Bunny takes his story to the World

Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer

For disciples of the legendary Wailers group, Bob Marley has often been cast as its most charismatic member, with the dual roles of controversial and outspoken figure going to Peter Tosh.

Reggae historians and fans alike have had some difficulty assessing Bunny Wailer, the lone survivor of reggae's most famous unit. Approaching his 64th birthday, Wailer plans to step out of the shadows this year by launching an ambitious world tour.

Last week, Wailer told The Sunday Gleaner he hopes to start a three-year jaunt in August in tandem with the William Morris Agency, the largest booking agency in the world.

He hopes to kick off the tour in Jamaica, followed by dates in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

According to the diminutive singer, the shows will be more than just a song and dance.

"There's so much that has been said about The Wailers that's not true, and that needs to be clarified because the people have been misled too long," he explained.

The walls of Wailer's office at his Washington Boulevard home are lined with photos of himself, Marley and Tosh. Several awards, including a Grammy, are stacked throughout the room.

Compared to Marley and Tosh, who toured tirelessly to promote their music, Wailer's overseas performances have been intermittent. The upcoming tour, he admitted, will also be about preserving his legacy.

"I woulda like to break new ground, a lotta people hear 'bout Bunny Wailer but have never had the privilege of seeing mi," he said.

"This time, wi want to cover as much territory as possible."

Music industry veteran Maxine Stowe is part of Wailer's management team.

She believes the tour is an opportunity to 're-establish The Wailers as an entity like The Beatles'.

"Though The Beatles had their solo careers The Beatles brand still stands, so The Wailers have a right to stand as well," Stowe pointed out.

"The Bob Marley machine took away from The Wailers legacy and Jah B (Wailer) is the only person who can re-assert their story."

The Bunny Wailer world tour will culminate with some key events, including Jamaica's 50th anniversary of independence and the London Olympics in 2012, as well as the World Cup football tournament in Brazil in 2014.

At the request of the William Morris Agency, Wailer has also recorded Bunny Wailer Sings The Wailers, a 50-track album of Wailers songs from the group's years with producers Clement 'Coxson' Dodd, Lee 'Scratch' Perry, Danny Sims, Chris Blackwell and their own Wail 'N' Soul label.

Wailer has recorded tribute albums to Marley in the past and has been criticised in some quarters for exploiting his friend's name. No release date has been set for his latest effort.

As Neville Livingston, Wailer was a founding member of The Wailers, a harmony group from Trench Town that also included Marley, Tosh, Constantine 'Vision' Walker, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso and Cherry Green.

They had several hit songs for Dodd's Studio One label including Simmer Down, One Love and It Hurts To Be Alone. They enjoyed even more success throughout the late 1960s but by the early 1970s The Wailers were a trio signed to Blackwell's London-based Island Records, arguably the most influential independent company in the music business.

the 'iron bird'

Wailer and Tosh left the group for solo careers after the release of Catch A Fire and Burnin', The Wailers' first two albums for Island. Popular lore has it that Wailer moved on because he disliked flying on the 'iron bird'.

"That's stupidity, man! I never said dat," he screamed. "Is jus' a lotta careless people spread dem talk deh."

During the mid-1970s when Marley and Tosh were touring to support their Rastaman Vibration and Equal Rights albums, Island released Wailer's critically-acclaimed Blackheart Man. Even then, he refused to tour.

"Enough Wailers did out pon the road already," is his excuse for not touring. Wailer has made up for his sporadic live appearances with some outstanding albums. In addition to Blackheart Man, he recorded the Protest and Struggle which were both released by Island during the 1970s.

In the 1980s, Wailer embraced the dancehall sound and scored with several catchy songs including Roots Man Skanking and Rock 'N' Groove. He also wrote the disco-ish Electric Boogie, which was a minor hit in the United States for Marcia Griffiths.

Marley, who would have turned 66 today, died in 1981 in Miami from cancer at age 36, while Tosh was murdered by gunmen at his St Andrew home in 1987. Their legacies have been enhanced by countless re-issued albums, biographies and documentaries.

Bunny Wailer is determined to set the record straight, as far as he is concerned, in the next three years.

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