It is a long-haul project that English journalist and writer John Masouri has been working on: the biography of Peter Tosh.
Entitled "Steppin' Razor : The Life of Peter Tosh", it has been available (in English) since the beginning of September from Omnibus Press (since May as an e-book), but had been awaited for several years.
No book had gone back in depth over Peter Tosh's exceptional career. Now it has. Hundreds of interviews were needed to paint the portrait of the most militant of the Wailers, who declared: "If I hadn't been a musician, I would have been a revolutionary, and I would kill bumboclaats everyday ! "
John Masouri reports that his starting point for writing this biography was the archives of Roger Steffens, a Bob Marley specialist, who wrote the preface.
Tracing his career and childhood, John Masouri reveals the behind-the-scenes stories of the hits Legalize It, Equal Rights and Get Up Stand Up, revisits his unforgettable appearance on the stage of the One Love Peace Concert, spliff in hand ("peace is a diploma they give you in the cemetery") and his escapades with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and Joe Cocker, but also black nationalism, obeah, Africa, women…
An extract (in English) can be read here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Steppin-Razor-Life-Peter-Tosh/dp/1847728367
"Steppin' Razor : The Life of Peter Tosh"
John Masouri
Omnibus Press
496 pages