With a name taken from the
Arabic for 'black', Aswad's original line-up (ex-child actor, vocal and guitarist
Brinsley Forde, drummer
Angus 'Drummie' Zeb, guitarist
Donald Benjamin, keyboardist
Courtney Hemmings and bassist
Ras George Levi Oban) was snapped up by
Island, the first high-profile deal for a
British Reggae group.
Their debut Aswad (1976) established their popularity, and second album Hulet (1980) was recorded by the streamlined line-up of Forde, Drummie and new guitarist Tony Gad. Further Reggae hits- 1982's New Chapter and Not Satisfied, Live And Direct (1983), Rebel Souls (1984) and To The Top (1986)- paved the way for 1988's Pop crossover Distant Thunder and UK No. 1 'Don't Turn Around'. However, apart from 1994's UK No. 5 'Shine', later releases succeeded only in the Reggae charts.