Mikey Dread

Michael George Campbell (4 June 1954 – 15 March 2008 ), better known as Mikey Dread, was a Jamaican singer, producer, and broadcaster.

Biography Born in Port Antonio, as one of five children, Campbell showed a natural aptitude for engineering and electronics from an early age. As a teenager he performed with the Safari and Sound of Music sound systems, and worked on his high school's radio station.

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). 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. Although initially suspicious of the strangers, Campbell soon became friends with the band, producing their "Bankrobber" single and performing on several songs on their 1980 album Sandinista!. Campbell also toured with The Clash across Britain, Europe, and the US, gaining many new fans along the way.

In October 2007, it was announced that Campbell was being treated for a brain tumor. He died on 15 March 2008, surrounded by his family, at the home of his sister in Stamford, Connecticut. and who he had with his wife Monica.

Discography Studio albums Year Album 1979 African Anthem Additional information Released: 1979 Recorded: 1978 Label: Dread at the Controls (DATC LP 002) Format: LP Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Saturday Night Style" (Campbell) – 4:55 "Industrial Spy" (Dread) – 4:25 "Headline News" (Campbell) – 3:06 "Mikey Dread in Action" (Campbell) – 5:10 "Resignation Dub" (Campbell) – 5:01 "Technical Selection" (Campbell) – 3:50 "Comic Strip" (Campbell) – 3:02 "Pre-Dawn Dub" (Campbell) – 3:21 "Operator's Choice" (Campbell) – 4:45 2004 and 2005 reissues bonus tracks "Ancestral Dub" – 2:51 "Raggamuffin Dubstyle" – 3:48 "JBC Days" / "Proper Education Dub" – 5:24 "Freelancer Dub" – 4:34 "Jumping Master Dub" – 1:44 "Peacemaker Dub" – 4:07 Reissues 1996 Big Cat (CD) 2004 Auralux (LUXXCD 005) (CD, alternative cover, bonus tracks, deluxe edition) 2005 Dread at the Controls (DATC CD 1033) (CD, alternative cover, bonus tracks, deluxe edition) Dread at the Controls Additional information Released: 1979 Recorded: 1979 Labels: Trojan (TRLS 178), Dread at the Controls Format: LP Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Everybody Needs a Proper Education" – 7:20 "Dread Combination" (Campbell) – 4:12 "Love the Dread" (Campbell) – 2:55 "The Voice of Jah" – 3:42 "Step by Step" – 4:52 "Walk Rastafari Way" (Campbell) – 3:45 "King in the Ring" – 3:58 "Barber Saloon" (Campbell) – 7:20 2005 reissues bonus tracks "African Map" – 4:17 "School Girl" – 4:06 "East Portland Dub" – 4:06 "Bull Bay Dubwize" – 3:28 "DATC Tribute to King Tubby" – 3:17 "Voice of Dub" – 3:30 "Internal Energy Dubmix" – 2:54 "Rastadub" – 2:58 "School Girl Dub" – 4:11 Reissues 1979 (as Evolutionary Rockers) Dread at the Controls (LP) 1989 (as Evolutionary Rockers) Dread at the Controls (CD, bonus tracks) 2001 Trojan (37311781) (LP) 2005 Dread at the Controls (DATC CD 2014; mikeydread11) (CD, bonus tracks) 2007 (as Evolutionary Rockers) Dread at the Controls (CD, bonus tracks) Notes: Dread at the Controls has been released by DATC as Evolutionary Rockers in 1979, 1989, and 2007 with different cover arts and track listings. 1980 World War III Additional information Released: 1980 Recorded: 1980 Label: Dread at the Controls (TNT1) Format: LP Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "The Jumping Master" (Campbell) – 5:09 "Break Down the Walls" (Campbell) – 5:28 "Jah Jah Love (In the Morning)" (Campbell) – 6:47 "Israel" (12 Tribe) / "Stylee" (Extended Play) (Campbell) – 3:40 "Money Dread" (Campbell) – 3:34 "Mental Slavery" (Campbell) – 6:06 "Skin Head Skank" (Campbell) – 3:22 "Losers Weepers, Finders Keepers" (Campbell) – 6:45 "World War III" (Extended Play) (Campbell) – 6:13 2002 reissue bonus tracks "Warrior Stylee" (Campbell) – 5:17 "DATC Masterpiece" (Campbell) – 3:36 "Break Down the Dub" (Campbell) – 3:14 "Seekers Dub" (Campbell) – 3:13 "Jamaican Dub" (Campbell) – 2:53 "Flat Fee Dub" (Campbell) – 3:02 Reissues 1981 