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 of rock biography, delves into the life of the leader of a musical, spiritual, and political explosion that continues today.
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 on the Jamaican singer, songwriter and musician , including many revisions made by the author before his untimely death. An appendix to the new edition 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. The new edition also contains an expanded discography and is factually updated throughout.
"Probably the finest biography ever written about a popular musician." ―San Francisco Chronicle
"As close as rock journalism comes to transcendent literature."
―Playboy
Spearhead’s Michael Franti on an in-depth look at the reggae godfather:
Catch a Fire offers the rare, actually in-the-know context for Bob Marley’s life and for his struggles: The author knew Bob, so he has access to plenty of information you won’t find anywhere else. There are great anecdotes about where particular songs came from, as well as explorations of Bob’s relationship with his band, The Wailers, and with his label chief, Chris Blackwell. As a whole, the book offers any reggae fan a deeper understanding of the cultural, social and political relevance of this classic music.
