One Love Peace Concert, Kingston Jamaica - April 22, 1978


[Judy, Bob and Rita onstage at the One Love Peace Concert]

It is exactly 22 years to this very day that the historic One Love Peace Concert took place at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. The concert featured some of the biggest names in reggae music.

The concert was the idea of Bucky Marshall and Claudie Massop.

They wanted to have Bob return home to Jamaica for the fist time since the assasination attempt to play at the One Love Peace Concert. The concerts had 2 functions, the first was to raise money to provide much needed sanitary facilties and housing for the sufferahs in West Kinston the second and main reason for the concert was the hope it might save the country from civil war.

After Marshall was freed from jail in early January 1978 he contacted Jack 'Claudie' Massop. An all night vigil was held in West Kingston with a truce being announced at day break.

After the JLP and PNP agreed to a truce and cease fire, they approached Prophet Gad to sponser the movement and act as a go between themselves and Bob.

A meeting between Bob and Massop eventually took place in London in February. This was after Bob had been encouraged by various members of the Twelve Tribes of Israel to agree to the show.

On February 23 1978 Island Records called a press conference and announced that the One Love Peace Concert would take place in just under 2 months on April 22 and Bob would be performing. Newspapers were quick to quick to report on the upcoming Peace Concert with headlines ranging from "Third World Woodstock", "Bob Marley plays for Peace" and the short but effective "Bob Marley Is Back"

The reason why April 22 was the chosen date was to co-incide with the 12th anniversary of His Imperial Majesty Emporer Haile Selassie's visit to Jamaica between April 21 and 23 1966.

To co-incide with the Peace Concert Bob had released his 8th album for Island 'Kaya' the album contained tracks mostly about love, peace and taking things easy, to keep with the spirit of the Peace concert.

16 of the biggest reggae acts had agreed to appear at the concert. Some of the big name acts included ex-Wailer Peter Tosh, Dennis Brown and Jacob Miller.

Tickets were selling well, the prices were of the highest value ranging from $2 to $8 for tickets.

On the day of the show the streets were swarming. The concert was to start at 5PM with the gates opening at 2PM. There was a strong rumour circulating amongst the 32,000 strong crowd that Bob, Peter and Bunny would re-unite on stage.

However Bunny decided to boycott the show as he was cynical of the peace movement and Peter was playing his own set with his own band Word Sound and Power so a uniting of the 3 original Wailers would not take place.

The first half of the show was used to show off the talented young Jamaican acts, each artist was given a brief amount of time to wow the crowd.

Jacob Miller's set produced many highlights. During 'Killer' Miller's set he offered a nearby Police officer a draw on his spliff and then took the Policemans helmet and placed it on top of his own head much to the crowds amusement.

Jacob invited Claudie, Bucky, Tony Welch and Tek-Life onstage to join him on Peace Treaty Special, he told the photographers on hand to "take nuff pictures". His set was truly amazing. Definately my favourite Jacob Miller performance. "I'm A Natty" is one of my favourite Miller tracks and a superb performance of this song was another highlight from Jacob's 30 minute set.

Edward Seaga, Michael Manley and Mick Jagger were all sat front row by the time that Peter Tosh took the stage.

Peter arrived on stage wearing one of his many karate outfits, he was dressed all in black with a black beret to complete his outfit. Peter had a great interest in kung fu and karate and would often display some of his kicks and chops during shows.

Peter gave a very millitant and fiery set backed by his Word Sound and Power band. His 66 minutes on stage is regarded by many as Peter's finest performance. In between and during songs Peter took the opportunity to lecture Manley and Seaga for their lack of support in legalizing marijuana. Peter's 66 minute set was actually the longest set at the Peace Concert.

Peter had a 32,000 strong audience and had centre stage. He defiently lit up a spliff on stage and taunted the Police whilst denouncing the "shitstem". The crowd roared Peter on, whilst nearby Police officers squirmed in their seats. The crowd on hand were loving every minute.

Peter launched into many of his famous livatribes, in fact the livatribes lasted almost as long as Peter's singing. He had a captive audience and was going to take the opportunity with both hands to get his message across.

"Me don't want peace, me want equality, I'm not a policitician, I just suffah the consequences" yelled Peter.

Before Peter launched into a spell binding performance of 'Burial' he told the crowd that "I n I come with earthquake, lightning and thunder to break down these barriers of oppression drive away transgression and rule equality between humble black people"

"White man teach I 'n I say I 'n I haffe dead go a heaven, why?"

'Burial' is one of my favourite tracks of all time and this was an amazing performance coupled with the stunning livatribes that Peter delivered with the track it made for some amazing listening.

Peter berated the TV business and TV stations that were on hand from all over the globe covering the event. He called them "pirates from America who get rich off of I n I". Peter even told a guy from the audience to stop filming saying he needed permission from him to film the show.

Peter gave in an amazing performance and when he finally left the stage he received a huge applause from the crowd, no doubt Manley, Seaga and the Police were all very relieved for the set to be over.

While Peter took the stage to denounce the shitstem, Bob took the stage to talk about peace and unity.

