Jamaican reggae legend Max Romeo has died at the age of 80 from reported heart complications, just months after filing a major lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) for nearly five decades of unpaid royalties.
Romeo, whose real name was Maxwell Livingston Smith, passed away as his legal battle with the world’s largest music company was beginning to spotlight broader issues of compensation and ownership in reggae music. The “Chase the Devil” and “War Ina Babylon” singer had recently taken to Instagram to share details of the US$15 million suit, in which he claimed 47 years of royalties were never paid to him for some of his most iconic recordings.
“After 47 years, I have exhausted every resource available to me to get this matter rectified,” Romeo said. “I had to sit on the side as my most eminent piece of work was exploited without proper compensation.”
The lawsuit centers around music Romeo recorded in the 1970s under a contract with producer Lee “Scratch” Perry and Island Records. Island was later sold by Chris Blackwell to Polygram, now owned by UMG. Blackwell reportedly made $80 million from the 1989 sale, while artists like U2 were compensated through shares, Romeo said he was left behind.
Romeo’s 1976 album “War Ina Babylon,” produced with Perry, is considered one of reggae’s most important works. Its standout track “Chase the Devil” was later famously sampled by Jay-Z on “Lucifer,” produced by Kanye West, from the Billboard No. 1 album The Black Album. Romeo cited the song’s enduring cultural impact as part of his case.
“I have seen and heard my music and voice being used in numerous commercial ventures and have only reaped from the opportunity to perform these songs live in concert,” he explained.
In the lawsuit, Romeo is the sole plaintiff, with Perry having passed away in 2021. Romeo stated that he’s fighting not just for himself, but for younger generations of reggae artists facing similar struggles.
“At 78 years old, I cannot enter this new phase of my life being docile and silent… I have to fight for what is rightfully mine with whatever strength left in me.”
Throughout his decades-long career, Romeo remained a vocal and spiritual force in reggae, releasing songs with political and social commentary such as “Let The Power Fall” and “Wet Dream.” The latter, released in 1968 through Trojan Records UK, helped usher in a bold, new direction for reggae, blending provocative lyrics with infectious riddims.
Despite his global influence, Romeo pointed to systemic injustice in the way Jamaican artists have been treated by international labels.
“Many Jamaican singers and songwriters have faced the same injustice I have… and as soon as the music gets [international], we are pushed to the side and disregarded.”
Romeo’s death comes at a time when U.S. copyright law is allowing artists to reclaim rights to their music. Section 203, known as the “35-Year Law,” enables artists to regain control of post-1977 works, while Section 304(c) offers similar protections for pre-1978 material—such as Romeo’s recordings—if they’re not classified as “work for hire.”
Romeo had hoped to reclaim ownership of his catalog and raise awareness for reggae artists’ rights.
“Lee Scratch Perry was a genius… but he had nothing to do with this lawsuit,” Romeo clarified. “I have the utmost respect for him… we worked together to create a genre-defining body of work.”
His death marks the end of a powerful era in roots reggae and comes amid renewed scrutiny into who profits from the legacies of Jamaican music pioneers.
