Mikey Dread performing at the 2006 Winnipeg Ska and Reggae Festival.
Background information
Birth name
Michael George Campbell
Born
(1954-06-04)4 June 1954 Port Antonio, Jamaica
Died
15 March 2008(2008-03-15) (aged 53) Stamford, Connecticut, United States
Occupation(s)
Singer, author, composer, record producer, and broadcaster
Years active
1978–2008
Website
mikeydread.com
Musical artist
Michael George Campbell (4 June 1954 – 15 March 2008[1]), better known as Mikey Dread,[2] was a Jamaican singer, producer, and broadcaster. He was one of the most influential performers and innovators in reggae music.
Biography
Born in Port Antonio,[3] one of five children Campbell showed a natural aptitude for engineering and electronics from an early age.[4] As a teenager he performed with the Safari and Sound of Music sound systems, and worked on his high school's radio station.[5]
He studied electrical engineering at the College of Arts, Science and Technology, and in 1976, started out as an engineer with the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC).[4][5][6] Campbell wasn't impressed that the JBC's playlists mainly consisted of bland, foreign pop music at a time when some of the most potent reggae was being recorded in Jamaica. He convinced his JBC bosses to give him his own radio program called Dread at the Controls, where he played almost exclusively reggae.[3][4] Before long, Campbell (now using the DJ name Mikey Dread) had the most popular program on the JBC. Well known for its fun and adventurous sonic style, Dread at the Controls became a hit all over Jamaica. Examples of Mikey Dread's distinctive radio chatter can be heard on the US release of the RAS label LP African Anthem Dubwise.
Recording artist
He also began working as a recording artist, Lee "Scratch" Perry producing his signature tune "Dread at the Controls", also recording for Sonia Pottinger and Joe Gibbs, and performing with the Socialist Roots sound system.[3][5] Inevitably, JBC's conservative management and Campbell clashed, and he quit in protest in 1978, becoming an engineer at the Treasure Isle studio, where he began an association with producer Carlton Patterson.[3] They co-produced Dread's own work (e.g. "Barber Saloon") and that of others.[3]
By the late 1970s he had started his own DATC label, working with artists such as Edi Fitzroy, Sugar Minott, and Earl Sixteen, as well as producing his own work.[3] The label released Dread's albums Evolutionary Rockers (released in the UK as Dread at the Controls), and World War III.
Campbell's music attracted the attention of British punk rockers The Clash, who invited him over to England to tour with them in 1980, going on to produce some of their music.[3][7][8] Although initially suspicious of the strangers, Campbell soon became friends with the band, producing their "Bankrobber" single[9] and performing on several songs on their 1980 album Sandinista!.[10] Campbell also toured with The Clash across Britain, Europe, and the US, gaining many new fans along the way.[10] His live contributions to The Clash concerts include featured vocals on Armagideon Time, as captured on the album From Here to Eternity: Live. He studied at the National Broadcasting School in London in 1980 and in 1984 studied advanced recording technology at the North London Polytechnic.[4]
Mikey Dread performing at SOB's NYC on 8 April 2003
Some of his works in the United Kingdom include hosting series such as Rockers Roadshow and narrating the six-part Channel 4 reggae documentary series Deep Roots Music.[3][4] He later recorded "The Source (Of Your Divorce)" for Warner Brothers Records US, which obtained regularly rotated video airplay.
In 1991, Dread recorded Profile and African Anthem Revisited. He also toured in Europe and the US with Freddie McGregor, Lloyd Parks, We The People Band, and the Roots Radics Band.
In 1992, he collaborated with former Guns N' Roses guitarist Izzy Stradlin on a duet entitled "Can't Hear 'Em".[3] He was nominated for a NAIRD award, an award from the Billboard Magazine, for his work on his 1990 compilation album Mikey Dread's Best Sellers.
In 1993, Mikey Dread was involved in several projects, including his tour supporting the album Obsession and working in TV with the Caribbean Satellite Network (CSN) where he was Program Director and on Air personality as well as Producer of various shows.