A majestic looking Bob took to the stage close to midnight wearing a burlap coat of many colours with a map of africa on the back. He was the closing act and this was Bob's first live show back in his home land since the shooting in December of '76. The Jamaican public had really missed his presence, but Bob was back and did he ever delight the crowd.

Bob gave in a spell binding performance, a truly mesmering set followed. It was almost as if he was possessed, in a trance like state at times.

To watch Bob on stage during this show is truly fantastic, his onstage presence is just phenominal, his actions and gestures spoke volumes.


[Bob onstage at the One Love Peace Concert]

Bob's set was a monumental affair. The rarely played Lion of Judah was used to open his set with and this set the standard for the rest of his 50 minute set.

This is definately one of my all time favourite shows. Bob was in majestic form by the time War was played. During 'War' Bob started free flowing adding extra lyrics here and there. Bob sang "I'm inviting you all to come on here to sing a message of prayer, were jammin" and then War segued into 'Jammin' in an amazing moment, the medley was unbelievable, never done prior and never down again, simply a one off, and one that was perfect.

The version of 'Jammin' is my all time favourite version of the song, Bob was dancing hard and fast rocking backwards and forwards and then clapping his hands, amazing footage. Bob again was improvising singing "And to the spirit of the most high, His Imperial Majesty Emporer Haile Selassie I run lightning, leading the people of the slaves to shake hands and show the people that you gonna unite, to show the people that your over bright, show the people that ev'ryt'ing is all right"

"I'm not so good at talking but I hope you understand what I'm trying to say, I'm trying to say could we have up here on stage here the presence of Mr Michael Manley and Mr Edward Seaga, I just wanna shake hands and show the people that were gonna unite"

Bob had invited both Mr. Michael Manley and Mr. Edward Seaga to join him onstage. Seaga got up from his seat and joined Bob on stage but Manley seemed a lot more reluctant. Bob appeared resigned to the fact that he would not be appearing on stage when eventually Mr. Manley joined them on stage. In an historic moment Bob took both politicians hands and he interlocked them with his own and raised their hands together signifying unity. The two waring politicians looked uncomfortable on stage, but the Gong stood on stage with a grin from ear to ear. It was plain to see who held the real power.

The rarely played 'One Love' made an appearance and Bob conducted a crowd sing-a-long. It made sense to play this track during the show.

The last song of the night was a sing-a-long version of Jah Live, with Bob's children joining him onstage for another unforgettable moment.

The show was an historic concert that will for ever be remembered. A heartland reggae video was released which documents this show and the Savanna La Mar concert from late 1977. The video contains footage of Jacob Miller, Dennis Brown and Peter Tosh from the late '77 Savanna La Mar concert and footage from Jacob Miller's and Bob's set at the Peace Concert. The video footage is unbelievable and has to be viewed to be believed.

My favourite moments and songs from the show include the Meditations Live It Up, Dennis Brown singing 'Whip Them Jah', Jacob Miller's 'Shakey Girl', and 'Peace Treaty Special'. It was a fabulous moment when got Claude, Bucky, Tek-Life and Tony Welch on stage and got them to sing a few lines, fantastic to watch and to hear.

Peter's fiery set was one of if not the best performances he ever gave, the livatribes were straight from the heart.

For me Bob's set was the real highlight and when he united Manley and Seage onstage during 'Jammin' he created my favourite ever moment, magical.

Setlist for the One Love Peace Concert

The Meditations: Live It Up, Woman Is Like A Shadow
Althea & Donna: Uptown Top Ranking
Dillinger: Natty Dread BSc, The War Is Over, Eastman Skank
Mighty Diamonds: Keep On Moving, There's No Me Without You, I Need A Roof
Junior Tucker: Happy, Mrs Melody
Culture: Natty Never Get Weary, Natty Dread Taking Over, Stop This Fussing & Fighting
Dennis Brown: Children of Israel, Love Me Always, Milk & Honey, Whip The Jah, If You Ever Leave Me
Trinity: Who Say They A Gone, Already, Yabby You Sound
Leroy Smart: Ballistic Affair
Jacob Miller & Inner Circle: Forward Jah Jah Children, I'm A Natty, Discipline Child, Shakey Girl, Top Ranking Special, Tired Fe Lick Weed, Peace Treaty Special
Big Youth: I Pray Thee, Every Nigger Is A Star, In This Ya Time, House of Dreadlocks, Isiah The First Prophet Of Old, Peace At Last, Old Man River, Hit The Road Jack
Beresford Hammond: Smile, I Miss You, One Step Ahead
Peter Tosh: Igziabeher, 400 Years, Stepping Razor, Burial, Equal Rights, Legalize It, Get Up Stand Up
Ras Michael and The Sons of Negus: Eithiopian National Anthem, None A Jah Jah Children No Cry, Come Down, In A Amagideon, A New Name Jah Got
Bob Marley & The Wailers: Lion of Judah, Natural Mystic, Trenchtown Rock, Natty Dread, Positive Vibration, War, Jammin, One Love, Jah Live