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marco
20-09-07, 18:32
THE MOST COMPLETE, MOST DETAILED AND MOST ACCURATE INFO ABOUT BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS TOUR DATES FROM 1962 TO 1972
last update: november 2012

1962
at Queen’s Theatre for Kes Talent Parade


1963
Feb 6th at Capri Theatre May Pen Derrick Morgan Sensational Farewell (as Robert Marley)*
Feb 11th at Palladium Theatre Montego Bay Derrick Morgan Farewell Show (as Robert Marley)*
Opportunity Knocks Show at Ward Theatre (Bob only)
*Leslie Kong sponsored the "Derrick Morgan Farewell Shows". Marley was on both bills, amongst John Holt, Frank Cosmo, Pluggy & Beryl, Roy Panton and others. Derrick made certain that Bob would be featured in the shows, though Derrick noticed that Bob (perhaps nervous) did not have a balance and unison with his performance energies. At the Capri show “when Bob go on stage he was dancin’ more than he was singin’… And ‘im come back to vocal, so mi beg ‘im and se, ‘No youth. When you sing two verses you dance, and then you go back to your other verse.’” At the Montego Bay venue, Bob performed as Derrick had suggested. Nonetheless, “One Cup of Coffee” did not receive the audience responses that either of them expected. In fact, the typically volatile and expressive Jamaican crowd started to boo. “The next song, ‘im just get up and se, ‘Judge not, before you judge yourself.’ When ‘im reach de part de, the audience ray and se, ‘Wait, this boy a bad, ‘im a just mek a sound offa we!’ Same time, yeah man, and a de so ‘im hit. That was the last time I see Bob fe a long while.”
Manager Tony Cobb recalls an incident in May Pen, Clarendon, when Marley was slated to perform: Marley ran off the stage at the sight of the large crowd, and it was Cobb who brought him back to perform to an enthusiastic crowd. A story in the evening tabloid newspaper the next day recalled the incident of how "The Cat" saved the show.

1964
Majestic Theatre di Kingston (with Beverly)
Jamaica Success Club on monday night (an indoor venue on Wildman Street which held at least 3000 people)
Palace Theatre (with Beverly)*
Vere John’s Opportunity Hour (on Tuesdays)
Montego bay (with Beverly)*
Sombrero Club - Kingston (with Beverly and Cherry Green)*
Touring with the Downbeat Sound System (road shows)
All Day Dance in Bournemouth, Rockforth (according to Rita, it was a show on the beach)
Ward Theatre (before august)
December 25 at Ward Theatre for All champions night (set list: “It hurts to be alone”, “Simmer down” “Maga dog”, "I don't need your love, "How many times", "I'm going home", "Amen")
*according to Beverly, the shows at Palace and in Montego Bay were a fiasco because of technicals troubles; the concert at Sombrero was opposite a smash


1965
March 3 at Ward Theatre for the Ash Wednesday Spectacular (a morning show with -for the first time on stage- the Wailers)*
*according to this advertisement, the Wailers first show ever took place in march 1965 so the shows dated in 1964 are just the result of wrong memories
March 29 at Palladium
April 8 at Regal Theatre, for Oriental Play Girls
April 10 at Glass Bucket Club
April 19 at Links Club in St Thomas Road for the Big Holyday Dance
April 19 at ward Theatre for the Easter Morning Shindig 10 am
June 20: at Regal Theatre for the "Battle of the Greats: ska vs Jazz"
June 27: at Glass Bucket Club Anniversary Spectacular
September 9: opening for american singer Betty Everett (a show called Ska-Lyp-Soul, Joe Higgs also played at the show)
September 27 : at Ward Theatre for the All Champions night
October 9: at Glass Bucket Club in Half Way Three (with Marcia Griffiths and the Soul Brothers)
December ‘Battle Of The Groups Contest’ at Ward Theatre.
December 27 at Blue Mist Club


1966
January 2 at National Stadium for the Bim Bam Show (set list: rude boy ska, put it on)
January 16 at National Stadium Farewell performance of the Drifters (canceled)
January 30th at Bournemouth Club
May 14 at Ormsby Hall 14 Victoria Avenue (to help the boys raise money for a hike through the interior of Guyana: concert presented by Kingston college's west indian hike committee)
July 28: at the Club Brown Jug, Ocho Rios Main street
30 july: at Club Montego in Montego Bay
31 july: at Club Blue Mist
August 1st: at State Theatre at 10 am
December 13 at Carib Theatre for a Benefit Concert (with Soulettes, The Mighty Sparrow, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires, Vikings, Marcia Griffiths, Hortense Hellis)
December 28: at Coral Theatre, Montego Bay, guest artist for Yvonne Fair
December 29: at Capri Theatre, May Penn, guest artist for Yvonne Fair

1967
January 2: at Regal Theatre guest artist at Yvonne Fair concert

1968
June 2 at State Theatre for the Big Festival Song 8 pm (backing band: The Mighty Vikings)

1969
at Carib Theatre
September at Psychedelic Shop

1970
in Negril
at the Skateland in Kingston
at Silver Slipper
at Prime Time
May 28 at Delmar Theatre in Port Antonio
May 30 at Peytone 2 pm till 9 pm
September 19: at VIP Club (set list: soul rebel, I'm still waiting, duppy conqueror plus encore)
October 17th at VIP CLUB (set list: soul rebel, sun is shining, duppy conqueror)
November: at Sombrero Night Club in Kingston
November 28: at VIP Club (set list: soul rebel, run for cover, duppy conqueror)
December 24 at Sombrero Night in Kingston Molynes Road
December 25at: at Regal Theatre for Christmas morning "ride-on" show
December 25th at Carib Theatre The Christmas Joy Ride

