Frederick Waite, the former drummer of Birmingham reggae group Musical Youth, has died aged 55. 

Waite, aged 55, apparently died on 20 July, but the news of his death was only announced today (11 August) in a Twitter post by Musical Youth.

Fans of 1980’s reggae band Musical Youth, whose members hail from Birmingham, have been left heartbroken after news broke about the death of drummer Frederick Waite.

Tributes from fans, and groups such as Birmingham’s UB40, have poured in for Waite.

Waite’s former bandmates announced his death in a Tweet saying: “We are sad to announce the passing of Musical Youth’s drummer Frederick Waite Jr.

“Our thoughts go out to him and his family during this sad time.

“We have lost a musical legend, who inspired many young musicians over the last 40 years. Rest in Eternal Peace”.

The drumming by Frederick Waite Jr can be heard on the group's hit single Pass the DutchieDennis Seaton
The drumming by Frederick Waite Jr can be heard on the group’s hit single Pass the Dutchie

The Birmingham reggae band was formed in 1979 and consisted of young inner city schoolboys. Frederick and his brother Patrick (who tragically died aged just 24 from a heart condition in 1993) were in the group along with lead singer Dennis Seaton, and brothers Michael and Kelvin Grant.

The band’s single Pass the Dutchie was released in 1982 and went on to become a multi-million bestseller around the world. The accompanying music video, directed by Don Letts, became the first video from a black act to be played on the newly founded MTV Channel.

The song’s lyrics struck a chord with listener’s in Margaret Thatcher’s racially divided England where factories were closing and unemployment was rife, poverty tore apart Northern working-class communities, and people lived on the breadline. Stark lyrics – such as “How does it feel when you got no food?” – remain topical despite the passing of decades.

Musical Youth came full circle this year when Pass the Dutchie was used in the hugely popular Netflix show Stranger Things (Season Four), and the band also played the legendary single at The Alexander stadium during the closing ceremony of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.

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