I & I: The Natural Mystics: Marley, Tosh and Wailer

by Colin Grant

The history of the original Wailers -- Tosh, Livingstone and Marley -- as never before told.
 
Over one dramatic decade, a trio of Trenchtown R&B crooners, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Bob Marley, swapped their 1960s Brylcreem hairdos and two-tone suits for 1970s battle fatigues and dreadlocks to become the Wailers -- one of the most influential groups in popular music.
 
One of our best and brightest non-fiction writers examines for the first time the story of the Wailers. It charts their complex relationship, their fluctuating fortunes, musical peak, and the politics and ideologies that provoked their split, illuminating why they were not just extraordinary musicians, but also natural mystics. And, following a trail from Jamaica through Europe, America, Africa and back to the vibrant and volatile world of Trench Town, Colin Grant travels in search of the last surviving Wailer.

Genres: Music, History, Biography, Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 2011

About the author

The author of Negro with a Hat, a biography of Marcus Garvey, Colin Grant is an independent historian who works for BBC Radio. The son of Jamaican immigrants, he lives in London.

Reviews

[Racheal · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I think it's relevant to discuss the political and economic climate the Wailers were living in and how it shaped their personalities and their music, hardly any of this book was about the musicians themselves. His efforts to combine his vast knowledge of Jamaica's history with what little he knew about the band's history into one cohesive book was clumsy and made it hard to follow.

[Mark Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoying this look at the history behind the music,it does a good job in locating their songs in what was happening in Jamaica: the phrase 'in the government yard in Trench Town' became so familiar that you forget its context. More on the music , would be nice - which reminds me Linton Kwesi Johnson did a cracking little 10 part series on BBC4 https://m.mixcloud.com/tetsuothugstyl... look for the rest.....

[Mark]

I just found out about this book. And then I found a used copy! I am so looking forward to reading it.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Between this book and Roger Steffen's oral history "So Much Things to Say," I can't imagine wanting to know more about Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. I really appreciated Grant's detailed and sympathetic examination of Tosh and his personality and the perception and reality of the relative wealth of one of the most famous musicians in the world. The recounting of his 1987 murder is horrific and Grant's audience with the recently passed Bunny Wailer is especially poignant at this time, especially concerning Walier's performance at the infamous 1990 Sting Festival. This book is very valuable for its knowledge of Jamaican politics in the '70s (which is crucial) and "The Natural Mystics" certainly filled in a number of blanks when it comes to understanding the role of Chris Blackwell in all of this. My favorite era of the Wailers these days are the '60s sides that Coxson Dodd produced at Studio One. Grant's recounting of Dodd's intuition of when to release a song for maximum impact is stunning. "Simmer Down" was recorded a year before it was released, but when Dodd finally put it out on the street in 1964, it rocketed to Number One. This is just one of many gems that illuminates this book throughout, making it unforgettable and very valuable to those that love the music of JA like no other in this world.

[Patrice Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gained an insight into the political and economical history of Jamaica. I&I exposes the violent, spiritualistic and religious context in which the Natural Mystics lived. This controversial text studies events from the early conception of the band, to the death of its two founding members. It also explores the individual characters of Marley, Tosh and Wailer, highlighting some of their respective struggles and conflicts.

The history of reggae music is a central theme in this book. I found it to be a remarkable starting point in understanding and appreciating the legacy of Marley, Tosh and Wailer.

[Vincent · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re interested to learn anything about Tosh, Marley or Wailer, this is not the book for you.

It is so ridiculously light on detail that you would glean more from a quick scan of Wikipedia.

It does deal at length with the cultural and political history of Jamaica but in such a haphazard way that it even fails in that regard. It’s as if Colin Grant just threw together all the off cuts from the research he did as part of his much more polished book about Marcus Garvey.

Don’t waste your time.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent three person interwoven biography, with the natural side focus on the music development of Jamaica, and the parallel growth of Rasta. A biography of Marley, Tosh or Wailer gives a primary viewpoint of the subject, but looking at their lives as a joint study of this quality was a project waiting to happen.

[bronson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Less of a biography about the Wailers themselves, more of a short history of Jamaica in how it shaped these boys during a transformative time. Very interesting insights into the independence of Jamaica and the the rise of Rastafarian movement.

[Seth Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meanders at times, but I think you can understand why. Trip through a gritty and fertile time and place, giving context into the culture and environment in which the Wailers and many other sufferers lived.

[Del Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really great. I especially love the story of the three of them discussing theology and smoking joints in the back of a London limo.

[Born Uhuru · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colin Grants mentions the Wailers a lot but this book is about the political life of Jamaica when the Wailers were coming into existence. More is spoken on the mishaps of the island rather than the group. Can’t believe he wrote the “The Negro With A Hat” and then mistitled this. Finished! Not worth the effort if you’re looking for in depth information about The Wailers.

