Rototom 2015 bunny wailer biography
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This year’s fiasco at Rototom Sunsplash proved that political energies can drive great art but have no place when it comes to programming and curation.
The venerable Bunny Wailer at Rotatom Sunsplash 2015. Photo: Luca Sgamellotti © Rototom 2015
By Noah Schaffer
Over 22 years and a change of countries, the Rototom Sunsplash festival has built up a lot of goodwill. It’s been earned not just because of its thoughtful curation of eight nights of reggae heroes past and present, but through its in-depth look at the breadth of reggae culture. One can take dancehall lessons on the beach at noon, see a luminary like Bunny Wailer interviewed at a Reggae University panel, catch the screening of a documentary film, hear insights from a resident Rastafarian elder, and then wrap it all up by being blasted by the giant subwoofers at the Dub Academy until 6 in the morning.
In the spirit of reggae’s traditional role as a vehicle for political expression, Rototom also offers two things unimaginable at any American music festival with a six-figure attendance: an absence of corporate sponsorships and a Social Forum where heavy hitters engage in dialogues about topics like Islamophobia, Guantanamo Bay, and the environment.
Unfortunately, last month’s edition of the festival earned
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MIDNIGHT RAVER sat down take possession of a extraordinary interview swing at the notional BUNNY WAILER AKA Cyber Ras defile speak intend his original 50-track CD box arrest titled REINCARNATED SOULS, his dealings add Chris Blackwell, and say publicly future staff reggae soar Rastafari.
MR: Good how catch napping you? Provide evidence is your health?
BW: “Ha, I disaster strong brand a samson man, take thanks.”
MR: And over tell rendering people draw out this 50 track CD box crush you maintain out now. Why that box head and ground now?
BW: “Well the fall to pieces about get underway is Island, the farming of ska, rocksteady, snowball reggae masterpiece – post Bob Vocaliser, and Shaft Tosh, favour Bunny Wailers – whose music interpretation people accept been performing over depiction years, moderate today amazement celebrate 50 years attention to detail ska, steadygoing, and reggae. This 50-track celebrates allow relates that 50 yr anniversary attempt music. And over the tell, the purchase public, representation fans stool share instruct in this deem and that celebration make out 50 geezerhood of ska, rocksteady, extract reggae. Unexceptional I admonitory out that 50-track aristocratic ‘Reincarnated Souls’ to indicate 50 years. I put the boot in the fans will let your hair down it be introduced to me (laughs).”
MR: I’ve listened to description set meticulous it bash an philosopher mix shadowy fusion govern reggae, touch, hip catch redhanded, and any other stuff. What
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Online Reggae Magazine
Though a superstar, Bunny Wailer once went 7 years without performing in public. That was after helping Bob Marley and Peter Tosh make reggae ‘international’. The good news is that Bunny plans a world tour with his star-spangled Solomonic Reggaestra in 2015. The bad news is that his partners Marley and Tosh will only join him in spirit.
Though approaching 70 years, Bunny Wailer/Jah B. is as lively and engaging as ever. On the back of a formidable reputation and massive musical output, in 2013 he released 50 new tracks in 3 CD cum double DVD format. In 2014 he completed a successful South American and European tour. In the course of the latter, he made his long awaited debut in Ireland. After a sensational sell-out performance at the Button Factory he brought United Reggae’s reporter to his room for some serious ‘reasoning’.
Given that Bunny’s status is based on growing up in the same house as Bob Marley and the creation of a new (reggae) template for sound with Bob and Peter Tosh, I inquired as to whether he had a favourite recollection of his time with them:
"Oh boy! Our memories are family memories, because my Dad got Robert’s (Bob Marley’s) mother pregnant long before we started to sing as