In a recent Facebook post, renowned reggae tour manager Copeland Forbes shared his insights and frustrations regarding a deleted scene from the Bob Marley “One Love” movie. Forbes, a pivotal figure in reggae history, who toured with the Wailers in the early 1970s and later managed Peter Tosh’s career, had questions about the omission of the scene, and misrepresentation of a significant moment in the Wailers’ career.
Forbes provided commentary on the scene featured in the digital release of the Paramount Pictures film saying, “Wow, this scene here suppose to represent the Wailers band when they did that great performance at the Old Grey Whistle Test in April 1973 while on the Catch A Fire tour in the UK. This scene was cut from the ‘One Love’ movie why, no one knows why it was cut from the movie.” He explained that the events depicted in the scene are of historical significance and says it is still celebrated during Reggae/Black History Month.
He noted, “Some of what is said here and seen are true, but how it is portrayed is incorrect and I think it was based on a video clip where one member spoke about lots of stuff like freak clubs and other stuff that weren’t true.”
The scene shows a heated argument between all three members of the original Wailers band along with Island Records founder Chris Blackwell.
Forbes recalls joining the Wailers’ entourage during their US tour, following Bunny Livingston’s departure after the UK tour and he clarified, “On the US tour they didn’t play any of those so call freak clubs as Bunny stated. They played Paul’s Mall in Massachusetts for 6 days at 2 shows per day, then down to NYC at Max’s Kansas City opening for Bruce Springsteen doing 14 shows in 6 days. Two shows per day for four days and three shows per day on two weekend days.”
The tour manager further detailed the Wailers’ journey, highlighting their stint as the opening act for Sly & The Family Stone. “Then went on to tour as opening act for Sly & The Family Stone the biggest funk rock group at the time with hits like Mice Elf, Dance to the Music and Family Affair amongst many others. The Wailers also played at The Matrix club in San Francisco after being left stranded in Las Vegas when Sly & The Family Stone felt that the group weren’t up to standard to be their opener and drove away leaving everyone stranded at the hotel after the concert at the Ice Capade the nite b4,” Forbes recounted.
Forbes pointed readers to his book, “Reggae My Life Is,” which ranks at No. 31 on Amazon’s Best Sellers in Reggae Music, for the complete story of the tour and the challenges the Wailers faced and reiterated that Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer’s departure from the group happened in two different years. “Just a reminder that Bunny quit the group in 1973 after the UK leg of the Catch A Fire tour and Peter Tosh and Earl ‘Wire’ Lindo quit in 1974 after the UK leg of the Burning tour. Bob Marley was now left with the faithful Barrett brothers of Carly on drums and Familyman on bass to carry on the journey of Bob Marley & The Wailers the name they had been using from the early days of Studio One and on their own label Wail N Soul M, and the name under which they signed their contract with Island Records in 1972.”
He said with some corrections, the representations in the movie, could tell a better story about the original Wailers, “This scene here is perfect if they get the correct info and it’s portrayed in the correct way in a true story about the Wailers journey starting from the early 60’s in Trench Town with the founding trio along with Beverly Kelso, Junior Braithwaite and Cherry Smith. Half the story have never been told (Bob & Peter).”
