feel really old now !
HTF: Not many people may realise but ‘’Don’t turn around’ was originally a B-side to a Tina Turner single !!
D: Yes it was it was a b-side for ‘What’s Love Got to do with it’
HTF: So how did the track come about?
D: Island Records decided they wanted a single so they sent for a producer, from Jamaica, called Jermaine and we done a song with him that just didn’t sound right. And he just said, “Let’s find another song to do” and chose it. The song wasn’t Tina Turner’s version though, it was a guy called Luther (Ingram).At first when I heard it, I didn’t like it, we didn’t like it, then we played it on the piano and though “that sounds alright!” We started recording it in Ladbroke Grove where we live in Eastcote Studios and it sounded alright. Then they said we need female backing vocals but we hadn’t really used female backing vocals before, so I got in touch with Karen Amelia, Carol Thompson and Janet Kay and they sung the backing vocals on it. I thought it sounded alright but I didn’t believe in a million years it would have got to where it did.
HTF: Well it must have sounded alright seeing as it reached number one in the UK charts?
D: Yeah but the things you think are great isn’t what others may think are great. But I didn’t think it was all that, I really didn’t.
HTF: What? Even to this day?
D: Well now it’s a different thing isn’t it but at the time I thought well, for Aswad, it sounds a bit wishy washy and wasn’t sure about it.
HTF: What did you think of the Ace of base cover version of ‘Don’t Turn Around’?
D: Well I will tell you the truth, I was in a wine bar in Chelsea and the guy who owned the bar said to me listen to this and I stood there and listened to it and goes “why are you playing me this” I didn’t recognise it at all. Till it went to the chorus and I went “that’s don’t turn around” everyone started laughing and joking and two months later Ace of Base management got in touch with us and asked us to do a remix. We done the remix and that’s the version that went to number one.
HTF: So Drummie… you are the only existing band member from the original line up?
D: Yeah from the original line up, but Tony ‘Gad’ Robinson was there right from the beginning too.
HTF: You formed Aswad with Brinsley forde and George Oban, why are the other founders are no longer part of the band?
D: Well it’s like a family, sometimes families fall out with each other, different opinions and ideas
HTF: You have been going since the mid 70’s ….
D: (Laughs) thank you for reminding me, thank you …
HTF: and correct me if I am wrong but a whopping 20 plus albums !!!
D: Yeah I think it’s about 30!
HTF: The 1984 release of ‘Rebel Souls’ seems to be the one album people seem to remember and touched a few souls of our readers. What was the most memorable album you released?
D: There are some tunes I prefer…We called it Rebel Souls Jamaica…it was recorded there, it’s a chilled album as you have to be in Jamaica, there is no rushing around. Being in Jamaica and recording it in Channel One studio (Kingston, Jamaica) was the most amazing thing. We know the sound in England you have to develop, in Jamaica the sound is already there. My god if you had a studio like that in England, you can imagine what could happen.
HTF: I suppose the surrounding help a little??
D: The great thing about Jamaica is the little they have they make the most of it. In England you might have a 24/48 track studio they take days trying to make a sound. You go to a studio in Jamaica a 16 track, and the sound is like there in your face.
HTF: Top reggae band of the 1980s!!! Anything change you in that decade???
D: Well I think what happened in the 80’s is that we made a song for a film Babylon and which was supposed to be the badest dub song and we made ‘Warrior Charge’. But when we released it we released it on white label so no one really knew it was because back in the days they say you can’t make it in England, and I used to go to dances and everyone would be jumping around to it. When it was released on white label everyone was buying it, then Island records released it under Aswad but it was too late everyone was already in love with the song. That was the change, ‘Warrior Charge’.
HTF: So what are your plans now??
D: We are doing some shows around and also going to Columbia, although I am not sure I’ll look forward to that (laughs) We are still touring, We can’t give up, every time people think we are finished we come back with something.
HTF: We have asked HTF readers for questions: You performed with Bob Marley ? Do you remember much of it or was it clouded with smoke??
D: (Laughs) very funny…It was awe-inspiring, Third World was playing in the studio as well, I just remember staring at him nonstop, I couldn’t take my eyes off him thinking ‘I am standing next to Bob Marley’. It was unbelievable.
HTF: Mr Ali wants to know if you will perform with his band Panic Dance?
D:Where will that be? Well tell him yes we will, and tell him to get in touch!
HTF: Can a few fans borrow your Hat??
D: Not sure about that, they can borrow it but not have it …
HTF: Well thank you Drummie for joining Hit The Floor today, it’s been lovely talking to you and your songs have been going round our heads all day. We wish you all the best for the future and hope to see you and your hat soon !!
D: Nice one…One love yeah!
Interviewer: Zoe Ellis