1971
January 1st at Carib Theatre fot the Reggae Splash Down
Early 1971: at Majestyc Theatre, Houston, Texas, (audience: 15)
July 18: the Miss Jamaica 1971 Water Pageant Festival, Kingston at the National Stadium Swimming Pool. The Wailers share the bill with Hopeton Lewis and Julian Judy Mowatt (set list: duppy conqueror and small axe)
July 25 at Evon William’s Epiphany for PNP campaign with the presence of Mr Michael Manley
August 1: at Ferry Inn with Fabulous Five and Soulettes
August 31: at Sombrero Club for Miss Chariot contest
October 3: at Ward Theatre supporting PNP
October 7: concert for the Student Union supporting PNP
October 8: concert at Playmates for the Student Unions supporting PNP
October 9: concert for the Student Union supporting PNP. For the first time it is Bob Marley and the Wailers on the posters and not only as The Wailers. The Jamaican Gleaner publish articles about Bob's new Manager Allan Cole:
"Allan 'Skill' Cole, one of Jamaica's leading footballers stepped into another field. He's now manager for three leading show business groups the Wailers, the Soulettes and the Pipers. The first two are' among the most popular: in show business today while the third is on their way up. The Wailers are led by Bob Marley, whose wife, Rita leads the Soulettes, while the Pipers originallv the Wailing Souls, can be regarded as off-'spring' of The Wailers. (Their 'Row Fisherman Row' proves the close similarity)... .. Skill and Bob describe the motivating force for the switch as 'heart'.
"We have known each other for a long time now. Bob explains and somehow there always seemed to Be this spiritual link- This we .always wanted — someone who really understood our philosophy of life and someone capable and willing to live it with us- We knew it all along Skill was the man for us" Not surprisingly, the union has started out with a real scorcher, "Trench Town Bock", now No. 6 on the chart 'Skill assures that their next recording — done by a combination of the Wallers and Soulettes will have just as much if not even more punch and relevance. "We always believe we can do better" he says (extract from Jamaican Gleaner 1971)
October 13: at the Students Union for an evening of pop music
October 14 – Carder Park, Port Antonio (a victory bandwagon show)
October 15 – Victoria Park, Falmoth (a victory bandwagon show)
October 18 – Jarrett Park, Montego Bay (a victory bandwagon show)
October 20 - Lysson Park - St Thomas (a victory bandwagon show)
October 20 – Watson Taylor Park –Lucea (a victory bandwagon show)
October 21 – Independence Park, Savanna La Mar (a victory bandwagon show)
October 22 - Independence Park, Black River (a victory bandwagon show)
October 23 – Brooks Park, Mandeville (a victory bandwagon show)
October 26 - Spanish Town at Prison Oval (a victory bandwagon show)

others october bandwagon concerts (no date available)
Morant Bay
Browns Town
Four parts
Lacovia
Santa Cruz
Top Hill
Alley
Mountain Side
Wittone
Green Island
Kingston (Park George VI)
Highgate

october 30: concert for the Student Union with Fabulous Five supporting PNP. This is the review of the Jamaican Gleaner:
"Night of Togetherness at Students' Union on Saturday night had the largest attendance of any of the promotions in the city on that night. This was expected with the team of promoters headed by footballer Allan Cole. The Fabulous Five Inc. was the band on stage and did well backing the artistes — with the exception of the Wailers.
Wailers music demands a heavy rhythm and also the most sensitive affinity to the reggae music. The Fab. Five fell short here. They came over well with Judy 'Julianne' Mowatt, the Gaylads, Ken Boothe, as these artistes are more suited to stage appearances than the Wailers, who are primarily a recording group. I will suggest to manager Allan Cole that he does not allow the Wailers to appear on stage again if there is not the best public address' system to their disposal, and at least two rehearsals with the band before going on stage" (extract from Jamaican Gleaner 1971)
November 2 – Clemards Park, Port Maria Bay at 5:00 pm (Bob's last concert with bandwagon)
November 28: Power To The People Rally at Ward Theatre supporting PNP
Mid December: probably a concert in Cuba with the Soulettes (according to Rita)
December 14 - at Ward Theatre at 8:00 pm for the Nuggets for the Needy Grand Gala Show

On december 1971 the Wailers leave for a tour in USA: their first tour in North America. The Jamaican Gleaner covers the story:
“Two of Jamaica's most popular stage and recording groups, the Wailers and the Heptones will be leaving the island towards the' middle of December for appearances in the Caribbean and North America. The Wailers will be making appearances in the New York area of America, and will be joining up with their sister group the Soulettes, who have been in the United States since August.
This will be the first time that both groups will be appearing in America as a group. The Wailers are currently on the local charts with the popular "Screwface", while the Heptones have recently put out an album entitled "Freedom Line.”
December 31: concert at Concourse Plaza, New York (set list of the first american tour: soul rebel, small axe, trenchtown rock, screwface and duppy conqueror)

1972
January 7: Brooklyn, at President Choutouk club 71-84th Street
(Glen Adams related a fascinating story about this show at the President Choutouk club, which holds about 500 people. During Soul Rebel, Bob asked Glen to join him onstage and play keyboards. In the middle of the song, the police stopped the concert for some unknown reason, possibly because there were some Rude boys, who were looking for trouble)
January 8: at Manhattan Centre (NY)
January (date from 9 to 24 january): concerts in Pennsylvania and Delaware.
"On january 30 1972 the Daily Gleaner tells the story of those american concerts with a little inteview with Bob Marley:
Jamaica's most popular staging group, Bob Marley and the Wailers, recently returned from a tour of New York area. The Wailers, who left here in December, opened their show at the Concourse Plaza Hotel in Bronx before an audience estimated at well over 3,000 on New Year's Eve night.
Also appearing on the show was Jamaica's leading male vocalist, John Holt. They were backed up by the Debonaires Band. After their performance in Bronx, which was the biggest, they went on to Brooklyn, appearing at the President Chateau on January 7, and was at Manhattan Centre the following night. Leader Bob Marley informed that one of the shows scheduled at Brooklyn was stopped by the police, no reason was given.
Three bands which they performed with the Debonaires, Syd Joe and his Caribbean All Stars and Cinnomon Suns, were up to a good standard Bob Marley said. Although not as good as some of the bands in Jamaica. "
January 30 at National Arena for PNP campaign
March-May 17: gigs in England with Johnny Nash and the Sons of Jungle (not Peter and Bunny)

