Online Reporter
Langalakhe Mabena, Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub
ZIMBABWEAN heavy rock group Wells Fargo band founded in 1973 by legendary drummer Ebba Chitambo, is enjoying a resurgence on the international stage.
Their classic track Watch Out, has been featured on the soundtrack of Task, a new American crime drama series on HBO, introducing their sound to a fresh global audience.
Task, created and written by acclaimed filmmaker Brad Ingelsby, debuted on 7 September 2025. The series boasts a star-studded cast including Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, Emilia Jones, South Africa’s Thuso Mbedu, Raúl Castillo, Jamie McShane, Sam Keeley, Fabien Frankel, Alison Oliver, Silvia Dionicio and Martha Plimpton.
With seven gripping episodes, the show has quickly become one of the most talked-about productions of the season.
Its soundtrack has played a key role in shaping the series’ atmosphere, and Wells Fargo’s Watch Out stands out for its raw urgency and rebellious spirit, qualities that once defined the band’s influence and sound during the 1970s liberation-era Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia). The song spoke out against the repressive laws of the colonial regime in Rhodesia.
Wells Fargo was formed during a turbulent socio-political period, when rock music became a voice of youthful energy and resistance. The group comprised Ebba Chitambo (drums, lead vocals), Never Mpofu (bass), the late George Phiri (lead guitar) and Handsome Mabhiza (rhythm guitar).
For the group to clinch such a lucrative endorsement, Chitambo said it was their album reissue that opened previously closed doors, after they signed a deal with the American distribution company, Now-Again Records.
“Around 2016, a young man called Matthew Shechmeister visited Zimbabwe with a motive of researching music and different groups that existed during Rhodesian times. While in Harare, he was directed to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBCtv) library, where he found a vinyl of our single Watch Out, which we originally released in 1976.
“After discovering that we were the only group doing heavy rock music at the time, Shechmeister developed an interest in learning more about us and our sound. He later visited me at my home in Nketa, through the assistance of Albert Nyathi,” said Chitambo.
He said Shechmeister’s visit marked the beginning of a fruitful research and collaboration process that would go on to benefit both sides.
“After completing his research, Shechmeister told me that our music was great and still in demand in America, even though it was recorded in the 1970s. He convinced me to give him our unreleased music so that it could be re-mastered for a possible release. I gave my blessings to the idea and that is how we eventually got signed to Now Again Records.
“Once the collection was released, it took the world by storm. In just three months, we began receiving income from the album sales,” said Chitambo.
Mr Cee, as Chitambo is affectionately known, said their deal with Now Again Records has been rewarding, with the label facilitating the placement of their music in commercials and television productions, including Task.
“Our music is registered with the Library of Congress in America, which makes it easier for anyone who wants to use it to trace us through the Now Again stable. They have facilitated many opportunities for us. Besides the recent Task placement, our music has been featured in several other television productions.
“One of them is a film titled Don’t Let Us Go to the Dogs, which tells the story of an eight-year-old girl, Bobo, growing up on her family’s Rhodesian farm during the Second Chimurenga,” Chitambo said.
“I am connected to this production because it explores the land issue, which played a major role in the wars in this region. It also touches on themes that I personally lived through.”
Chitambo, who is now part of the Friends Band, said their partnership with the American distribution company has ensured that the group continues to earn from its legacy.
“In a way, we are now enjoying a form of pension as a band because we are receiving a decent income from our collaboration with Now Again Records. They have changed our lives. We are now older, but we are still benefitting from the music we created before independence, courtesy of this deal.
“Even the families of Wells Fargo members who have passed on are receiving proceeds from the income generated through this partnership.”
He said their journey stands as a reminder that dreams can be realised at any stage of life.
“It also inspires young people to believe that in life, there are angels out there like Shechmeister, who can be sent by God to change one’s life. When such an opportunity comes, one must grab it with both hands,” said Chitambo.
He advised young artistes to always register their works and protect their copyrights, ensuring their creations cannot be duplicated without permission.
