Easy Star All-Stars

New York City natives Michael G. (born Michael Goldwasser) and Ticklah (born Victor Axelrod) formed the Easy Star All-Stars after years of friendship. Goldwasser had spent five years on guitar in the R&B outfit Special Request until its dissolution, at which point he shifted focus to reggae and launched the project alongside Ticklah, the keyboardist from his prior band. Ticklah’s résumé already included performances with Cooly’s Hot Box, collaborations with DJ Spinna and Dr. Israel, and remixes for Les Nubians and Mary J. Blige. Their debut Easy Star All-Stars production arrived in 1997 on Rob Symeonn’s single “Anything for Jah,” followed by the 1998 compilation Easy Star, Vol. 1. In 1999 the pair partnered with Brooklyn sound system Twin Sound to stage three Augustus Pablo tribute concerts and to support Sugar Minott, the Meditations, and Sister Carol both live and on record.

The duo’s 2003 release Dub Side of the Moon offered a reggae and dub reinterpretation of Pink Floyd’s landmark album. They next revisited Radiohead’s OK Computer as Radiodread in 2006 and paid homage to the Beatles via Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band in 2009. The 2010 remix collection Dubber Side of the Moon featured contributions from dub specialists Mad Professor, Adrian Sherwood, and Kalbata, while the band issued its first album of original material, First Light, in 2011. Returning to the tribute format in 2012, they delivered Easy Star’s Thrillah, a version of Michael Jackson’s Thriller that included guest appearances by Luciano, Spragga Benz, Michael Rose, and additional vocalists.