Who can play reggae?
"Only the architect, mon. All else paint picture from picture. You must have the feeling. Only Jamaican created reggae. If any other could have, they would have. This dispensation of time, Jah favor Jamaica. Reggae must be lived, not played. It is a lifebeat everytime, mon."
Is your reggae influenced by rock 'n' roll?
"Who influenced who, mon? Reggae influenced rock 'n' roll. Reggae is the king's music, played by kings, inspired by the King of Kings. Reggae has always been, seen?"
Why did you leave the Wailers?
"I never left myself, mon. It was belittling my integrity. I taught Bob Marley. How can you compare the teacher with the taught? I and I and the devil are at war. The devil make Marley leader of the band. I had no desire follow the path of destruction."
Are you saying that Bob Marley is a devil?
"Bob Marley is dead, mon."
[During the conversation, Tosh carefully cleaned, pruned and rolled a spliff the size of a banana. He lit it, blew a volcanic stream of smoke at the ceiling and smiled.]
Why do you tour and record?
"To spread the word, to liberate my people and to make money, mon. I need plenty money to walk my Father's Kingdom, mon. The blood cloth dollar will burn, but Africa's gold and diamonds are forever. Jah mon."
How is the tour going?
"Very good and most righteous indeed, mon. It always good every time. It is the only way to reach the people. The record company fuck up every time, mon. They don't put my record in the record shop. They diplomatic assassinating me."
You mentioned your record company [EMI].
"They sign to demote. I get no proper promotion. They all seek I. They know the potential of this music. They seek to exploit it."
How do you like having a hit single? ["Johnny B. Goode"]
"What hit single? A black man sell 50,000 copies, he have hit. The white man sell 4 million, he have hit. The ministers of the shitstem seek to kill me spiritually, verbally and physically."
Why?
"That I might be crucified like Christ and all true Christians. The shitstem is white and black, Christian and Jew. It's a conspiracy, yah mon. It will be in my book, Red X. They know who they are."
How old are you?
"How old is the sun? Sun not temporary, not chronological. There is the terra-celestial and the celestial. I am celestial, mon. I am here, there and everywhere. I live among men so I must adjust myself. When I go to other planet, I must adjust myself there, too, mon.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Rodney Welch
What an excellent interview, Eric -- and what a terrific experience that must have been. The only rock star I ever shared a joint with is Jim Dandy Mangrum, so I guess I'm jealous. Thanks.
2 - Eric Olsen
Thanks Rodney, it was a very strange and indelible experience, as you can imagine. And then he was dead just four years later.
3 - andy
I will now go home and listen to that Peter Tosh album I have floating around somewhere. I had never listened to it. Damn fool I am!
4 - J. Mukwiilongo
It was an experience that youuuu will never forget, having met the Bush Doctor in babylon queendom. Noo one else in this here life will ever be a comparison to that man, Peter Tosh.Authoritative, tough, tall, black and Afrikan.
5 - Eric Olsen
No argument from me J - though Jamaican, he saw himself as African - he wasn't kidding about "Mama Africa." And I won't ever forget the experience, that's for sure. Thanks!
6 - Natalie Davis
Grand interview! One of my biggest regrets was that I never got to see Marley live. I do have a genetic connection, in a way, though: My late father did see Marley perform in the late '70s. I did get to see Tosh, though, in 1983. It was righteous, absolutely righteous. And dangerous, dangerous.
Thanks for posting this.
7 - Eric Olsen
Sounds like the same tour as this, Nat. It was an amazing show, very powerful, great band, sold out Greek Theater in L.A. I'm very sad he is gone. I never saw Marley live either, to my perpetual discredit.
8 - Natalie Davis
Discredit? Nah. Misfortune, yes.
9 - William
You are luckier than I. Because these terific man already died when I was born. I am 15, but a HUGE fan of these, big, big, big legends. Im smoking ganja every day, not because its legal here (holland) but because of this people, who acctually are (said by many people) "oldies". No, they aren't oldies. These people have made timeless music. I am youth, youth don't listen to oldies. Only to legends...
10 - Eric Olsen
William, I admire your taste and sense of history, and legends they are, but too much ganja isn't good for anyone. As a parent of two teenagers, I would encourage you to make sure you don't lose sight of your goals. Please give yourself the tools you need to succeed and complete your education. Best of luck.
11 - William
Thank you very much, but i am not losing any vision of life, i am just young, everybody who was young, smoked ganja. I know my goals, and I am following the good path to it. I have succes on school all the time, I smoke herb, but herb doesnt influence my school-prestations. Let's say I'll keep an eye on my smoking behavior.
Regards, william (sorry for my bad english)
12 - andy
I can honestly say I never smoked the wacky tobaccy. William your english is better than most of ours!
13 - Eric Olsen
Okay William,your English is much better than any second language i have, which is really none. I'm glad you are at least somewhat open to my advice, which is just out of concern, not trying to boss you around. I'm very glad you are doing well in school. I sound like Mr. T!
14 - William
I know you're not trying to boss me, you're just giving me an advice, and telling your opinion about the use of herb. And I am totally open to any advice, but the question is, if i use the advice wisely, And yes, I'll use it wisely. Thanks again,
William
15 - Eric Olsen
Cool
16 - AHMED JOUDA
GOD BLESS THIM , BOB MARLEY, PETER TOSH, ALL THE RASTA'S may jah bless them, peace out.
17 - Natalie Davis
Indeed, may Jah bless all the righteous people and help the others.
18 - Eric Olsen
I second that emotion, and am very glad this story has found it's way out to my rasta pals.
19 - jimmie
Tosh, bob and all the good musicians, giving us good reggae music I thank u all in the name of JAH. Keep the fire burning.
rasjih from South Africa.
One love!
20 - Eric Olsen
they thank you too, Jimmie
21 - danny
Tosh is not dead becoz rasta dont die,
And if rasta die he dont rot,
And if rasta rot he dont stink,
And if rasta stink.....
he stink of GANJA.
Bless I!
22 - Eric Olsen
Danny, I'm certain Peter would be comforted by your thoughts.
23 - guillermo
soo peter was rhe greatest man in the world thats are people whit conviction freedom roots and culture , now peter are in zion whit bob and selassie "every one wants to goes to eanen but no one wants to die ,this followers of jesus " equal rights and justice Jah rastafari
24 - Eric Olsen
I find it interesting that the exhortations left on this post are all of a positive naure. Yah mon!
25 - duane
Gee, I wonder if it's a side effect of all the ... oh, nevermind, mon.