Harare Review of Books

208 pages.

Expected publication date: Jan 16, 2024 (Motorbooks International)

Non-fiction.

I spent a couple of days last week completely immersed in the life and music of the legends, Bob Marley and the Wailers. I don’t consider myself a Marley stan when I measure myself against other people, but I do have a deep and abiding appreciation for his music. And yet this wonderful biography pulled me right in, and I was so hooked that everyone in the house had to endure many hours of Wailers deep cuts. No regrets.

This 2024 edition of Bob Marley and the Wailers: The Ultimate Illustrated History is slightly updated from the 2017 version, adding some information about the 2024 movie on Marley’s life. From his roots in Nine Mile and the meeting of the Wailers in Trench Town, Kingston, Jamaica, to the evolution of their sound from ska, through rock steady, to reggae, this is an in-depth look not only at the creation of the legends, but also of a genre. Although most of the book is about Marley, the best thing is how it demonstrates that Marley was not the only genius of the group. It shows, through tracking the progress of the Wailers, and then the later solo careers of Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, how Marley rose to prominence over the rest.

A huge amount of ground is covered: the peripatetic Marley’s childhood, his unexpected marriage to Rita, his philandering, his time working in the US, and his various travels and tours; Tosh’s deliberate and consistent anti-establishment stance (including the promotion of marijuana) and his rather troubled life; and Bunny Wailer’s deep spirituality and seeming aversion and ambivalence towards the trappings of fame. The various other Wailers are also mentioned as they come and go. A very interesting section covers how Chris Blackwell of Island Records signed the Wailers, and how he was instrumental in creating the legend of Bob Marley. The tragically early deaths of Marley and, later, Tosh, and their funerals, make up the later parts of the book.

It’s mostly impossible to write well about a legend, but Unterberger has done a terrific job here. Even if you’re the most marginal fan with only a passing interest in the group or music, this is a very entertaining history of musical giants of the 20th century. Very highly recommended.

Thank you to Edelweiss and to Motorbooks for access.