May 23: at Jamaica House for Labour Day supporting PNP
May 27: at Annual Awards Ball (Jamaica) to receive an award as best vocal group

Tour in England with Johnny Nash
Spring-summer: show at Wembley Stadium (according to bassist Phil Chen Jackie Edwards, Jimmy Cliff and Count Prince Miller also played on the show; Bob opened for Nash)
Spring-summer: shows at Mr Bees and at Alexandra Palace (according to CBS officer Paul Merry)
Spring-summer: shows in Bexhill and Bexleyheath (Wailers as backing band; set list: ringo, small axe, duppy conqueror, put it on, rude boy, nice time, bend down low, keep on moving, stir it up, reggae on broadway, one love, love and affection)
Spring-summer: show at Bag of Nails, Soho
Spring-summer: show at Peckham Manor school (reggae on braodway was performed)
Spring-summer: show at The DeLaWarr Pavillion, Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex (I have the tour program with photos)
Spring-summer: show at The Dome, Brighton
June 3 at California Ballroom - Whipsnade Road in Dunstable (Wailers as backing band)
June 25, at Shades in Northampton (with Sons of Jungle as backing band)
June 26: opening for Johnny Nash in a London club (may be the Speakseasy)
July 22: Wembley, Alperton High School (with Johnny Nash) a local newspaper covered the date
Tottenham Royal for a Johnny Nash concert.
July 22: Grand Midnight Dance at Commonwealth Social Club in Croydon (Wailers as backing band + members of Cimarons+ Johnny Nash)
August 27: at Telegraph - Brixton


America late '72
September 20/26: at Apollo Theatre (New York) for "A Night in the Caribbean" with the Might Sparrow, Roy Shirley and many more (may be a canceled date)

marco
04-09-08, 17:46
the poster of the bandwagon tour

alberto
04-09-08, 19:01
wwwooowww thanks ;-)

marco
08-09-08, 12:08
according to Beverly Kelso, this was shot soon after the concert in Montego Bay, 1964, as promo photo for the group

Jr.Gong
08-09-08, 12:21
wow beautiful photos!!

rasjack12
09-09-08, 20:49
There are a few more dates I will help add...

rasjack12
09-09-08, 22:03
Feb 6th 1963 Capri Theatre May Pen Derrick Morgan Sensational Farewell
Feb 11th 1963 Palladium Theare Montego Bay Derrick Morgan Farewell Show
June 27th 1965 Glass Bucket Club Anniversary Spectacular
December 28 1965 Blue Mist Club
Januarary 30th 1966 Bournemouth Club
Octomber 17th 1970 Half Way Tree Club
December 25th 1970 Carib Theatre The Christmas Joy Ride
October 17th 1970 Half Way Tree Club
Januarary 1st 1971 Carib Theatre Reggae Splash Down
Jully 18th 1971 Miss Ja Water Pageant National Swimming Pool
August 1st 1971 Ferry Inn


Here are just a few and also the Last date of the wailers tour with Sly was oct 25th I have the ticket of the show and the person who was there with a review also there is a maryland date of that tour too. All the Best Jack

marco
10-09-08, 09:15
Dear jack, thank you very much I really appreciate your help

marco
10-09-08, 09:30
December 25th 1970 Carib Theatre The Christmas Joy Ride

just a little mistake: it was at Regal Theatre, not Carib

rasjack12
10-09-08, 20:41
Not a mistake i have the billing for it they played 2 shows on the same day... Just check the rest of the news paper there is another show they are playing but the same day they are on the billing.. Its called the christmas joy ride show. I have that billing too. There are a few other shows i need to add too. Where they played 2 shows at two diffrent gigs mostly christmas time and new years eve... All the Best Jack

marco
11-09-08, 09:35
Not a mistake i have the billing for it they played 2 shows on the same day... Just check the rest of the news paper there is another show they are playing but the same day they are on the billing.. Its called the christmas joy ride show. I have that billing too. There are a few other shows i need to add too. Where they played 2 shows at two diffrent gigs mostly christmas time and new years eve... All the Best Jack

;) ;) ;) ;)

marco
06-10-08, 18:13
I've just update the Bandwagon concerts with the exact date of some shows taken from original newsapapers advertisements

marco
17-10-08, 17:41
new date from 1966: a concert at ormsby hall 14 victoria avenue to help the boys raise money for a hike through the interior of Guyana: concert presented by Kingston college's west indian hike committee
it was 14 may 1966 so bob didn't perform

marco
28-08-09, 16:39
thanks to Chris Salewicz's "The Untold story" book, I've just added new tour dates in 1964. In his book there is also a not-to-be-missed description of how the young Wailers would dance on stage during their first shows.

marco
17-10-09, 11:12
I've found this little new about one of Bob's first concert ever. It took place in May Pen and was produced by Beverly's Label.

Tony Cobb recalls an incident in May Pen, Clarendon, when Marley was slated to perform: Marley ran off the stage at the sight of the large crowd, and it was Cobb who brought him back to perform to an enthusiastic crowd. A story in the evening tabloid newspaper the next day recalled the incident of how "The Cat" saved the show.

marco
22-10-09, 16:00
One more date to upload: Wembley, Alperton High School in 1972 with Johnny Nash

marco
26-11-09, 11:55
just added: 1972 shows in Bexhill and Bexleyheath (Wailers as backing band; set list: ringo, small axe, duppy conqueror, put it on, rude boy, nice time, bend down low, keep on moving, stir it up, reggae on broadway, one love, love and affection)

duppy_conqueror
27-05-10, 16:23
it's a pretty good work you are doing marco

souladventurer
31-01-11, 23:11
Fantastic work on these dates marco!
Do we know if Bob did any shows between the Beverley's shows in 63 and the shows with the Wailers in 65?? I know he did a few talent shows at Queen's Theater, but do we know any of the dates?

