I hope this gets worked out: Bob Marley wouldn't have minded sharing the money amongst his friends and band members. The bass and drum parts are essential to the Wailers' music.
“Catch a Fire” (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
“Burnin'” (Bob Marley & The Wailers)
Guardian Unlimited Arts | Arts news | Wailers' bassist sues Marleys for '£60m royalties'
Would Bob Marley have made it without his distinctive bouncy basslines? The question will be put to a judge this week as a protracted legal wrangle between the Marley family and the bassist in his backing band, the Wailers, finally comes to the High Court.Aston 'Family Man' Barrett is suing the Marleys and the Universal Island record label, claiming that neither he nor his deceased brother Carlton, the band's drummer, have received any royalties since Marley's death in 1981. If he is successful, Barrett, now in his sixties and father to 52 children, could receive a payout of up to £60 million.
umm, 52 children? Anyway, Rita Marley, and her lawyers, will argue that a previous settlement precludes additional royalties. This was the trick that D's brother used to screw her out of any inheritance, and was quite effective.
Lawyers for Universal Island and the Marley family, headed by the singer's widow Rita, are expected to argue that Barrett gave up his right to royalties when he signed a legal settlement for several hundred thousand dollars in 1994.Barrett's fellow Wailers Junior Marvin, Tyrone Downie, Earl 'the wire' Lindo and Al Anderson are expected in London for the trial, which starts tomorrow. The British journalist Vivien Goldman, author of the forthcoming Marley biography The Book of Exodus, will also testify.
The business dealings surrounding Marley's legacy have been dogged by a series of legal disputes since his death. The singer, who died of cancer, refused to make a will because his Rastafarian religion prohibited him from believing in death. The settlement was further complicated by his domestic arrangements: he had 11 children by nine women.
Tags: music, /litigation
