Island Head's cover of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" keeps the acoustic guitar vibe that Tom played and adds a cool reggae groove that creates a flow that works incredibly well!
“Island Head is an important project to reggae" Pat McKay SiriusXM Relix said; "The band frequently flexes their muscles a bit on solos always rocking steady and never forgetting to keep the party going.”
— 1) SiriusXM program director, Pat McKay 2) Relix Magazine
THE summer song of 2025 guaranteed to put a smile on your face and get you in the mood for summer! Classic song to be played at barbecues, the beach or pool, summer parties or driving in your car with the windows down. Read more
THE summer song of 2025 guaranteed to put a smile on your face and get you in the mood for summer! Classic song to be played at barbecues, the beach or pool, summer parties or driving in your car with the windows down. Island Head's Reggae Remake of "Summer" by War is Here!
Get ready to groove to the laid-back, summer vibe with Island Head’s brand-new remake of the classic hit "Summer" by War!
They transformed the iconic 1976 track into a fresh, reggae-infused summer anthem, blending smooth vocals and a hypnotic groove! Perfect for beach days, road trips, or just chilling at home. Island Head’s "Summer" brings a whole new vibe to a timeless favorite.
Nostalgic Yet Fresh: A nod to War’s classic with a modern California style reggae twist that’s perfect for all generations.
Kyle's Song (If Only For A Minute)
This song takes on the weighty subjects of addiction, mental illness and loss. Kyle's Song was co-written by Kyle and his dad (Island Head's bandleader). They were on their way to a rehab and decided to address the issue head-on.
ABOUT ISLAND HEAD
A passion for reggae and love for musicians interacting and jamming are why Island Head was created. Our live shows give each player a chance to “step out” and take the band and the audience on a musical journey.
The band is the brainchild of drummer/producer/vocalist Billy Messinetti. Always a fan of reggae music, it was a trip to Jamaica in 1988 that painted a clear picture of how the music and Jamaican culture come together. It was the Island Head concept starting to develop in his head. It took until 2012 to realize the musical dream. Billy brought together some of the finest musicians in the world, including two reggae guitar legends, Mikey 'Mao' Chung (Peter Tosh, Sly & Robbie) and Andy Bassford (Sting & Shaggy, Toots & the Maytals) for the recording of Island Head’s debut album, “Punky Reggae Party”. That album is an instrumental re-imagining of songs by Bob Marley & The Wailers plus one original song, “Reggae Island”.
Since then, Messinetti has gone through some deep life-changing events that caused him to reflect. So, he got motivated to start writing new music. Billy said; “I created Island Head for people (like myself) who love the tropical islands, beaches and summer fun. I want our music to bring smiles, happiness and an uplifting, fun vibe. Island Head V2 features all original vocal songs. The new songs have magnificent guitar performances by Andy Bassford and John Felice (Sensi Trails, Inna Vision, Shwayze).
The first of two EP releases in 2024 is “Take Me (Where The Palm Trees Grow). These songs exemplify the ”Island Head" uplifting positive vibes, soothing for the soul, a short vacation.
The next EP, “Lost”, takes on some very serious topics of life. Messinetti said; “After suffering a serious loss a few years ago I was compelled to write about it. I NEED to write and record these songs! They keep me sane and give purpose to my life and more importantly to my son's life. Unfortunately, there are times in our lives when we need to reflect on life-changing events. It is my hope that the next batch of songs will help people going through some tough times."
The first single from “Lost” is “You Go With Me”. Billy dedicates this song to his son Kyle and to his family on losing Kyle to fentanyl poisoning at the age of 26 years-old. Kyle was a talented musician with a promising future.
These are hard subjects; #grief #loss #songsofsolace #griefjourney #mentalillness #addiction #recovery
Review of “Peace And One Love” single
The new single “Peace and One Love” is a catchy, ascending tribute to the soul and vibe of reggae music. Messinetti’s vocal is engaging and his message is positive and forward-looking – a testament to the spirit and character of Messinetti himself who has endured deep personal loss in his own life over the past several years. Listening to this new song, I am reminded that in a world seemingly full of chaos and strife, it is the perseverence of the human spirit that will save the day for each and every one of us. The musicianship here is as tight as one would come to expect from Island Head, a collective of supremely talented musicians that not only play well, but vibe together with an authenticity and chemistry that is too often hard to find in this new age of music production. With “Peace and One Love” Island Head prove yet again that they are the architects of their own destiny and their future is as bright as they want it to be.