marco
01-02-11, 08:48
Do we know if Bob did any shows between the Beverley's shows in 63 and the shows with the Wailers in 65?

very hard to say, because it seems to be a black hole from the february 1963 (beverley's shows) and his first appearance as Wailers group in 1965
May be he did some shows as solo artist at Queen or other Talent shows but it's very hard to find articles and reviews... it's more than 40 years old!
we rest on friends' or musicians' testimony

souladventurer
02-02-11, 02:17
Thanks for the quick reply. I know he did do the Vere Johns "Opportunity Hour" shows in 63 after leaving Beverley's. This has been stated by others at the time. The sad thing is that those shows were all recorded and aired on RJR but the tapes were long destroyed.
Re: the Wailers shows. We know they did their first big show in 65, but it is also possible that they did a few local/community shows in Trenchtown and West Kingston before getting a space on the big stage.

souladventurer
02-02-11, 04:38
Good work. Tony Cobb was a popular MC back then. I bet Jimmy Cliff, who was also on the bill, has some memories of the show.

souladventurer
02-02-11, 04:42
Was the October 7 1972 show for the Student Union or at the Student Union? Student Union is a venue at the University of the West Indies in Kingston. The audience would likely have been university students but also people from the nearby communities and of course diehard Wailers fans.

marco
02-02-11, 08:39
Was the October 7 1972 show for the Student Union or at the Student Union? Student Union is a venue at the University of the West Indies in Kingston. The audience would likely have been university students but also people from the nearby communities and of course diehard Wailers fans.

the poster said:
tonight
students union
present
pop festerama and fete
featuring th einner circle plus
bob marle and the wailers
dennis brown
etc etc etc

souladventurer
03-02-11, 19:15
Thanks. the advert suggests that it did indeed take place at the University's student union. the band did several shows there and it was also the venue where peter tosh first played an electric guitar live onstage.

rasjack12
28-02-11, 05:35
New tour date feb 16th 1966 National Stadium Jamaica AU GO GO Show

marco
28-02-11, 08:34
New tour date feb 16th 1966 National Stadium Jamaica AU GO GO Show

TY,
any article to upload?
Because I have an article form 16 JANUARY 1966 (not february)about a concert at National Stadium but days before the date it was canceled...

rasjack12
28-02-11, 16:57
I have it at home and I am at work now. This was sweetheart a special valtines day things not the date you have. I have a ton of other dates my friend I will always help you out. . See "This is Jack talking to you seen? Don't Have no doubts" You know its my JOB to have the complete list...

marco
28-02-11, 17:42
I have it at home and I am at work now. This was sweetheart a special valtines day things not the date you have. I have a ton of other dates my friend I will always help you out. . See "This is Jack talking to you seen? Don't Have no doubts" You know its my JOB to have the complete list...

dear jack. I did comb through the jamaican gleaner newspapers from 1960 to 1970 :-)
may be I miss something
I would be grateful to you if you help us

marco
28-02-11, 17:45
See "This is Jack talking to you seen? Don't Have no doubts"

???

rasjack12
28-02-11, 18:25
Bobs last public audio statement.... Bob talking to you have no doubts seen? 1980

marco
28-02-11, 18:30
yes, I know the quote but I didn't understand why you wrote "jack" :-)
i'm italian you are english, sometimes something lost in translation ;)

rasjack12
28-02-11, 20:19
Because I was talking to you... Anyway I will help you in for some more dates soon.

rasjack12
05-03-11, 07:58
A little info.. We all have had doubts about Bob going on Stage with Stevie when he was sick. Stevie's tour was not at msg until Bob was in Germany. Well we might be wrong. Stevie played a special show at MSG Oct 23 or 26 I can not remember but I have a ticket for the show. So now there is a possiblity of it really happening. Just a little information I thought I pass along.

marco
16-04-11, 09:40
hey guys, this could be another "lost" date of bob marley:

"...As a concert promoter I was introduced to Bob Marley, Joe Higgs and reggae music by Johnny Nash and Danny Sims in the late sixties. In the early 1971, Island Music Reps, and Rice University’s radio station KTRU’s reggae DJ Kelly, persuaded me to co- promote a Bob Marley concert coming to Houston at the Majestic Theater. I was already into his music, and as part of promotion I gave a way 50 or so comp tickets. I gave them to friends and associates, athletes, doctors, lawyers, students, musicians and other music fans. I really wanted a great turn out. I wanted everyone I knew to have the chance to experience the message that Bob shared in his music. To my surprise only 15 of the 50 came to the concert that night, and most of them were women, something I am sure all of those that did not attend still regret to this day.

marco
03-09-11, 10:23
about the first date in USA:
Calypso Rose (http://worldmusiccentral.org/artists/artist_page.php?id=8387) was on an equal footing with Bob Marley. The Caribbean artists performed together at a New Year’s Eve concert held in the ballroom of the Grand Concourse in New York’s Bronx. “The people went crazy,” Rose recalls.
(from http://worldmusiccentral.org/2011/09/02/the-calypso-queen/)

marco
20-10-11, 08:53
A little info.. We all have had doubts about Bob going on Stage with Stevie when he was sick. Stevie's tour was not at msg until Bob was in Germany. Well we might be wrong. Stevie played a special show at MSG Oct 23 or 26 I can not remember but I have a ticket for the show. So now there is a possiblity of it really happening. Just a little information I thought I pass along.

TY Jack, it would be great if you remember the exact date
Long time ago I interviewed Salim Jaffer, former Stevie's promoter and he spoke about that event (Bob and Stevie on stage in 1980)

marco
09-02-12, 12:34
about the Concourse Plaza gig in 1971:
... As long-time clients like the Bronx Rotary began to move their gatherings elsewhere, Caspi concentrated on building a new business for the hotel, mostly catering to African-American Bronxites who rented the ballrooms for church functions and promotional dances. And, in 1971, Caspi's son opened the Tunnel discotheque in the Baroque Room, which quickly became popular with its largely African American customers. Unpopular with some older residents in the area, the Tunnel was closed in 1973 for operating without a license.