Hearthbeat (HB-02) (LP) 2002 Dread at the Controls (DATC LP TNT 1) (CD, bonus tracks) 1981 Beyond World War III Additional information Released: 1981 Recorded: 1980–1981 Label: Big Cat Format: LP Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Break Down the Walls" (Campbell) – 5:47 "Jah Jah Love (In the Morning)" (Campbell) – 7:14 "The Jumping Master" (Campbell) – 5:39 "Israel" (12 Tribe) / "Stylee" (Extended Play) (Campbell) – 8:44 "Warrior Stylee" (Extended Stero Style) (Campbell) – 7:51 "Money Dread" (Campbell) – 3:33 "Rockers Delight" (Extended Play) (Campbell) – 8:05 "Mental Slavery" (Campbell) – 6:35 "World War III" (Campbell) – 3:43 Reissues 1996 Big Cat (23131521)(LP) 1996 Big Cat (23131522)(CD) 1997 Big Cat (80109)(CD) 1999 Big Cat (109)(CD) unknown date Heartbeat (CD-HB-02)(CD) 1982 Dub Catalogue Volume 1 Additional information Released: 1982 Recorded: 1982 Label: Dread at the Controls (DATC LP 009) Format: LP Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Freestyle Dubatak" – 5:38 "Theme from Solidarity" – 4:09 "Dub Trakarak" – 4:03 "Klappaz Konekshan" – 4:03 "3 O'Clock Dubatak" – 5:25 "Gully Bank Dub" – 3:24 "River Nile Style" – 3:05 "Radix Revenge" – 3:03 "Tricky Track" – 4:20 "Dub Venture" – 3:47 "Jamba Dub" – 1:48 "Dubservation" – 3:20 Reissue 2006 Dread at the Controls (CD) Jungle Signal Additional information Released: 1982 Recorded: 1982 Label: Dread at the Controls Format: LP Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Signal One" – 6:12 "Jungle Signal" – 5:48 "Signal Three Dub" – 6:12 "Rainbow Jungle" – 2:40 "Star Chaser" – 4:40 "Jungle Gym" – 5:01 "Jungle Juice" – 3:05 "Dub Jungle" – 3:59 "Theme Signal" – 5:34 "Jungle Delight" – 3:20 Reissue 2006 Dread at the Controls (CD) Pave the Way Additional information Released: 1982 Recorded: 1982 Label: Heartbeat Format: LP Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing (CD) "Pave the Way" – 4:17 "Reggae" / "Hit Shot" – 5:12 "Roots and Culture" – 6:06 "Sunday School" – 3:37 "Knock Knock" – 4:44 "(Open the Gate) Come In" – 5:11 "Freedom... Is Coming" – 4:37 "(Dance) Face to Face" – 4:22 "Forever and Ever" – 5:12 "Everchanging World" – 4:20 "Quest for Oneness" – 2:56 "Time Waster" – 3:02 "Relax/Enjoy Yourself" – 2:45 "Have You Got a Minute to Spare?" – 3:19 "Dizzy (Herb Smoker)" – 4:09 "Paradise" – 4:19 "Too Many Rulers" – 3:32 Reissues 1985 Heartbeat (CD) 1990 Heartbeat Select Cassette 1999 Heartbeat (CDHB) (CD) 2005 Dread at the Controls (mikeydread8) (CD) S.W.A.L.K. Additional information Released: 1982 Recorded: 1982 Label: Heartbeat (HB009 [US] / HB09 [UK, alternate cover]) Format: LP Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Rocky Road" – 3:15 "S.W.A.L.K." – 8:27 "Positive Reality" – 3:11 "Heavy-Weight Sound" – 5:08 "Problems" – 3:27 "Zodiac Signs" – 6:12 "Armagiddeon Style" – 3:41 "In Memory (Jacob, Marcus & Marley)" – 3:20 2004 reissue bonus track "Sweet Sixteen" – 4:32 "Come Along" – 4:42 "Strictly Rockers" – 5:20 "Heavy Weight Dub" – 5:58 "Star Sign Dub" – 8:33 Reissues 1990 Heartbeat Select (09) Cassette 2004 Dread at the Controls (DATC CD 2004) (CD, bonus tracks) 1989 Happy Family Additional information Released: 1989 Recorded: 1989 Label: RAS Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Happy Family" – 4:16 "Your Love" – 4:06 "Good-Bye" – 4:05 "African Soldiers" – 4:17 "Nelson Mandela" – 4:01 "Perfect Woman" – 3:42 "Come Back" – 3:50 "Ready to Settle Down" – 4:11 "The Seagull" – 3:42 "I See Jah" – 4:06 1991 Profile Additional information Released: 1991 Recorded: 1991 Label: RAS (RAS CD 3081) Format: CD, Cassette Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Break Down the Walls" (Dread) "Fatten Frogs for Snakes" (Campbell) "Pleasure Knowing U (Plus Dub for U)" (Campbell) "Profile" (Campbell) "Sugarcain" (Campbell) "I Need Your Loving" (Campbell) "Cater for Your Loving" (Campbell) "Still My No. 1" (Campbell) "Strangers in Love" (Campbell) "Cruizing" (Campbell) "Sentiments of Love" (Campbell) "Awake With