Bob Marley is gone but his brand of reggae lives on thanks in part to the Wailers, fronted by bassist and music director Aston “Family Man” Barrett, who reformed the band after the departure of original members Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailers. Although the band has been recording in Jamaica, they’re taking time out to play some shows in the United States on this special Revolution tour.
“I am eager to take the spirit of rebel music that I was able to bring forth with … Bob Marley, out on the road and across America,” said Barrett who is known far and wide as “Fams.”These are the times Bob sang about when he said,’Ittakes a revolution to make a solution.’ … We want our music to be part of the solution.”
| Onstage |
| The Wailers plus Outernational |
| » When: 7 p.m. Thursday |
| » Where: State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St. Falls Church |
| » Info: $25; 703-237-0300; thestatetheatre.com |
Barrett is arguably the right musician to lead the charge. He noted he was an integral part of Marley’s creative process, helping to develop the tunes with not only a song’s rhythmic bedrock but also lyrical ideas. For an idea of some of the songs, consider classics including “Get Up, Stand Up,” and “Burnin’ and Lootin.”
Many don’t realize Marley formed the original band with Tosh and Wailer in 1963, having a huge effect on music as they introduced Jamaican reggae, ska and rocksteady to the world.
The original band had many ups and downs and line up changes but officially ended in 1981 when Marley died of cancer. Although some of that turmoil around Marley’s music and his legacy continues, Barrett has warm memories of working with the reggae superstar during the golden era.
This time out Barrett and the group are again looking to further a cause, in this case the Occupy Wall Street movement. Expect the Wailers to perform a themed show, much as they did when they played the whole of the”Exodus” album onstage.
“We know we got a vibe, we know we got a message, and we have that integrity to carry it through,” Barrett said in an interview with as Obrecht Music Archive about what he found most exciting about his work with the Wailers. “We getting that inspiration from the Most High. And religion is all about running around all type of music, vibration of sound, because it’s word, sound, and power, you know. And we decide to take it to the next step from the late-’60s inspiration, so we’re gonna move it up now. An’ when we move off is right when we first started the first tour.”
