Max Romeo, reggae legend behind ‘War Ina Babylon’ and ‘Chase The Devil’, dies aged 80
Reggae legend Max Romeo has died.
The news was shared via the artist born Maxwell Smith’s social media channels on Friday, 11th April. The Guardian reports that he passed away due to complications relating to a heart condition. He was 80.
“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.”
Speaking to DancehallMag on Friday, Romeo’s daughter, Azana Smith said: “The family is devastated right now. My father Maxie Smith is not in this dimension anymore, he is not here for me to speak with but he lives on. The family is mourning and asking for privacy at this time.”
Romeo — born Maxwell Smith in 1944 in Alexandria outside Browns Town, Jamaica — was best known for his hits ‘War Ina Babylon’ and ‘Chase The Devil’, which was recorded with the backing of The Upsetters.
He earned his first hit in the UK with ‘Wet Dream’, a track produced by Bunny Lee. Despite a BBC ban because of its lyrics, the track hit the Top 10 in the charts in 1969.
As he grew older, Romeo’s political awareness became more prominent in his music, using his voice to speak out at a time when tension and political violence were rife in Jamaica.
He also used his music to speak out against injustices he saw around the world. ‘War Ina Babylon’, in particular, offered a stern critique of American imperialism, wealth inequity, class divides, and global political turmoil.
‘Chase The Devil’ became a widely sampled and referenced song in hip-hop and dance music. The Prodigy sampled the track for their 1992 hit, ‘Out Of Space’. The song has also been covered by Madness, Earl Sweatshirt, Macka B, Susan Cadogan, and Mad Professor.
In a career spanning seven decades, Max Romeo collaborated with a long and broad list of musicians, including Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, Jah Shaka, Mafia & Fluxy, Mad Professor, and The Rolling Stones.
In October 2023, after wrapping up his final farewell tour across the UK and Europe, Romeo sued Universal Music for $15 million over unpaid royalties.
Listen to ‘Chase The Devil’ below.