Jab" (Campbell) Reissue 2005 Dread at the Controls (mikeydread6) (CD) African Anthem Revisited Additional information Released: 1991 Recorded: 1991 Label: RAS (RAS CD 3082) Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Pleased to Dub You" (Campbell) – 3:44 "Break Down the Dub" (Dread) – 3:29 "Fatten Dub for Snakes Campbell) – 2:52 "Stangers in Dub" (Campbell) – 4:41 "Dub File" (Campbell) – 5:05 "The Source of Dub" (Campbell) – 3:08 "Sweet Dub" (Campbell) – 5:19 "Awake With Dub" (Campbell) – 3:44 "Still My No. 1 Dub" (Campbell) – 3:56 "So Much Dub" (Campbell) – 5:07 "Need Your Dub" (Campbell) – 4:45 "Cruizin Dub" (Campbell) – 4:02 Reissue 2005 Dread at the Controls (mikeydread14) (CD) 1992 Obsession Additional information Released: 1992 Recorded: 1992 Label: Rykodisc (20243) Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Modern Africa" (Campbell) "Obsession" (Campbell, Sterrett) "Love Connection" (Campbell, Sterrett) "One Night Lover" (Campbell) "Muscle Up" (Campbell) "Museum of Love" (Campbell) "Love Encore" (Campbell, Sterrett) "This Inspiration" (Campbell) "So Many Hills to Climb" (Campbell) "Global Harmony" (Campbell) "Fighting for Truth and Rights" (Campbell) "iddung 'Pon Money" (Campbell) "Livin' in the Jungle" (Campbell) "Give the Children Education" (Campbell) "Tomorrow Will Be Better" (Campbell) "African Princess" (Campbell) "Line of King David" (Campbell) "Full Moon in the Desert" (Campbell) 1995 Come to Mikey Dread's Dub Party Additional information Released: 1995 Recorded: 1995 Label: ROIR (8208) Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Dub Party" (Campbell) – 3:58 "Buh Yah Kah" (Campbell) – 5:00 "Sound Check" (Campbell) – 3:31 "Tourist Dub" (Campbell) – 4:09 "Haile Selassie Centenary Dub (July 2, 1892 – July 23, 1992)" (Campbell) – 4:14 "Special Request Dub" (Campbell) – 4:06 "Joyride" (Campbell) – 4:12 "Everyday Dub" (Campbell) – 3:56 "Cover Dub" – 3:53 "Mother's Day Dub" (Campbell) – 3:48 "Ragamuffin Style" (Campbell) – 3:13 "Womanizer Dubtract" (Campbell) – 2:58 "(Roir) Commercial Dub" – 4:14 "Impulsive Emotions Dub" – 4:03 "Cherry Pie" – 4:29 "Black Supremacy for South Africa" (Campbell) – 4:38 Reissue 2005 Dread at the Controls (mikeydread10) (CD) 2000 World Tour Additional information Released: 2000 Recorded: 2000 Label: Dread at the Controls Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Life Is Strange" – 5:09 "Loving You" – 3:54 "Weekend" – 4:14 "Princess" – 4:31 "My Religion" – 3:55 "World Tour" – 4:01 "Homeless People" – 4:02 "As We Enter" – 3:46 "Original General" – 7:35 "I Love My Mother" – 4:49 "Behold Jah" – 3:35 "Water Molecule" – 3:34 "Election Night" – 4:56 "I'll Be Yours" – 4:18 "Sorry" – 4:44 "Chosen Few" – 5:01 2002 Rasta in Control Additional information Released: 2002 Recorded: 2002 Label: Dread at the Controls (3000) Format: CD Producer: Mikey Dread Track listing "Rasta in Control" (Campbell) – 4:59 "Inna Foreign" (Campbell, Hines, Myton, Reedy) – 3:16 "Equal Rights" (Campbell) – 4:02 "Like You" (Campbell) – 4:45 "Give It a Chance" (Campbell) – 3:57 "Reggae Session" (Campbell) – 3:56 "Keep Smiling" (Campbell) – 4:51 "Prophecy" (Campbell) – 4:35 "Debut Performance" (Campbell) – 4:12 "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 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 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 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 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 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 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 "Dread Combination – 4:12 "Walk Ras Tafari Way – 3:45 "Proper Education – 7:20 "King in the Ring – 3:58 "Step by Step – 4:52 "Love the Dread – 2:55 "The Voice of Jah – 3:42 "Barber Saloon – 7:20 "African Map – 4:17 "School Girl – 4:06 "East Portland Dub – 4:06 "Bull Bay Dubwize – 3:28 "Datc Tribute to King Tubby – 3:17 "Voice of Dub – 3:30 "Internal Energy Dubmix – 2:54 "Rastadub – 2:58 "School Girl Dub – 4:11

