The Stepping Razor Remembered



September 11, 2000 marked the 13th anniversary of Peter Tosh's passing. On that fateful night Dennis 'Leppo' Lobban and 2 other gunmen burst into Peter's house and demanded money, Peter tried to reason with Dennis and the other hoodlums claiming that he didn't have any money in the house but would try and arrange to get some money to Dennis. Dennis thought about this for what seemed an age and then opened fire emptying two bullets at point blank range into Peter's head. Peter Tosh was pronounced dead in a local Kingston Hospital late that evening, murdered by an old friend. After all Peter had done for him this was how he repayed him by silencing one of the most powerful voices ever in the history of music.

Peter was just 42 years of age but lived an emotional and action packed life, his life was a struggle from beginning to end. He suffered an horrific car crash whilst driving home from visiting Bob at 56 Hope Road. His girlfried Evonne was in the car with Peter when he hit an on coming vehicle travelling on the wrong side of the road. The accident left Peter with a fractured skull, unfortunately Evonne was badly crushed and remained in a coma for three weeks before she died.

Tosh was a mystic man, stepping razor, freedom fighter and missionary all rolled into one. He fought for equal rights and justice and never minced his words, he was sometimes out spoken, but he always spoke what was on his mind and what he felt was the truth.

His songs ranged from the cry of legalizing ganja, pleas for black people to realise their roots, social and racial equality and testifying his love for Rastafari.

Peter Tosh seemed to be fueled by controversy, controversy seemed to follow Peter where ever he went. At the One Love Peace Concert in April 1978 Peter stood up on stage and lit up a spliff much to the annoyance of the Jamaican Heads of State. He proceeded to verbally bash everyone in power in Jamaica asking why marijuana was not legal. It was real fire and brimstone, Peter had a big audience and an open mic and he took this opportunity to talk about the things that were bothering him. These are Peter's most famous livatribes of all time.

Peter recorded on the Rolling Stones record label from 1978 until 1981, even receiving a minor chart hit in England with Don't Look Back which was a duet with Mick Jagger, however Peter's relationship with the Stones came to an abrupt end when Peter who was staying at Keith Richards home in Jamaica refused to vacate the premises upon Richards return as he thought the Stones owed him. When asked what Peter thought of his work with Mick Jagger he replied: "Working with Jagger, I thought it would have given me exposure, but I don't think it has given me the right exposure. If it had given me the right exposure then people would all know my name, yet there are many people who still don't know me".

Peter suffered numerous beatings by the Police for his open smoking of ganja in the streets of Jamaica. He also suffered the consequences for his attack on Manley and Seaga at the Peace Concert by being brutalised by Police, he was whipped for over 30 minutes by several Police officers armed with batons, they broke his arm and fractured his skull. This did not stop Peter, legalizing marijuana was something he believed firmly in and he was not going to give up the fight.

Although never experiencing the same success that Bob received Peter carved out a very successful solo career for himself. His debut album although not being a huge seller really made Peter an even bigger star in his home of Jamaica then he was already. Legalize It was banned from radio stations in Jamaica but despite this it was still the number 1 song. Tosh was even branded an "outlaw" due to the releasing of the album. His follow up album Equal Rights is in my opinion Peter's finest album. The album was made mostly of original workings and saw Peter pleaing for equal rights and justice and telling black people to get up and stand up for their rights.

He played to crowds of 80,000 and more whilst opening up for the Rolling Stones on the 1978 tour. During his 1979 tour of Europe he sold more than 170,000 tickets. Fans worldwide appreciated Peter's music and what he stood for, he was a hero to many and they came out in droves to see Peter perform live.

His final album 'No Nuclear War' was released just before his passing and earned him a grammy for best reggae album, it was a tragic shame that he was not able to pick up this award that he so rightfully deserved.

Tosh's songs were a revolution, because of this he was a threat to society. Peter Tosh was more than a pop star. Gone but not forgotten, his music and message lives on. JAD records have just released Peter's set from the One Love Peace Concert on CD, this is considered by many as Peter's greatest show and it is great that fans worldwide will get the chance to hear the show that really exuded fire and brimstone, this show was everything that Peter fought and stood for, the One Love Peace Concert was Peter at his very best.

With 2 more albums soon to be released, including an acoustic album containing some of the tracks that were played at the WXFM radio station in Chicago things are looking bright.

The one thing that is missing though is a biography on Peter Tosh, I just hope that after 13 years since Peter's passing someone will take up the fantastic task and opportunity of writing a book on Peter. This is the very least he deserves and has been 13 years too long.

The Red X video that was released is considered by many to be the greatest documentary ever made and is something I firmly agree on. It tells Peter's story from start to finish and manages to complete the tough task of satisfying both new fans and the collectors needs.

One thing that is a little disturbing is the fact that in England it is very hard to find any of Peter's albums in the shops with only Legalize It and Bush Doctor being easily availble. Equal Rights can be found in very sparse amounts, but as for the rest of Peter's catalogue you will be hard pressed to find them in the shops which is a total disgrace as Peter was not some underground start but a major recording artist who recorded on some of the biggest labels such as Virgn, EMI and the Rolling Stones label. To me this is outrages and something needs to be sorted and fast. In the US things are very different with Peter's albums being readily available in all shops, apart from Mystic Man which appears to be rather elusive where ever you go!

The legacy lives on as his reputation continues to grow. He has inspired countless people to fight against oppression. He was a man of principle and courage, a poet, philospher and prophet. He was the stepping razor.

"It is only the truth that can make a man live".

Jah Bless Peter Tosh