It's likely that the Wailers performed in this baroque room!

chico
09-02-12, 14:15
TY Jack, it would be great if you remember the exact date

Here a ticket for the 23rd of October.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Oct-23-1980-Stevie-Wonder-Madison-Square-Garden-MSG-Concert-Ticket-Stub-/390358729792

marco
11-05-12, 17:24
about the show at Telegraph 27 august 1972:

a little anecdote that links the legendary Jamaican reggae singer with one of Ireland’s most beloved football players:
Johnny Giles and Bob Marley were close friends right from the time they first met in London in August 1972 to the time of Marley’s untimely death in May 1981
In 1972 Marley was in London mastering his groundbreaking Catch a Fire album. On one Saturday in August, Leeds traveled down to North London to play Tottenham Hotspur. Giles couldn’t believe his luck when he found out that Marley was playing that very night in The Telegraph venue in Brixton.
Up at the very front, Giles would later describe this gig as the best of his life.
At the bar Giles met Malchi Ó Conghaile, a Jamaican-Irish DJ and drug dealer who had been supplying Marley with his ganja since he first got into the city. Delighted to meet an Irishman who was obviously so into the music, Ó Conghaile invited Giles back to his house in Kilburn where the after-party was.
It was here, in the kitchen of Malachi Ó Conghaile’s house in NW6, that Giles finally got to meet his idol. Giles was blown away to find out that Marley was a huge football fan and even knew that Giles’ played midfield for Leeds. They spent the night drinking Guinness, eating Jerk Chicken and talking about world politics and music. (Marley was particularly keen to learn more about Bloody Sunday and the conflict in the six counties)
While they kept in touch via mail, the two didn’t meet again until 1977 when Marley invited Giles down to London to play some 11-a-side at Battersea Park. This second meeting is credited as really cementing the bond between them.
In 1980, Marley sorted out Giles with backstage tickets for his triumphal Dalymount Park gig in Dublin on July 6 . (Giles only complaint apparently was that the gig was happening at the home of Bohs!) In some pictures, you can actually see Giles’ head popping out from the side of the stage. During the encore, Marley invited Giles out to sing his favourite song ‘Johnny Was’. (Unfortunately the only known picture of this momentous event were stolen in a burglary of Giles’ home in the early 1990s)

maurizio
11-05-12, 22:44
Johnny Giles
http://comeheretome.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/giles1.jpeg

http://comeheretome.wordpress.com/2012/04/26/giles-marley-one-love/

marco
05-09-12, 15:49
About the first dates in England with the Cimarons, this is a good interview with singer Delroy Washington about Bob's stay in England with Johnny Nash, 1972
published by unitedreggae.com


Interview: Delroy Washington on Bob Marley

(http://unitedreggae.com/articles/n1093/090512/interview-delroy-washington-on-bob-marley)http://unitedreggae.com/articles/n1093/090512/interview-delroy-washington-on-bob-marley
By Angus Taylor (http://unitedreggae.com/authors/18/angus-taylor/) on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 - Photos by Felix Foueillis (http://unitedreggae.com/authors/120/felix-foueillis/) - 1 comment (http://unitedreggae.com/articles/n1093/090512/interview-delroy-washington-on-bob-marley#add-comment)
"The band that we know as The Wailers effectively started in England"


When the long-awaited Marley movie was released this year many UK insiders wondered "Where was Delroy Washington?"
Delroy, the London-based Jamaican roots reggae artist and community activist responsible for albums like I Sus (1976) and Rasta (1977) was a close friend and confidant of Bob when they were living in North West London in the early seventies.
Now, following his involvement in the commemorative blue plaque for Dennis Brown at the singer's Harlseden home, Delroy is helping unveil a similar plaque for Bob at his former dwelling 15 The Circle, in Neasden on Saturday 8th September.
In this exclusive extract from his feature-length forth-coming interview with Angus Taylor for United Reggae, Delroy shares his memories of meeting Bob for the first time in 1971.


"I was moving with the guitarist Ranny Bop. I was shacking up with Pat Kelly and Ranny Bop on Yewfield Road down Willesden, Roundwood Park side. I was forever getting thrown out of my house because I used to stay out too late and stuff. My family didn't want me to be a musician because as far as they were concerned I had a better education than that.
One day I heard Pat and Ranny Bop saying " Bob Marley deh yah yunno". It was like a big thing. Bob wasn't someone who had had the big hit records but Bob kind of had this aura about him. The way people talked about Bob, they had some kind of respect for him and the Wailers.
I was always going up to Trojan Records anyway because I kind of got in there with Pioneers and Bob Andy and everybody and they had signed me up to a little deal with B&C Records. So I had access and I used to go up there and talk to the receptionist girls because they used to have some nice receptionists!
http://unitedreggae.com/template/images/qopen.pngBob wasn't someone who had had the big hit records but Bob kind of had this aura about himhttp://unitedreggae.com/template/images/qclose.png
So I went up to Trojan Records in Neasden Lane this day and I saw this brethren and he looked proper golden. I said "Bob Marley, isn't it?" He said "You know me? Where you know me from?" I said I'd seen him on his records. He said "Bwoy, you cyaan see me pon record here. You must know me from records from yard". I said "Yeah yeah star". So the man stood up and I started to shake his hand and it was like electricity or magnetism. Bob would always say later that I was talking for a long time and holding his hand like you would hold a girl's! Bob was a joker who would make some jokes!
I don't want to make anything up and make it sound more fantastic than it was but Bob looked golden. Bob did not look like everybody else that I saw. Bob looked different. He wasn't dressy dressy like the Pioneers - because Pioneers were always changing their clothes three times a day! - Bob looked the part. He looked serious.
That day, he was with Danny Sims. Danny must have gone off somewhere and Bob said "You know where can get some Iley?" I said "Iley?" so he said "Ganja yunno?". I knew a brethren just round the corner here. I was shocked because the man took out these little paper things they used to sell them in - a pound draw we used to call it. Most people didn't even buy a pound draw. Bob said "How much do you sell one of them for?" The guy said "A pound". Bob said "A pound fi dat? How much of them you have?" The man said how many he had and Bob said "How much you gone sell me the whole of that for?" and the bredda said something like 100 pounds. Bob said "I cyaan pay hundred pound fi that my friend. If I told a man in Jamaica I paid that kind of money for weed them think say I'm an idiot". But then Bob took out a big roll of money from his pocket. I'd never seen anybody with that much money. He just took out a couple of £50 notes and said "Gwaan hold that" and took the whole of it from him. I'd never seen somebody buy so much weed in one go in my life! I thought "The man's got some money man - but he don't look it!" Bob was always kind of cool. He always looked ordinary.
I said to Bob "We cyaan walk around with so much weed. Suppose police stop we?" Bob said "Police no go stop me man". So we went up to Pama Records after we bought the weed. When we went into the shop everybody was shocked saying "Bob Marley?" Bob was like magic - there was a congregation round the shop! So the brethren in the shop started playing some Bob Marley music and Bob said "Me never know my music can release in England. A who put out the music? Me never give my blooclaat records for anybody to put them bumboclaat out inna England with my music!" That got his back up.
http://unitedreggae.com/template/images/qopen.pngJohnny Nash was like a god because Johnny Nash was on television - and back then anybody who was on television was big businesshttp://unitedreggae.com/template/images/qclose.png
Then I remember him saying "You know your way about England, my youth?" So we ended up taking a taxi to Goodge Street side, Ridgemount Gardens which was where Johnny Nash lived. People say that was where Bob first lived but Bob just stayed there. I went into the house and there was Johnny Nash! Now for me, Johnny Nash was like a god because Johnny Nash was on television - and back then anybody who was on television was big business. Johnny Nash was not just an ordinary singer. Johnny Nash was the best singer that I had heard singing reggae music. I mean, Desmond Dekker was good and I liked all the other man but, Johnny Nash for me, the music he was doing was top of the range.
Bob introduced me to him saying "Johnny - Delroy this". I had already met Danny Sims. Then Bob took out the weed and said "Bwoy, weed dear inna England yunno". Now Johnny liked a smoke but Johnny didn't smoke weed with cigarettes in - he was an ital smoker. Bob liked to put a little bit of cigarette in his weed to keep the thing burning. So we were sitting down having some juice in this nice house with really big rooms and proper things - it was a like a penthouse - and I thought "This is kind of strange! Johnny Nash in the house, just being cool - no airs, no graces, just cool". So Johnny asked me about myself and I said I was a singer trying to make it in the business. He said "Maybe we can do something".
The thing I noticed about them was they looked clean. Like I said, Bob looked golden. Johnny Nash and Danny Sims looked like some different kind of black people! You could almost see through their skin. They were totally on a vegetarian tip. This was the first time I'd come into this thing of people being health conscious. Johnny Nash, Danny Sims, Bob Marley - they did not eat junk food.
They asked if I smoked weed and I said "Yeah" - trying to blag it! I'd had one encounter with some hash before - that was it. Bob gave said "Roll a spliff" but I couldn't even roll it properly. So Bob rolled up the spliff for me and then I heard them singing something to me. I thought "This is like heaven - the two of them singing together". Then, all I know is I took a puff of this weed and the next morning I woke up! I woke up and Bob Marley was laughing at me saying "Bwoy, you think you smoke weed?" Johnny said "Man went out like a light!" So that was my first experience with weed.
That morning I got recruited to be part of the team. Johnny was asking if I knew musicians and I said "You ever hear about the Cimarons? They my bredren" so me and Bob went to look for them. Now it was Gichie that founded the group but Franklyn was always like the boss and they lived in Queens Park so we went and checked them out. When Franklyn saw Bob Marley it was like Christmas! Bob was like "Can they do a gig?" We were like "Them know all Bob Marley songs back to front!" So they got the gig! So I became part of the thing and Johnny used to whack me a few pounds here and there. It was like having a job that wasn't like a job! It was fun! So Johnny started asking me if I wrote and I said yes so he said "Sing me some songs". I sang some and he said "We'll sign you up to the company". So I got signed to JAD just like that.
http://unitedreggae.com/template/images/qopen.pngI took a puff of this weed and the next morning I woke up!http://unitedreggae.com/template/images/qclose.png
By now Johnny had moved from Ridgemount Gardens to a place called Cromarty Villas on Queensborough Terrace in Bayswater which became their office as well. There were loads of girls round Bayswater and Johnny Nash was a girls guy! Johnny Nash had girls coming from everywhere to see him - white girls, black girls, Swedish girls, all kind of girls. Some of the prettiest women you've ever seen. Before that Bob and me had written Kinky Reggae 'round Ridgemount Gardens as well as a couple of other songs like Midnight Ravers that were going to come out on Catch A Fire. But Johnny Nash was doing Bob Marley songs - round that time Stir It Up had become a hit and they were working on Guava Jelly. So it was good times with me, Johnny and Bob moving round like a team - I was showing them London and taking them around. I didn't have a car but we used taxis so no problem! Or we'd just jump on the train because they were like that. It wasn't some big thing for Johnny Nash in his ten gallon hat and Bob just walking around town.
Around this time a guy called Brent Clark, who was Johnny Nash's road manager, got the house in Neasden for the Wailers. I had talked Bob into going back to Jamaica to get Peter and Bunny and the Upsetters but he couldn't get all the Upsetters because Reggie was sick and Glen Adams said he was going to go and try his luck in America. So it was only Familyman and Carlie that came over. The band that we know as The Wailers effectively started in England. The rehearsals used to take place in Kingston in Surrey.
Bob had already done some gigs with the Cimarons - the Bristol Bamboo club was the first place he played as a solo act. He upstaged Johnny Nash which was really strange when it happened. Everywhere he went it happened until I think Danny Sims got a bit irked about the whole thing and there was a problem brewing in the camp. I don't think it was really Johnny that was causing it but it was obvious that Johnny was being upstaged. It wasn't that Johnny wasn't a good singer but people had been waiting to hear Bob sing since forever. Bob Marley and the Wailing Wailers were a group that was coming from back in the ska days and they were a group that was consistent right from that time until right then. Bob was a very casual dresser, but when he went on stage he was like lightning. He was very charismatic and like the dervish. I don't know where Bob got that dancing style from but what he was doing looked totally and utterly different from everybody else and just captivated people.
http://unitedreggae.com/template/images/qopen.pngBob was a very casual dresser, but when he went on stage he was like lightninghttp://unitedreggae.com/template/images/qclose.png
A lot of that stuff isn't actually written because a lot of people don't know that Bob started at CBS because everything seems to start at Island Records. Bob started having hits long before Eric Clapton did I Shot The Sheriff - with due respect to Clapton and Chris Blackwell. Stir It Up had been a hit long time before I Shot The Sheriff and so had Guava Jelly. He did a major amount of songs with Johnny Nash that were big sellers. So I think we need to set the record straight where that is concerned because a lot of the time we don't hear a lot about Johnny Nash. Had it not been for Johnny then Bob might not have come to England at the time he did.
We had some adventures at that house to be quite honest! There was a brother staying at the house called Chicory who was saying he was going to be sending for some weed from Jamaica because weed was too expensive. And there was a day when Bob, Familyman, Carlie and myself went off to Brixton to pick up some clothes and stuff. When we came back the Chinese people next door told us that police came and taken everybody away. Chicory had got the weed and the police had dressed up as postmen, brought the weed to the house, asked for Mr Chicory, he answered and that was it! Took them away to Harlesden Police station and locked them up! Bob had to come and bail everybody out!
I was helping Bob to write some of the stuff. Bob thought that I spoke good English. At one point I said to Bob at the house in Neasden that if his songs sounded a bit more English people might take to them more. So Bob said "You can become my co-writer then". My thing with Bob was that when he used to sing his songs in Jamaican dialect I used to change up the words. It wasn't a big job really. At least I didn't think it was. Then there were some songs that I wrote with Bob like So Jah Say on the Natty Dread album - you can hear me singing on that - although I never got any credits for certain things. I didn't know that you should credits on a record when you did something. I wasn't necessarily looking for credits - it was just fun being around Bob and doing stuff with Bob Marley. Because like I would say to people - Bob was my hero. I never looked at it like it was such a big job.
http://unitedreggae.com/template/images/qopen.pngBob used to sing his songs in Jamaican dialect and I used to change up the wordshttp://unitedreggae.com/template/images/qclose.png
As regards the Marley film I would have gladly taken part in it had Kevin MacDonald's people not offered me what amounts to less than peanuts. They told me that they only had 150 pounds to offer me and you can quote me on that. They would have been better off asking me to do it for free - rather than insulting my integrity.
From my perspective the film is ok to a point. Obviously you can't do everything in two to three hours but a lot of things are missing. I think the film is ok. It's watchable. But there could be so much more to it which is why maybe there is scope for another Bob Marley film. There's a kind of soul that is missing from it. What Bob Marley aspired to as Rastafari. Why did Bob Marley see Haile Selassie as God? How did that come across in the film? What made Bob Marley the man that he was was what he believed. You have to tell the story of Rastafari to really sell Bob Marley and where he's coming from to the world."