Singles "Love the Dread" (1978), DATC "Step By Step" (1978), 40 Leg "Barber Saloon" (1978), Warrior "Roots Man Revival" (1979), High Note "African Rap" (1979), Wild Flower "Rasta Born Baby" (1979), Roots International "African Map" (1979), DATC "Break Down the Walls" (1980) (DREAD 1) "Rockers Delight" (1980), DATC "Jumping Master" (1980), DATC "Reggae Gone International" (1980), DATC "Warrior Stylee" (1981), DATC "Positive Reality" (1982), DAT "Rocky Road" (1982), DATC/Do It "Roots & Culture" / "Jungle Dread" (1982), DATC (DATCD 008) "Bad Man Posseé" (1982), DATC - with Junior Murvin "Pound A Weed" (1982), DATC - with Roots Radics "Warning" (1982), DATC "Heavy Weight Style" (1982), Do It "Sunday School" (1983), DATC "Reggae Hit Shot" (1984), DEP International "Knock Knock" (1985), DEP International "Rude Little Dread" (1986), DATC "The Source (Of Your Divorce)" (1989), Warner Bros US "Choose Me" (1989), DATC "King of Kings" (2001), Higher Ground

Appears on Sandinista! (1980; album by The Clash) The Trojan Story Vol. 2 (1982; compilation album by various artists; TALL 200) Singers and Players – Staggering Heights (1983; On-U Sound), "School Days" Singers and Players – Leaps and Bounds (1984; Cherry Red), "Autobiography (Dread Operator)" and "Vegetable Matter" Funky Reggae Crew – Strictly Hip-Hop Reggae Fusion (1989; compilation album by various artists; 926 011-1) The Roots of Reggae Vol. 1 (1991; compilation album by various artists; MCCD 014) Larks From the Ark (1995; compilation album by Lee "Scratch" Perry; NTMCD 511) History of Trojan Records 1972–1995 Volume 2 (1996; compilation album by various artists) Arkology (1997; compilation album by Lee "Scratch" Perry; CRNCD 6) Rockers Galore (1999; compilation album by The Clash; ESK 47144) Classic Reggae: The Producers (2000; compilation album by various artists; MCCD 444) Dub Reggae Essentials (2000; compilation album by various artists) Blunted in the Bomb Shelter Mix (2002; compilation album by Madlib; ANTCD102) Auralux Reggae Showcase (2004; compilation album by various artists; LUXXCD007) 50 First Dates (2004; compilation album by various artists) Radio Clash (2004; compilation album by various artists) Best 1991–2004 (2004; compilation album by Seal) Echodelic Sounds of Future Pigeon (2006; album by Future Pigeon) Singles Box (2006; compilation album by The Clash; Sony BMG) Down in a Tenement Yard: Sufferation and Love in the Ghetto 1973–1980 (2007; compilation album by various artists; TJDDD352) Family Front (2008; Album by Habakuk; 5935240) Royale Rockers: Reggae Sessions (2008; album by Casino Royale) Iration – Generation Time (Ft. Mikey Dread)