Mikey Dread Dies
By Colin Jenkinns

Renowned radio DJ, artist, producer, and TV host Mikey Dread, died on March 15, 2008. He died after a six month battle with a brain tumour. He was 54 years old. Mikey Dread. Born Michael Campbell in Port Antonio, Jamaica, came into prominence in the 1970s as the host of the radio show, “Dread At The Controls” at the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC). His shows featured only Jamaican music, instead of the foreign material which dominated the airwaves at the time. It was aired 6 nights a week.

Dread then launched his own record company which released his own singles. His first single, the humorous “Barber Saloon,” was a local sensation due to Campbell's hybrid blend of rapping and singing, which became known as the "sing-jay" style in Jamaica.

He then later became a well known figure in Britain where he also produced a song called “Bankrobber” for British group The Clash. He also toured with them in Europe and USA to help promote Reggae music. He subsequently had a big UK punk following. Dread produced several Distinctive albums such as Dread At The Controls, Evolutionary Rockers, and World War III which were fan favorites. But because of his disgust with the record company he was signed to, he chose not to release another record until after his contract had expired.

He then re released his own material on his Dread At The Controls record label. African map was his last recording. In October 2007, it was announced that Campbell was being treated for a brain tumor. He was under going treatment at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Dread is survived by his wife Monika, their infant son, Zylen, and five children from previous relationships.