[George Roper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read Grant's superb "Negro with a Hat" a few years ago, therefore, when I stumbled upon this book and saw that it was by the same author I unhesitatingly made the purchase. "Negro with a Hat" was well researched and written with great sensitivity about a truly global icon - Marcus Garvey. Grant's "The Natural Mystics" is (i) part history (largely of mid-20th century Jamaica), (ii) part character study (of the three protagonists and key figures in their personal, religious and professional lives unveiled in their reactions to pivotal events and singular focus to bringing their creative works to the attention of an international audience in order to glorify Jah) and (iii) part self-indulgent portrayals of personal escapades which Grant for some reason feels he needs to take us along for the ride. Those personal escapades of Grant largely occurred as he was doing his research for the book and they pop up intermittently in the book at very inopportune times largely serving as distraction from the main purpose of the book which was to review the lives and times of the three Wailers: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Livingston. Still I am happy I made the purchase as the book gave deep insights into what life in Trench Town would have been like for the young Wailers. However, Grant in this work did not achieve commendably high standards of engaging prose and stimulating presentation of historical material that he, in my own humble opinion, had attained with "Negro with a Hat". There is enough quality in "The Natural Mystics" to suggest that Grant is an author that deserves to be highly regarded - this work will however not be the book that he will be most remembered for.

[AndHeReadsToo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read about the history of the iconic band. Colin Grant not only gives an account of the early lives if the 3 Wailers but goes into detail describing the social and political climate in Jamaica at the time.

All 3 Wailers were born in rural areas, Bob and Bunny being from the same parish were friends, but moved as young boys within a few streets of each other to Trenchtown in West Kingston. Here they received quick lessons in class and racial discrimination as poor black boys were not allowed to even wander beyond certain areas in Kingston.

Among the movements which arose out of the social climate, Rastas arose as a subversion of the status quo by refusing to take part in the “shitstem” (system) in any way. The Wailers, to varying degrees and at their own pace became enthralled by Rasta and eventually became ardent believers.

The book details the Wailers early curiosity with Rasta and their education in Rasta primarily under Mortimo Planno. It also details the birth of reggae music from ska and how (although predatory), the music industry was one of the only ways for poor youth to achieve a degree of success.

Also, the book speaks to the rivalry that developed between Marley and Tosh after the group’s split with Tosh establishing himself as more militant and confrontational than Marley, though he never achieved the same individual success.

Finally, the book is punctuated with the author’s search for Bunny Wailer, who has become somewhat of a recluse. When he finally meets him he speaks to the changing of the guard from Reggae to Dancehall and what Wailer sees as the future for reggae music.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saw this "by accident" in the library and it jumped all the books in my reading queue. Quite interesting idea, part history of Jamaica, part travelogue, part biography, part meditation on friendship and what it means to be a black man. Prose is good, he keeps it fairly linear so we can follow his points. the opening chapter is well chosen to draw us into the story of how Jamaica has changed since the Wailers were started. Can't put it down so far...

Really enjoyed this book. The only thing I can fault is the ending, he doesnt do too much to wrap it up. I appreciate that he starts with one episode and his ending recalls that episode and marries to the elusive interview with Bunny Wailer but he doesnt finish completely his thought about the 3 men. Maybe upon reflection, I will agree with that choice but I obviously expected a little more resolution. I appreciated his approach; this isn't fawning or pendantic but clear eyed history of island and the men who kick started its chief export. Fascinating read.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting triple biography about the backgrounds of the three men who would come to be called the Wailers. And the conditions in Jamaica that led to their band, as well as how they have impacted the island and put it on the map. Truly, the Kings of Reggae! It's an easy and interesting read; my one complaint is there are a lot of analogies. Things like comparing the crime in Trench Town to pimples on a teenager's face. Other than that, it was a highly enjoyable read that gave me quite a bit of insight into the origins of Reggae music in Jamaica, and by extension, the world.

[John Gribbin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought the book to learn more about the Wailers, and ended up learning about Jamaica. This was unexpected, because of the depth of the social history, but thoroughly fascinating. I would, though, have liked more about the Wailers themselves, in particular their recordings. There isn't even a discography, which would have been particularly useful given the confusing nature of their early dealings with the corrupt Jamaican record "industry". But still a great read, just not quite what it says on the tin.

[Laura Miramontes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of Marley, Tosh, and Wailer, while jumping around through 300 years of Jamaican history. It was a fascinating read, although sometimes it was a little confusing to keep the cast of characters straight. (Warning: I've been humming Redemption Song to myself for DAYS!)

[Gary Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the more comprehensive books written on Marley. Well researched with some interesting anecdotes about the great man and other influential people who made reggae great,