New York City's
Michael G. (born
Michael Goldwasser) and
Ticklah (born
Victor Axelrod) are the two longtime friends who form
the Easy Star All-Stars.
Goldwasser had been playing guitar with the R&B band
Special Request, but after five active years the band broke up. Around this time, the guitarist turned his attention to reggae and formed
the Easy Star All-Stars with former
Special Request keyboardist
Ticklah.
Ticklah had been gigging with
Cooly's Hot Box, worked with
DJ Spinna and
Dr. Israel, and created remixes for
les Nubians and
Mary J. Blige. The first release under the
Easy Star All-Stars banner came in 1997 with the team's production on
Rob Symeonn's "Anything for Jah" single, and a collection of their productions,
Easy Star, Vol. 1, appeared in 1998. Working with Brooklyn sound system Twin Sound, the two organized three tribute concerts to
Augustus Pablo in 1999 and backed the likes of
Sugar Minott,
the Meditations, and
Sister Carol on-stage and in the studio. In 2003, the duo released
Dub Side of the Moon, their reggae/dub version of
Pink Floyd's most famous album. In 2006, they turned toward
Radiohead's
OK Computer and reimagined it as
Radiodread. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide