“If the music does not penetrate the heart, the soul, the mind, and the body … then you ain’t gon’ feel it’ – Peter Tosh

Peter Tosh has been one of my heroes ever since I first bought the ‘Legalise It’ CD back in 1992. I had no idea who he was at the time, I just recall seeing the cover and knowing I’d love that album. I did the same thing later that year with the ‘Rage Against the Machine’ debut album, I had no idea who they were either until I’d listened to the CD I bought.

Anyways, Peter Tosh quickly became one of my favourite artists and it wasn’t long until I had purchased all his albums, I love them all and they are still played often.  He is definitely in my top 5 of the most influential artists, the others being Henry Rollins, Public Enemy, The Herd and probably Nick Cave.

Anyway, here is a bit about Peter Tosh and why he inspires me and at the end of this blog I will try to compile my top 10 favourite tracks of his … which is a going to be a challenge as every album contains numerous bangers.

“Music is a science, it heals depression, it awakens, most people don’t know, they just take music for an entertainment, something to dance to, and enjoy yourself and you go to bed and forget it tomorrow, music must never be forgotten, its like a fountain that keeps on flowing.” – Peter Tosh

Peter Tosh was born Winston Hubert McIntosh in Westmoreland, Jamaica on 19^th October 1944. As a child he attended the local church daily where he sang and learnt to play the organ providing him a musical apprenticeship that prepared him for his subsequent career.

I love the story of how he learned to play the guitar, Peter said, “”Me just one time see a mon in the country play guitar and say ‘My that mon play geetar nice’. It just attract me so much that me just sat there taking it in for about a half-day and when him done-he was playin’ one tune for the whole half-day-he had hypnotized me so much that my eyes extracted everything he had done with his fingers. I picked up the guitar and played the tune he had just played with him showin’ me a t’ing. And when he asked me who taught me I tell him it was him!”

Peter moved to Trench Town when he was 15 and it was here that he would first meet Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer. Together, they became known as the Wailin’ Wailers, later just The Wailers, and would change the face of music in Jamaica and the world. They started singing together in 1962 and in 1964 released their debut single, Simmer Down, which was a number 1 hit in Jamaica and their success grew from there.

Peter, Bob and Bunny stayed together as the Wailers until 1974, their last album and sixth overall, was Burnin’, released in 1973. It is apparent that the people at Island Records wanted to bring Bob to the front of the band. But when you think of it, Peter and Bob were too good to be behind anyone and in the end, the world is better for the amazing music they both made. As Peter once said, “See what inside me did not come to this Earth to be background vocal”.

I’ve read that there was acrimony between Bob and Peter, and certainly I think Peter and Bunny wouldn’t have been happy when Bob called his backing band the Wailers, which is a bit odd, it’s like Chuck D forming a new band and calling it Chuck D and the Public Enemy. Peter called his backing band ‘Word, Sound and Power’.

But at the end of the day, Peter Tosh was heading in a different direction than Bob, Peter said this about it; “Bob do his work and leave, I have my work to do. The three hands that symbolize “Tuff Gong” on the label each symbolize one of us, the original Wailers. We did pledge as a group to continue the work of Rastafari, whatever happen. So I just continue the work, I not replacing no other worker. Bob use his style to give his message, I have to continue with mine”

It has also been said that Peter may have resented the mainstream success of Bob and that they were competitive. When asked this in an interview, Peter replied; “I am not here to be competitive. My music, my fathers music is not up for competition, because if you go inside the Garden of Eden there are many beautiful flowers, each of them has a different colour, and each of them is a different species. But they do not compete. So music should never compete because it comes from the same divine mind”.

The difference between Peter and Bob has been likened to Paul McCartney and John Lennon, or Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. They have also been referred to as two sides of the same coin, Peter Tosh’s intensity alienating people and Bob Marley’s charisma drawing them in. I love both Peter Tosh and Bob Marley. Bob is another great and would certainly be considered as one of my top ten favourite artists. His song, Three Little Birds, would easily be in my top 5 songs of all time, and others such as One Love, Redemption Song and Satisfy My Soul would be worthy of consideration for my top 10. But Peter is one of my heroes due to his politics and uncompromising manner, he rated principals and morals, more than popularity and fame, and has been regularly nourishing my soul for almost 30 years.

Peter, Bob and Bunny pioneered a new musical direction, Reggae. Reggae music is now an important means of transporting the messages of Rastafari, as they see it, the soldier and the musician are both tools for change.

Music comes from a divine spiritual love. And music was created as a school room of awakening. But most people commercialise and materialize if for their benefits within our society. – Peter Tosh

Peter played a key role in forming the foundation of the Wailers’ sound and setting the course of reggae music. His musicianship has been described by Lee Jaffe, who played harmonica on Bob Marley’s album, ‘Natty Dread’, as “… he had an incredible feel and the way he used the guitar, often as a percussion instrument, was unique. He was also an incredible singer – powerful and with perfect pitch – and a brilliant lyricist.”

Peter has a way of ripping language apart and has been referred to as a ‘linguistic gymnast’ as well as a ‘herbalist verbalist’. In fact, Peter had several monikers such as The Toughest, Bush Doctor and Stepping Razor. He was also physically fit and when he performed a karate move he could look like he was doing the splits in mid-air.

Peter was very serious about his politics and was a strident campaigner to legalise marijuana, to end apartheid, to end nuclear weapon proliferation and to basically stand up for the oppressed and forgotten. Peter personified everything the government feared; rebellion and criticism, and he fought against everything he thought the government stood for, such as oppression and racism.

As early as 1979 he was refusing to perform in Israel because of his support for a Palestinian homeland. Due to his support of the anti-nuclear movement, Peter was asked to appear alongside the likes of Bruce Springsteen at Madison Square Garden as part of a series of anti-nuclear concerts. He was advertised to appear in the accompanying film and on the triple LP box set but Peter walked out on stage smoking a spliff and wearing Palestinian dress. Surprisingly, he never appeared on the film or on the album.

While the One Love Peace Concert held in 1978 went down in history because Bob Marley called Jamaican Prime Minister Michael Manley and Leader of the Opposition Edward Seaga on stage and made them shake hands. Peter’s earlier, braver action was not televised because he ordered the “lickle pirates from America… wid dem camera and dem TV business” to stop filming. Peter gave one of the most passionate and dangerous political speeches given by a musician that night, addressing both politicians as they sat before him at a time when the country was being ripped apart by murderous political gun battles. Retribution was inevitable, and came five months later when Peter was taken into a police station and beaten relentlessly. Unfortunately, Peter suffered several beatings by the police, usually for smoking herb.

“My music and my songs keep the oppression that I live. That’s what I sing. I can’t get up as an international singer when police brutalise me and sing about love” – Peter Tosh

Peter was unflinching about speaking his truth and this is a trait that I admire. Peter recognized the risk of this when he said; “To have truth in your possession you can be found guilty, sentenced to death.”

Peter’s solo career enabled him to impart his messages of equality and justice through his spirited and uplifting music.

His first solo album was ‘Legalize It’ released in 1976. As previously mentioned, this was the first album I had bought and was my introduction to him. The title and opening track, Legalize It, called for the legalisation of pot. According to Peter, herb was the healing of the nation and that it gave the small man a brief solace from the problems of everyday life. For Peter, it was a source of inspiration and spiritual enlightenment. He felt that this was why the government had declared it illegal, as a means of keeping the people down. The song caused such a great controversy that it was banned in Jamaica.

“Herb was created for medical, spiritual and scientific purposes and the man is trying to make it look insignificant.” – Peter Tosh

The next track on the album is Burial and I love the opening horns, they remind me of driving to school with my friend Chris Grove. My other favourite tracks from this album include Igziabeher and Ketchy Shuby.

Peter followed up Legalise it with Equal Rights in 1977. This album contains stirring songs such as the opening track Get Up, Stand Up, which was co-written with Bob Marley and was originally released on the Burnin’ album by the Wailers and has the seminal chorus …

Get up, stand up

Stand up for your rights

Get up, Stand up

Don’t give up the fight

Another anthem from the album is the title track, Equal Rights which includes the following verse:

I don’t want no peace,

I man need equal rights and justice

There is also the unstoppable unity anthem, African, telling us that no matter your nationality you have an identity …

Don’t care where you come from

As long as you’re a black man

You’re an African

Three other favourite songs from this album include  Downpressor Man, I Am That I Am and the mesmerising Stepping Razor.

In 1978, Peter released Bush Doctor. This was the first of 3 albums Tosh released through Rolling Stone Records. The album features Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and the opening track, a cover version of The Temptations song (You Gotta Walk) Don’t Look Back was performed as a duet with Jagger. This song brought Peter to a much broader audience and is a positive opening track for the album. I think Peter was too hot to handle even for the Rolling Stones, he was their only ever signing!

Bush Doctor is my favourite album, probably because it is so positive, and is the one that I listen to most often. Some of my favourite tracks on the album include; Bush Doctor, I’m the Toughest , Pick Myself Up and Stand Firm.

Pick Myself Up is a definite contender as my favourite ever Peter Tosh track, it’s a motivating song for me with great lyrics, such as the opening verse …

Sitting in the morning sun

And watching all the birds passing by

Oh how sweet they sing

And oh how much I wish that I could fly

And later this verse …

Sitting in the evening sun

And watching the same birds passing by

Sittin’ and wondering

And waiting for the time for me to fly

 And the final verse …

So long and I just find

I been wasting all my time

Ive got to pick myself up.

I guess the message of the song is we spend so much time wishing, waiting and wasting time but we have no time for that, it’s time to get up and get into it.

Here is the live version of this uplifting song, Pick Myself Up : Live.  

His next album was Mystic Man, released in 1979. My favourite track on this album is the title track, Mystic Man, it includes the following verse …

Cause Im a man of the past

And Im living in the present

And Im walking in the future

Stepping in the future

I also love The Day the Dollar Die which has the following motivational verses:

Time is hard

And I know that is true

But if you pick yourself up

That’s all you’ve got to do

 

Things can be much better

If we can come together

Long time we been divided

And its time to be united

Other favourite tracks from this album include Jah Say No and Crystal Ball.

The final album Peter Tosh released on Rolling Stone Records was Wanted Dread or Alive in 1981. My favourite tracks from this album include Reggaemylitis and Oh Bumbo Klaat.

Reggaeylitis tells the story of Peter coming down with a musical flu which he cannot shake.

Sometimes your temperature

It really gets higher

And the music

Sets your soul on fire

‘Oh Bumbo Klaat’ is actually a derogatory term in Jamaica, a bit like having ‘Fuck’ as the title of the song, but it includes a great verse which inspires me to write and use my words for good.

One night, an evil spirit held me down

I could not make one single sound

Jah told me, ‘Son, use the word’

And now I’m free as a bird.

During his tour in 1983, Peter unveiled his new instrument to fight injustice, a guitar shaped like a M-16. According to Peter, “This guitar is firing shots at all them devil disciples. Music is my weapon to fight against apartheid, nuclear war and those gang-jah criminals”.

Also in 1983, the album Mama Africa was released. It contains many classic tracks, including Glasshouse, which warns that if a person lives in a glass house they should not throw stones and in the same fashion that if one cannot take a blow one should not throw a blow. My other favourite track from this album is Maga Dog.

In 1984, after the release of 1983’s album Mama Africa, Tosh went into self-imposed exile, seeking the spiritual advice of traditional medicine men in Africa, and trying to free himself from recording agreements that distributed his records in South Africa.

However, after Mama Africa a live album of a show in Los Angeles, ‘Captured Live’ was released in 1984. This album allows us to witness Tosh’s incredible power and presence live. From what I’ve seen on TV and read, Peter was a remarkable performer, his concerts were moving, not just musically but spiritually as well. During his performances he’d often talk to his audience about the wickedness of society. Apparently, it wasn’t uncommon for him to enter stage riding a unicycle.

Id love for the Captured Live CD and/or DVD to be part of my collection but the beauty of todays world is I can watch it on YouTube, here is a LINK to this amazing concert.

After his self-imposed exile, Peter Tosh released his final album, No Nuclear War in 1987. My favourite tracks from this album include In My Song and Come Together. Its apt that Come Together was the last track on his last album as it’s a motivational song seeking unity for everyone. The chorus is

You better come together

Learn to love one another

We got to come together

Learn to love one another

And I love this verse that tells me we have to work together …

One eye can’t see

One ear cant hear

One hand can’t clap

One foot don’t run

Unfortunately, Peter was murdered by three men who came to his home to rob him but didn’t end up taking anything apart from his life. Two of his friends were also killed, herbalist Wilton “Doc” Brown and disc jockey Jeff ‘Free I’ Dixon. The assassination of Peter Tosh robbed the earth of one of its greatest spirits.

His example, as both artist and activist, continues to inspire me and he was a true leader whose music and message still inspires people from across the world. He rallied against oppression and was the mouthpiece for revolution. He was a courageous man of principle, a man who never sold out and always stayed true to his beliefs.

In 2015, it was deemed that April 20 should be celebrated as International Peter Tosh Day, in honour of his “philosophy of responsible cannabis consumption for medicinal and spiritual health benefits“. I will look forward to honouring Peter Tosh the next time 20^th April comes around in an appropriate manner.

So that is my blog, but as promised here is my top 10 Peter Tosh songs. This was a tough challenge to come up with, there are many cracking songs that didn’t make the cut, and on another day who knows, maybe I’d come up with a different list, but it was very rewarding going back and listening to the whole back catalogue again and spending quality time with his music.

10. Legalize It, from the album ‘Legalize It’ (1976) 

9. Bush Doctor, from the album ‘Bush Doctor’ (1978)

8. I Am That I Am , from the album ‘Equal Rights’ (1977)

7. Get Up Stand Up, from the album ‘Equal Rights’ (1977) 

6. In My Song, from the album ‘No Nuclear War’ (1987) 

5. Burial, from the album ‘Legalise It’ (1976) 

4. I’m the Toughest, from the album ‘Bush Doctor’ (1978) 

3. Mystic Man, from the album ‘Mystic Man’ (1979) 

2. Pick Myself Up, from the album ‘Bush Doctor’ (1978)

1. Reggaemylitis, from the album ‘Wanted Dread or Alive’ (1981)

I guess I have also been afflicted with the Reggaemylitis and I am so grateful for this as it has brought me so much positivity, wisdom, strength and inspiration to my life.