Max Romeo, the reggae singer known for “War Ina Babylon” and “Chase the Devil,” died on Friday, April 11. He was 80.
His official Facebook page announced his death on Saturday, April 12. “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Max,” the statement read. “We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love and tributes and kindly ask for privacy at this time. Legends never die.”
Romeo’s attorney, Errol Michael Henry, gave a statement to The Guardian following his death, calling the news “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.”
Per The Guardian, Romeo suffered from a heart condition.
Romeo was a prolific artist, releasing dozens of albums and even more singles throughout his lifetime.
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The reggae musician was born Maxwell Livingston Smith in Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica on Nov. 22, 1944, per Billboard. Romeo started out as part of a music group called The Emotions before going solo in the late 60s.
His first big hit as a solo musician was the 1969 provocative song “Wet Dream” which was banned from BBC radio stations despite it being a British top 10 song.
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His music then took a more political turn. The 1971 song “Let the Power Fall on I” became future prime minister Michael Manley’s campaign theme song, per Rolling Stone. Manley would be elected the following year.
In 1977, Romeo moved to New York. While there, he collaborated with The Rolling Stones. Romeo can be heard on the 1980 Emotional Rescue track “Dance (Pt. 1).” Meanwhile, Keith Richards would wind up playing guitar for Romeo’s 1981 album Holding Out My Love to You. Romeo eventually returned to Jamaica and continued recording music.
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Romeo is perhaps best known for the album War Ina Babylon, which was integral to the roots reggae era. One of his most well-known songs, “Chase the Devil,” has been sampled by Jay-Z, Cage the Elephant and The Prodigy.
He told the BBC in 2011 he considered the devil in the 1976 song as the “negative within your psyche, just like God is the positive within your psyche. “Chasing the devil” simply meant “chasing the negative out of your mind and let it become controlled by positive.”
In a 2014 interview with Jamaica Observer, Romeo said at the time of his 70th birthday, “My aim is to reach 100 but if I get to 90, I will be satisfied.” Romeo released his final studio album, Words From the Brave, in 2019.
One of the final Instagram posts on the musician’s official page was Romeo performing with his children Xana and Azizzi at the Wickie Wackie Music Fest in Bull Bay, Jamaica.
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