joe
06-09-12, 04:45
thanks marco!

pringaos
06-09-12, 12:59
Before that Bob and me had written Kinky Reggae 'round Ridgemount Gardens as well as a couple of other songs like Midnight Ravers that were going to come out on Catch A Fire.

In Timothy White's book you can read: "...That was the context in which the brethren said Bob came to know a woman named Patricia Williams, who had a child by him named Robbie. She had approached Bob as he stood naked in the moonlight finishing a piece of breadfruit. The next day he wrote a song on the back of the Kingston telephone book about their encounter. It was called "Midnight Ravers," and it was cut for Catch A Fire." So my question is, which of the two stories is true?

marco
06-09-12, 16:20
first:
Bob was very shy so I don't think he was naked in the moonlight :-)
second:
Thimothy White's book is full of urban legends, it was one of the firsts book on Bob and contains many mistakes
third
delroy washington remembers his days with Bob in 1971-1972 very well: he remembers exactly dates, address, names and surnames.

i don't know if Delroy really helped Bob in writing the song but I've always tought that the story of the telephone book was an urban legend
Can you imagine Bob naked in the moonlight with a fruit on one hand and the telephone book on the other? yes I know, he wrote the song the day after but.... really did Bob have a telephone book in 1971?
More: Robbie was born on may 1972 so Bob met Patricia in august/september 1971. According to Thimothy Bob wrote the lyrics in august 1971 and recorded the song 15 months later???
A rough sketchy song written on a telephone book? 15 months later????
Midnight ravers is not a song about a sexual encounter, in my opinion is about a depraved perversed environment, more western than jamaican, more london than kingston
IMHO Bob wrote this song about his period in London, like kinky reggae

pringaos
08-09-12, 10:46
According to Thimothy Bob wrote the lyrics in august 1971 and recorded the song 15 months later???

Why not? Look the Cheer Up/Crisis acoustic guitar version. It was probably recorded between 1968-1969 and Crisis was finally included in an official album 9-10 years later. Another example is So Jah Seh... Delroy mentions that Bob wrote it in 1972 while in England, Jaffe mentions that Bob played it to him in late 1973, and the track was finally included in the Natty Dread album. It seems Bob worked a lot on the tracks before they were chosen to be included in an album.

Midnight ravers is not a song about a sexual encounter, in my opinion is about a depraved perversed environment, more western than jamaican, more london than kingston

"In that musical stampede, where everyone is doing their best." To me it's a clear reference to the situation of the music industry in Jamaica at that time. But yes, Marley lyrics sometimes were a mix of different feelings combined together... I never completely understood the line: "Cant' tell the woman from the man, cause they're dressed in the same pollution." This seems to be a metaphor, but referring to what?