In 1994 he presented The Culture Award of Honor in the Martin's International Reggae Music Awards in Chicago. In 1995, he worked as a Radio DJ for WAVS 1170 AM and WAXY-AM 790 in Miami, Florida. In 1996 he participated in the Essential Music Festival as a performer in Brighton, UK.
Mikey furthered his knowledge of TV/Video Production at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, where he graduated in 1996 with Honors and at Lynn University in Boca Raton / Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Communications, with Magna Cum Laude honours.
After many years working as a producer and singer, Campbell withdrew from the business and moved to Miami where he furthered his college education with courses in electronics and business, and ran the Caribbean Satellite Network TV station in Miami.[5] Campbell shrewdly waited until all of his existing contracts expired and then regained control over his entire catalogue; He began re-releasing much of it on his own Dread at the Controls record label.
Dread, together with The Blizzard of 78, featured on The Sandinista! Project, a tribute to the 1980 Clash album Sandinista!, with the song "Silicone on Sapphire". The tribute album, recorded in 2004, was released on 15 May 2007 by the 00:02:59 Records (a label named after a lyric from the Sandinista! song "Hitsville UK").[11][12][13]
In October 2007, it was announced that Campbell was being treated for a brain tumor.[14] He died on 15 March 2008, surrounded by his family, at the home of his sister in Stamford, Connecticut.[1] He left seven children, three daughters and four sons, the youngest of whom was 4 months old when he died[15] and who he had with his wife Monica.
Discography
Studio albums
Year
Album
1979
African Anthem
Additional information[16]
Released: 1979 Recorded: 1978 Label: Dread at the Controls (DATC LP 002) Format: LP Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing
"How We Used to Live" (Campbell, Easy, Vernal) – 4:10
"Great God of Glory" (Campbell) – 3:16
"Rasta Irie Oki" (Campbell) – 3:17
"His Imperial Majesty" (Campbell) – 4:10
"Sacrifice" (Campbell) – 2:48
"Prediction" (Campbell) – 2:58
"Hawaii Surfer" (Campbell) – 4:09
"Year of Decision" (Campbell) – 3:26
"Groove City" (Campbell) – 3:26
2007
Life Is a stage
Additional information[31]
Released: 2007 Recorded: 2007 Label: Dread at the Controls Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing
"Praise Jah Jah" – 4:09
"Life Is a Stage" – 5:16
"Pound a Weed" – 3:21
"Destiny" – 4:34
"Backstage Pass" – 4:34
"Barcoding" – 4:22
"Teenage Pregnancy" – 4:49
"I'm Not the Kind" – 4:26
"Oh No" – 4:58
"Soundbwoy Special" – 5:16
"Dread Next Door" – 4:56
"Passing Through" – 5:11
"First Generation" – 4:45
"Point of View" – 5:17
"Stem Cells" – 6:15
Compilations
Year
Album
1989
African Anthem / Happy Family
Additional information[32]
Released: 1989 Recorded: 1979–1989 Label: RAS Records (RASCD-3035) Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Note: African Anthem (1979) and Happy Family (1989) on one CD.
S.W.A.L.K. / Rockers Vibrations
Additional information[33]
Released: 1989 Recorded: 1982–1989 Label: Heartbeat Records (HB 11568) Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Note: S.W.A.L.K. (1982) is combined with a compilation of Dread productions on Heartbeat Records.
