The Wailers Return to New Zealand

The Wailers, the most internationally famous band from Jamaica, the country from which stemmed one of the most influential music of all time – reggae – are due to perform in Auckland on 22 March at St. James.

The line-up for this Auckland concert is headed by base player Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett, the sole living musician who was with Bob Marley from the beginning of Bob’s career to his unfortunate death. Aston is the bass player and musical leader of The Wailers and was the musical director for Bob Marley.

The Wailers’ concert is crucial alone just to see and hear the legendary ‘Family Man’ at the helm. He has played with diverse artists such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, John Denver, Taj Mahal, Alpha Blondy, Gilberto Gil, Joe Cocker and of course was part of The Upsetters, the backing band for Lee Perry’s ageless productions. Aston Barrett precociously selected his nickname ‘Family Man’ during his early teenage years; it continues to be an apt description of the guidance and nurturing he has contributed to the development of reggae. “It’s a name of responsibility” he explains, “because I keep the music together.”

Another member of The Wailers who recorded on the Exodus, Kaya, Babylon By Bus, Uprising and Confrontation Bob Marley albums, Junior Marvin will be the lead guitarist for this Auckland show. Keith Sterling will be on keyboards, and is a renowned session musician who has recorded with the superlative Sly & Robbie. Other musicians who will join the band’s current line-up are Gary Pine as lead singer, Chico Chin on trumpet, Glen DaCosta on saxophone, Ernest Williams on drums, Roxanne Prince and Marsha Scott-Hines sharing the backing vocals.

Bob Marley and The Wailers have sold over 250 million records worldwide with exemplary songs such as No Woman No Cry, Get Up Stand Up, Lively Up Yourself, Redemption Song, Exodus, I Shot The Sheriff, Str It Up, Trench Town Rock, Roots Rock Reggae, Is This Love, War and Jamming. So many of Bob Marley’s tunes are now anthems on an international scale.

It is befitting then that New Zealand’s top reggae band Katchafire will be the opening for The Wailers. They began as a Bob Marley tribute group and have evolved to writing and recording their own material, but retain the inspiration of Bob Marley and the Wailers songs in their live performance.