Jim McCarthy Benito Gallego - Wake Up and Live! : The Life of Bob Marley

INTRO DUCTION

was more concerned with getting his message across than fame or fortune; but the King of Reggae has become a brand, and theres now a profusion of Marley related goods on the market including headphones, skateboards, trainers, plastic dolls, coffee, soft drinks and medicinal marijuana products. Consumerism has replaced veracity, whilst Marleys memory is now cloaked in mythology much of it welcome given the huge boost that hes given reggae as a genre, the Rastafari movement and Jamaica itself. Its fascinating to see how the actual person has become secondary to our collective need for super heroes. Some claim that Marley was a prophet, and point to how the universal truths inherent in his music continue to inspire people from every walk of life, and of all ages and nationalities. Others seize upon the rebellion in some of his songs and see him as a revolutionary Jamaicas very own Che Guevara and defender of the poor who was unafraid to speak out for what he believed in, whether his religious faith, an African liberation struggle or the legalisation of marijuana.

Its against this backdrop of shifting perceptions that Jim McCarthy and Benito Gallegos graphic novel should be viewed. Theyve explored the mythology thats built up around Bob Marley, as well as tracing the outlines of his actual story. That means if Trench Towns narrow lanes and single storey houses get transformed into a tropical suburbia with two up, two downs, its because the artist is putting his own spin on things. Steered by Jim McCarthys authentic use of patois, hes created a backdrop thats inspired by the real story, but is no longer confined by it. Were living in a post-truth world, and witnessing the emergence of writers and artists who blur distinctions once considered unassailable, and create new art from a distillation of fact and fantasy. Jamaican novelist Marlon James did this with his book A Brief History Of Seven Killings , which reimagined the assassination attempt on Bob Marley and its aftermath to extraordinary effect.

The real-life Marley was always searching for ways to make his music more accessible, whilst retaining control over his affairs. He had his own studio, pressing plant, record label and roster of artists, and he and The Wailers also published a newspaper and hosted a weekly radio show. They utilised whatever platforms were available to them and graphic novels would have been no exception, had they existed in the seventies. Marleys main concern would have been the content and the messages it contains yet all novels are works of fiction by definition, even when they do adhere to a familiar storyline. Benito Gallego is at his very best when drawing Marley under attack from the supernatural, or reeling under a hail of bullets during the attempt on his life. Elsewhere, fans of The Harder They Come will recognise the scenes as the young Marley journeys from the rural parish of St Anns to Kingston by bus, and later makes his recording debut for Leslie Kong. Perry Henzells film was hugely influential in bringing Jamaica to life for many people, both visually and culturally. Over the past forty years its helped shape a narrative about reggae music and Jamaica that persists to this day, for good and for bad. This book is very much of the zeitgeist, and reflects a popular mindset that embodies all of the myths and idealism that goes into creating a legend, as seen through a prism of cultural differences. Its Marley through the looking glass a visually dynamic interpretation of a Third World superstar who travelled from rags to riches and became Lord of all he surveyed.

Marleys greatest gift was to ensure that reggae music has continued to thrive beyond the era that gave birth to it. Thanks initially to Legend his first posthumous hits collection and the bestselling album in reggae history hes the only Jamaican artist whose music has permeated the mainstream and stayed there. Theres hardly a radio station anywhere that hasnt playlisted Is This Love , Three Little Birds or One Love songs that appeal to the broadest possible demographic, both lyrically and musically. Thanks

to songs like these, the sinuous, one-drop style of reggae that he introduced to the world is now ubiquitous yet he also planted the seed in peoples minds that reggaes not just a genre of music, but a lifestyle one that enshrines values that arent limited to Rastafarians alone, but that we can all believe in.

In real life, Marley went far beyond the chilled out, one love philosophy heard on the records mentioned above. He once spent US $250,000 of his own money flying his entire band and their equipment to Zimbabwe, so they could play at the countrys Independence celebrations. Marley didnt just have sympathies with the African liberation movement he took an active role and actually made meaningful contributions to it. He and Peter Tosh were fearless in standing up for what they believed in, which is a rare quality in singers of all genres, and from any era. When Marley performed at the 1976 Smile Jamaica concert, just two days after being shot (an event thats memorably illustrated here) he was urging the people of Jamaica to be unafraid, even of murderous gunmen. It was this righteous defiance, honed by years of hardship, that separated him from every other long-haired, denim clad troubadour who entered the seventies rock scene with a guitar in one hand and spliff in the other. If Bob Marley still matters and he clearly does, since he remains one of the worlds most visible symbols of hope and freedom then its not entirely due to his looks, or ability to fashion a hit tune. Its because he cared about humanity, and wrote songs that were intended to influence our thinking about war, poverty, greed and injustice, as well as the environment and what we eat. Thats why the Bob Marley story which is now happily available as a graphic novel continues to inspire, long after the man himself shed his mortal form and has assumed multiple others.