Adrian Sherwood
b. c.1958. A pioneering force in UK reggae, Sherwood's first attempts to set up labels in the late '70s were disastrous, and cost him a small fortune in the process. Despite such misadventures, he couldn't resist having a further try, and set up the On-U-Sound label to house ex- Pop Group singer Mark Stewart's New Age Steppers project. Over a hundred albums and 45s have subsequently been released, including music by Bim Sherman, Dub Syndicate and Mothmen (an embryonic Simply Red). Sherwood styled On-U-Sound after the reggae model of ‘house bands’ (Revolutionaries, Soul Syndicate etc.). The label/organisation also played out as a sound system, in a similar fashion to its Jamaican counterparts. Among the notable long-term protagonists at On-U-Sound have been Bonjo (African Head Charge), Bim Sherman and Skip McDonald, Doug Wimbush and Keith LeBlanc ( Tackhead). However, Sherwood is just as well known for his production skills, which he learned at first hand from Prince Far-Iand Dr Pablo. The Fall, Depeche Mode and Ministry having been among his notable clients. On-U-Sound came to the attention of the public outside reggae circles when self-styled ‘white toaster’ Gary Clail entered the charts. However, neither this, nor any other individual release, can be described as representative of the rock-reggae-dance fusion which On-U-Sound have fostered. On-U-Sounds’ eclecticism remains rampant, but as Sherwood himself concedes: ‘I'm first and foremost a passionate fan of reggae music’.