“I chase the devil out of earth—he's never coming back.”
Max Romeo, the reggae singer whose music challenged political corruption, colonial trauma, and spiritual disconnection, died on April 11, 2025, at the age of 80, reportedly due to heart complications. With a career spanning over five decades, Romeo’s contributions made him one of the most fearless and poetic voices in Jamaican music, bridging the cultural divides between rebellion and redemption.
From Alexandria to the World
Born Maxwell Livingston Smith on November 22, 1944, in the rural hills of Alexandria, St. Ann Parish, Romeo’s journey began in hardship. Leaving school at 14, he moved to Kingston in search of work, eventually falling in with local sound system culture. In 1965, he joined The Emotions, scoring his first success with “(Buy You) A Rainbow.”
However, it was his controversial 1969 single “Wet Dream” that catapulted him to international infamy. Banned by the BBC but embraced by fans, the song satirized British prudishness while showcasing his knack for irony and subversion.
The Perry Years and Reggae Renaissance
In the 1970s, Romeo teamed up with legendary producer Lee “Scratch” Perry. Together they created War Ina Babylon (1976), a landmark roots reggae album that blended militant lyrics with Perry’s haunting dub production. It became an anthem for a Jamaica gripped by political violence and economic disparity. Songs like “One Step Forward” and “Chase the Devil” (later sampled by The Prodigy and Kanye West) brought spiritual fire and revolutionary fervor to dancehalls and international stages alike.
Romeo also stood as one of the few artists to openly support Michael Manley's socialist-leaning People's National Party, writing campaign songs such as “Let the Power Fall” and “No Joshua No.” He wasn’t just an artist—he was a cultural warrior.
Personal Life and Late-Career Battles
In his later years, Romeo remained a fierce advocate for artist rights. In 2023, he filed a lawsuit against Universal Music and Polygram over royalties for War Ina Babylon, claiming he never received proper compensation. The case highlighted broader industry struggles faced by foundational reggae artists.
Despite health setbacks and the loss of close collaborators like Scratch Perry and Robbie Shakespeare, Romeo continued to perform, record, and mentor. His 2023 farewell tour included 56 stops across Europe and the UK, where he performed alongside his children—Azizzi and Xana Romeo, both reggae artists carrying on his legacy.
Legacy
Max Romeo leaves behind a body of work that resonates beyond rhythm and rhyme. His lyrics tackled colonialism, religion, mental liberation, and black consciousness, often drawing from Rastafarian philosophy. Whether confronting Babylon or calling on Jah, he articulated the pains and dreams of a postcolonial people in transformation.
He is survived by his wife Charm and several children, including his musical heirs. Tributes from around the world describe him as “a prophet,” “a rebel with soul,” and “the poet of the people.”
Max Romeo now joins the pantheon of reggae greats—Burning Spear, Peter Tosh, and Bob Marley—not just for his music, but for his unwavering truth-telling.
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