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Four musicians from Jamaica, Germany and Kasachstan blend rock and reggae into a unique and powerful mixture of Rock-Reggae. This is a simple way to describe the complex and far-out sound of this group. While rockers often only think of “potheads” when they talk about reggae, the reggae purist associates heavy rock with lots of beer and tattoos.
ROUGH HOUSE, who in real life is called Keith Powell Jr. and has been performing as a solo artist in the last four years, comes from a musical background. His father Keith Powell senior is well known within the Jamaican music scene and has worked as a guitarist for legends like Peter Tosh and Dennis Brown.
This had an impact on ROUGH HOUSE; he also supported artists, on tour and in the studio, such as Toots, Jimmy Cliff, Ken Booth, President Brown, Culture Knox and Garnett Silk.
In recent years Germany has become his second home, where he worked as a bass player for “Die Fantastischen Vier”, “Samy Deluxe”, “Max Herre” and “Gentleman” and others. At the beginning of 2007 his debut album “My Intention” has been released in Jamaica – featuring artists like Patrice, Gentleman, Jamaica Papa Curvin and Shocking Murray – to euphoric reactions from the reggae scene.
Appearances at festivals like Summer Jam, started to build up a fan base in Germany. “I’ve always wanted to mix rock and reggae but I never found the musicians to do it with” says ROUGH HOUSE.
Joined by guitarist Pomez, Together with ROUGH HOUSE the two teamed up to start RHAATID ,each one of them throwing in their musical backgrounds: Pomez coming from the rock side – but having a lot of reggae experience as well (e.g. as drummer in german reggae band) and ROUGH HOUSE as a reggae ambassador out of Jamaica. This enables them to authentically mix both styles and turn them into a new, vibrant and fresh sound.
The group is completed by the two other members Sgt. Pepper and Ajani. Sgt. Pepper comes from a musical background also. His Father is a successfull musician in Russia. From the age of 6 till the age of 14 he was raised and educated in Alma-Atas “Music College Bajseitowa”. Then his family immigrated to Germany and he became part of the german reggae-scene. He played drums for bands like the "Curse", “Schälsick Steppers”, “Caramello + Criminal (Raggabund)”, “La Papa Verde” and as a member of “Clandestino” he backed artists like Don Abi, Nightmares on Wax and Promo (Looptroops).
Keyboard player Ajani from Jamaica, is no stranger to the German live scene, having worked a long stint as a sideman for Patrice.
The style and sound of RHAATID describes ROUGH HOUSE by naming the main influences. RHAATID is a Jamaican word (patois) meaning something like “exceptional”, “hot” or even “sensational”. There is no proper translation for it but it is an expression of acknowledgement, which for sure suits this band well.
2010 Lineup 