Wells Fargo (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Headquarters | Bulawayo , Zimbabwe |
| Products | Psychedelic rock music, singles, compilation album |
Wells Fargo was a psychedelic rock ensemble originating from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
History
The initial connection between guitarist Josi Ndlovu and drummer Ebba Chitambo occurred in 1969 when Ndlovu observed Chitambo performing with a local group named Springfields. Despite Chitambo’s lack of prior drumming experience, Ndlovu invited him to become part of his band The Movers, which was later renamed The Moove. Drawing inspiration from Jimi Hendrix, Chitambo established Wells Fargo and asked Ndlovu to join the project. The band’s roster also featured jazz guitarist Handsome Mabhiza and bassist Never Mpofu. Their name was inspired by an image from a comic book, without knowledge of the financial institution sharing the same title.
Initially, Wells Fargo maintained a non-political stance; however, their concerts began to draw scrutiny from Rhodesian officials because they brought together both black and white audiences, challenging the segregationist policies of the time. The ongoing Rhodesian Bush War influenced the band to incorporate political messages into their music. This evolution led to their breakthrough track, originally titled "Have Gun – Will Travel," a song conceptualized since 1972, prior to the band’s formation. It transformed into an anthem advocating for democracy but also resulted in confrontations with authorities. Lyrics such as "Watch out, freedom is coming" prompted censorship and police interventions at performances. When officially released in 1977 under the name "Watch Out," the lyrics were altered to "Watch out, a big storm is coming." Approximately 15,000 copies of this single were sold.
The group dissolved in 1989 as members embarked on individual musical ventures. Guitarist Handsome Mabhiza passed away in 2013 at the age of 61.
In 2016, Now-Again Records issued Watch Out!, a compilation album featuring Wells Fargo’s singles from 1976 to 1977. This release marked the band’s first official album available outside Zimbabwe and represented their debut LP.
Musical style
Wells Fargo’s sound was characterized as "heavy rock" or "Zim heavy," a style emerging from Zimbabwean township music scenes, heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix. Additional inspirations included bands such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, The Who, and Ten Years After.
Discography
- Compilations
- Watch Out! (2016)
- Singles
- "Coming Home", "Carrying On", "Too Long Away" (1976)
- "Shades of Wells Fargo", "Bwanawe" (1976)
- "Bump Bump Babe", "The Crowd" (1977)
- "Watch Out", "Love My Life" (1977)
- "Love Is The In Thing", "Open The Door" (1977)