This is the classic biography of reggae legend Bob Marley, updated and revised for the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death.
Bob Marley left an indelible mark on modern music, both as a reggae pioneer and as an enduring cultural icon. Catch a Fire, now a classic rock biography, delves into the life of this man, the leader of a musical and spiritual revolution that continues today. The book chronicles Marley's life and career, as well as the milieu that shaped his spiritual and political beliefs.
Under the supervision of the author's widow and with the collaboration of a Marley expert, this fourth edition contains a wealth of new material, including many revisions made by the author before his untimely death. This new edition, factually updated throughout, chronicles Marley's legacy in recent years, as well as the ongoing controversy over the possibility that Marley's remains might be exhumed from Nine Mile, Jamaica, and reburied in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where hundreds of Rastafarians live.
Fascinating inside information about the intrigues of the reggae music business, the dramatic rise of Marley's musical offspring, the complex legal struggles surrounding the Marley estate, and a sweeping social history of modern Jamaica, as well as the Rastafarian religion, also make up this expanded edition.
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“Peter Mackin narrates with a voice that’s deepand rich but never dour as he reiterates all the stages of Marley’s luminouspath…Thankfully, Mackin doesn’t try to mimic Marley’s trademark patois. Hisrespectful delivery pays tribute to an artist whose life was distinctlyinimitable.”
— AudioFile
“A gripping biography. I enjoyed it immensely.”
— James A. Michener, #1 New York Times bestselling author“Probably the finest biography ever written about a popular musician.”
— San Francisco Chronicle“White has a deep appreciation for reggae’s immediacy, hypnotic power, and contradictions…An exhaustively researched labor of love.”
— Chicago Sun-Times“As close as rock journalism comes to transcendent literature.”
— Playboy“A comprehensive account of the life of the artist and the times that produced him…Cinematic in scope…rich with elements of spiritual tome, rock biography, and history text…the story of a man and his legend.”
— Amazon.com“A great book. It is an effort which must be cited for its extremely valuable contribution to our history.”
— Daily Gleaner (Jamaica)Timothy White (1952–2002) was one of the most prominent music journalists of the twentieth century. He wrote extensively on Bob Marley, reggae, and Caribbean music and culture for Rolling Stone, the New York Times, and other leading publications. His close contact with Marley, his family, and his inner circle of friends led to his being granted access to private papers, photographs, and memorabilia.
Peter Macon is an Emmy Award–winning actor. He has spent three seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and has had roles in various films and television shows, including Dexter, Law & Order, Without a Trace, Supernatural, and The Shield.