IMHO Bob wrote this song about his period in London, like kinky reggae

I don't know about Midnight Ravers, but yes, I'm agree with you in that Kinky Reggae was written while in England. The line "I went down to Picadilly Circus..." is a clear evidence for me. And yes, the way in which Timothy describes the episode of Midnight Ravers in his book, using a poetry approach to describe it, always suggested me that it was, as you well explained it, an "urban legend" more than a real fact.

Chucky Rubba
09-09-12, 14:38
Why not? Look the Cheer Up/Crisis acoustic guitar version. It was probably recorded between 1968-1969 and Crisis was finally included in an official album 9-10 years later. Another example is So Jah Seh... Delroy mentions that Bob wrote it in 1972 while in England, Jaffe mentions that Bob played it to him in late 1973, and the track was finally included in the Natty Dread album. It seems Bob worked a lot on the tracks before they were chosen to be included in an album.


also easy skanking was written at least 2 years before it has been officially released.

marco
10-09-12, 09:29
Why not? Look the Cheer Up/Crisis acoustic guitar version. It was probably recorded between 1968-1969 and Crisis was finally included in an official album 9-10 years later. Another example is So Jah Seh... Delroy mentions that Bob wrote it in 1972 while in England, Jaffe mentions that Bob played it to him in late 1973, and the track was finally included in the Natty Dread album. It seems Bob worked a lot on the tracks before they were chosen to be included in an album. .

Oh yes I know well. But there is no evidence no proof that Bob worked on midnight ravers, not demo, nothing before Catch a Fire album. I dont' know if Bob wrote it in jamaica or in england, I can't say Bob did this or Bob this that because I wasn't there :-)
It's just my intuition, by instinct


"In that musical stampede, where everyone is doing their best."
To me it's a clear reference to the situation of the music industry in Jamaica at that time.
the satmpede..... don't you think it's a reference to the nash/sims/england/swedish situation?

I never completely understood the line: "Cant' tell the woman from the man, cause they're dressed in the same pollution." This seems to be a metaphor, but referring to what?

hippies and their free sex, free love?

pringaos
10-09-12, 18:24
also easy skanking was written at least 2 years before it has been officially released.

What is the earliest reference that traders have for Easy Skanking? I would say Yvette acoustic tape, isn't it? In this case, as you well said, it was released at least 2 years ago after it was written, although it was recorded during january-march 77 exodus sessions. Not a big difference in time from when it was written (if it was during the period in which the Yvette acoustic tape took place) and recorded. I have always wondered why this acoustic session was named as "Yvette acoustic tape," perhaps because it was provided by her? was it really recorded in her home? if so, which home? jamaica or usa?

the stampede..... don't you think it's a reference to the nash/sims/england/swedish situation?

For me he is not referring to his own personal situation in the Recording Industry of Jamaica, but I think he is talking in general... A lot of young people with talent who were tired of the "big three" situation and started producing their own music. I remember Bob said in one interview that at that time in Jamaica it was relatively cheap paying for studio time and that, due to this situation, more people had access to record songs, etc.

hippies and their free sex, free love?

hmm, I really can't tell to what he is referring to with that line, but it sounds feasible. The same happens to me in the song Natural Mystic when Bob sings the lines: "though I try to find the answers to all the questions they ask / thought I know it's impossible to go living through the past." Anyone has an idea of who are they? Scientists?

Chucky Rubba
10-09-12, 22:53
What is the earliest reference that traders have for Easy Skanking? I would say Yvette acoustic tape, isn't it? In this case, as you well said, it was released at least 2 years ago after it was written, although it was recorded during january-march 77 exodus sessions. Not a big difference in time from when it was written (if it was during the period in which the Yvette acoustic tape took place) and recorded. I have always wondered why this acoustic session was named as "Yvette acoustic tape," perhaps because it was provided by her? was it really recorded in her home? if so, which home? jamaica or usa?


yes Yvette tape, but it is dated back when exacly you think? before tour/during/after? you know mayby month? And about name it could be just like with Santanas tapes, justa owner of the tapes, but yes, some say it was recorded at her home.
Bob also sang a verses of easy skanking at the end of medley on the first of may 1976 in early NY show.

Blaise90
11-09-12, 07:45
I feel that midnight ravers has a lot of elements from the book a revelation maybe?

I also find it interesting that he says "bob used to put tobacco in his spliffs" not that its important, just intersting:joint

pringaos
12-09-12, 01:45
Bob also sang a verses of easy skanking at the end of medley on the first of may 1976 in early NY show.

That's a very interesting observation, and I think this could answer one of your questions

it is dated back when exacly you think? before tour/during/after? you know mayby month?

If Bob sang lines of easy skanking in one of the beacon theatre shows, would it be feasible to think that he wrote the song before the tour started? I remember reading somewhere, I think it was in an interview with wya, that they used to write songs during tours; so this provides another possibility: easy skanking could have been composed during the first dates of the rastaman vibration tour. I really can't tell. Anyway, using the words of Marco, my instinct/intuition tells me that it was a post-tour acoustic session. But I don't really have any evidence about it or the period in which it was written... it's just a guessing.

pringaos
12-09-12, 01:48
I feel that midnight ravers has a lot of elements from the book a revelation maybe?

What makes you think about it? Could you explain it better?

marco
29-11-12, 12:36
just added: new date with johnny nash 1972 at Sussex club

born again
29-11-12, 16:18
Hi to all, i have a doubt, does anyone have this show?

BMW - August 10 - National Arena, Kingston, Jamaica for the International Year of the Child
(with Jacob Miller, Burning Spear, Third World, Ras Michael, Big Youth, Mighty Diamond etc a concert organised by the United House of Elders)

marco
29-11-12, 16:35
we have photos from that concert, not audio or video

born again
03-12-12, 20:29
we have photos from that concert, not audio or video

Here? you could show me?

marco
04-12-12, 08:59
this is not the right section, this is the 1962-1972 section