1991
Best Sellers
Additional information
Released: 20 May 1991 Recorded: 1979–1989 Label: Rykodisc (RCD 20178 and RACS 0178-2) Format: CD and cassette Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing All tracks written by Mikey Dread
"Quest for Oneness" – 3:03
"Break Down the Walls" – 4:43
"Goodbye" – 3:59
"Industrial Spy" – 4:24
"Wake-Up Call" – 3:38
"Warrior Stylee" – 4:30
"S.W.A.L.K." – 5:17
"Barber Saloon-Haircut" – 4:05
"Choose Me" – 4:40
"Jah Jah Love (In the Morning)" – 7:39
"Sunday School" – 3:41
"Positive Reality" – 3:22
"Enjoy Yourself" – 3:25
"Roots and Culture" – 6:10
"Knock Knock" – 4:42
"My Religion" (live with Roots Radics) – 3:45
2003 reissue bonus tracks
"Dizzy"
"The Source" (live with Roots Radics)
Reissue
2003 Dread at the Controls (DATC CD 2003) (CD, alternative cover, bonus tracks, deluxe edition)
1998
The Prime of Mikey Dread: Massive Dub Cuts from 1978–1992
Additional information[34]
Released: 1998 Recorded: 1978–1992 Label: Dread at the Controls, Music Club Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing
"Resignation Dub" (Michael Campbell)
"Industrial Spy" (Mikey Dread)
"Barber Saloon" (Campbell)
"S.W.A.L.K." (Dread)
"Modern Africa" (Campbell)
"Saturday Night Style" (Campbell)
"Sunday School" (Dread)
"Dizzy (Herb Smoker)"
"Pre-Dawn Dub" (Campbell)
"Wake-Up Call" (instrumental) (Dread)
"Roots and Culture" (Dread)
"Buh Yuk Kah"
"Technical Selection" (Campbell)
2006
Best Sellers II
Additional information[35]
Released: 4 January 2006 Label: Dread at the Controls (DATC CD 2015) Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing
"Natural Rasta" – 4:15
"Childhood Days" – 3:59
"African Map" – 4:24
"Jungle Signal" – 6:06
"Change Is Coming" – 4:10
"Pound of Weed" – 4:05
"Rub a Dub" – 3:50
"Equal Rights" – 4:02
"Rockers Delight" – 5:40
"Get Up and Dance" – 2:30
"Autobiography" – 6:41
"Rockers Roadshow" – 2:54
"Surfer" – 4:09
"Backstage Dub" – 4:19
"Vegetable Matter" – 4:42
"Dub Is the Roots" – 5:49
Dread at the Controls / Evolutionary Rockers
Additional information[36]
Released: 4 January 2006 Recorde: 1979 Label: Dread at the Controls Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Note: Dread at the Controls (1979) and Evolutionary Rockers (1979) on one CD. Track listing
^ abcdefghiThompson, Dave (2002) Reggae & Caribbean Music, Backbeat Books, ISBN 0-87930-655-6, pp. 99–101
^ abcdefClayson, Alan (2008) "Mikey Dread", The Guardian, 25 March 2008. Retrieved 26 April 2016
^ abcdeKatz, David (2015) "How Mikey Dread revolutionised Jamaican music several times over", Fact, 15 September 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2016
^ abc"Mikey Dread – forever at the Control". Lifestyle. The Jamaica Observer. 17 March 2008. Archived from the original (ASP) on 30 March 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
^Letts, Don; David Nobakht (2008) [22 January 2007]. Culture Clash: Dread Meets Punk Rockers (3rd ed.). London: SAF. ISBN 0-946719-99-3. OCLC 181422771.
^"The Singles (CD version)". SONY BMG Music Entertainment Store. Archived from the original on 17 March 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
^ abGilbert, Pat (2005) [2004]. "8–13, Epilogue, Discography, Bibliography". Passion Is a Fashion: The Real Story of The Clash (4th ed.). London: Aurum Press. pp. 321, 332, 362, 367, 373–388. ISBN 1-84513-113-4. OCLC 61177239.
^Clash, The; Joe Grushecky; Katrina Leskanich; Willie Nile; Ship & Pilot.; Soul Food (Musical group); Sunset Heroes (21 September 2004). The Sandinista! Project A Tribute to the Clash (Compact Disc). England: 00:02:59 Records. OCLC 178980813.
^"The Sandinista Project". sandinista.guterman.com. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
^"Cary Baker's conqueroo – The Sandinista! Project Announcements". conqueroo.com. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
^Walters, Basil (28 October 2007). "Not at the control: Mikey Dread has brain tumour". Lifestyle. The Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original (ASP) on 11 February 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
^Ja'nice Island (17 March 2008). "Dread at the Controls - Michael "Mikey Dread" Campbell is No More, 1954/2008: R. I. P." The Bajan Reporter. Retrieved 24 April 2020.