“Bob Marley: One Love” follows the life of Bob Marley from 1976 to 1978. What happens after the film for the reggae icon?
Bob Marley: One Love, the first biopic dedicated to the king of Reggae, is currently in theaters with Kinglsey Ben-Adir in the title role. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (The Williams Method) and produced by the singer’s family, his children Ziggy & Cedella and his wife Rita Marley (played by Lashana Lynch in the film), one Love looks back at the private life and career of the singing icon who made reggae known around the world.
The feature film does not retrace the complete life of Bob Marley but focuses on two years. The film begins in December 1976, as Robert Nesta prepares to perform on stage at the “Smile Jamaica” concert. Two days before the event he was the victim of an assassination attempt. One Love ended on April 22, 1978, during the “One Love Peace” concert.
The biopic shows how this attack marked the life and work of Bob Marley and forced him into exile. A London exile during which he composed with his group The Wailers, the album “Exodus”named best album of the 20th century by the Time Magazine in 1998. The icon’s childhood is still addressed through flashbacks, as well as the discovery of his illness…
An illness discovered following a football injury
In 1977, during the Exodus Tour, Bob Marley and his musicians The Wailers organized a football match against French journalists the day before the Paris concert. Marley is injured in his right big toe. A few days later, he finished his London concert with a bloody foot. The singer therefore decides to consult a doctor. On July 7, 1977, after several examinations, the specialist told him the terrible news: he had acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM), a rare form of skin cancer.
Paramount Pictures Bob Marley: One love
The doctor then suggests that the singer have an amputation so that the disease does not progress, but the king of reggae refuses to do so immediately. Bob Marley therefore continues his tour in Europe. In the United States, a surgeon removed the nail bed from his toe, hoping to stop the progression of the disease. But it is a failure. Marley is forced to cancel the American tour of‘Exodus.
What happens after the end of the film
In March 1978, he released the album Kayaa month later, the singer returned to Jamaica for his concert One Love Peace (where the film ends). A memorable concert during which Bob Marley manages to bring together on stage the two political enemies Edward Seaga and Prime Minister Michael Manley. Following this concert, Bob Marley became a true national icon.
The singer has released several albums: Babylon by Bus in 1978, Survival in 1979 and Uprising in 1980 and finally plans his concert tour in Africa. But on September 21, 1980, while jogging, Bob Marley collapsed. After a battery of examinations, doctors discovered several metastases: three to the brain, one to the lungs and one to the stomach. His cancer has spread. The singer decides to keep the secret. Bob Marley gave his last concert on September 23, 1980 in Pittsburgh and underwent chemotherapy.
He died on May 11, 1981 at the age of 36. More than 40 years after his death, his songs are still a symbol of peace, unity and love.