Customer Reviews

Marley And Me: The Real Bob Marley Story

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The late Taylor's role in the Marley saga has always been suspect, whether pushing Bob's widow into signing a false will--and getting a kickback from the opposition for his efforts--(as disclosed in the Cayman Music court case) to reportedly embezzling Marley's tour money. A hateful book by someone undeserving of trust.

I produced "BOB MARLEY AND THE WAILERS LIVE! AT THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY BOWL" and met Don Taylor, the principal manager in Marley's career. Unlike other biographers, Taylor saw Marley as a man, not as an icon, and so his portrait of Marley is the most realistic. Devious, cunning, brilliant,destructive, Taylor rode the Marly wave on the way up from the Kingston days, took the bullits for Bob in the famous murder attempt in '77, and ultimately fell out with the legend over accusations of embezzlement. Taylor really knew Marley, and his biography of the genius has a bitter edge that makes for great and insightful reading.

Marley's first mistake was to put his faith in Taylor. A classic tale of a manager's betrayal. The author's come off as a monster, even though he tries to build himself into someone more important even than Bob. Sadder than sad. Marley wrote a song about this guy called "Bad Card."

Don Taylor was Bob Marley's manager, yes. But he also stole alot of money from Bob - he lied about concert earnings to put more money in his own pocket. Anyone who buys this book is directly supporting a man who stole from Marley. Bob was pissed when he found out about Taylor's dishonesty, and he wrote Bad Card, a song off of his masterpiece, Uprising (1980). I refuse to pay for a book that will benefit a man who stole from Bob Marley. Don Taylor, you are a filthy thief, and your attempt to capitalize off of Bob makes me SICK.

I think that anyone who has any interest in Bob Marley or Jamaica will really enjoy this book. I thought that it gave a lot of detail about Bob's life and also a lot about Jamaican culture. There were several references to the Rastafarian religion and how Bob practiced it. It is hard to say how much of the stuff that Don Taylor talked about was really true but it did seem believable. The style of writing he used was basically a journal of different events that took place in his and Bob's life. I did not realize before I read this book that Bob was actually a fairly smart businessman and tried to watch his money as carefully as he could. There were times where he could not protect his money from being taken away, like when Rita Marley would sign his name and make large withdraws there was nothing that he could do because it could not be proven. Bob Marley became popular right in the time when Jamaica was in one of its worst times. He was forced to make a choice between two different political groups, the wealthy and the poor. He never really did make a decision though he continued to remain close to people in both groups. This made me think about hard it must have been for Bob to grow up in the areas with lots of violence and poverty. Once he did become popular he did not leave his old friends behind. Overall I thought that this was a great book and I would encourage anyone interested in Bob Marley to read this and learn more about his life.

Being a fan of Marley i found this book hard to put down. It tells the exciting story from Bob's managers point of view and shows insight to some of the songs giving you a new understanding of the King of Reggae. I would recommend this book for anyone who would like to see Bob in a new way as it follows him from his early days until his death in 1981.

An excellent account of Bob Marley's career. Unmissable buy. This book reveals those who manipulated and exploited Bob's career and talent. Bravo!

Man, this is the unreal story. This is a nasty thing done by a guy who lived off Bob, and then he tried to take bad advantage after Bob was gone. He's just like the writer Albert Goldman was with John Lennon, acting like a backstabber, trying to bury somebody he was jealousy of after he had passed. Nobody needs to bother with this thing, it's evil to the core.

I have read just about every book available regarding Bob Marley. This was the last book on my list, and now that I have read it I know why. Don Taylor's version of his life with Bob is written in such negative context. He fills the pages with pats on his own back writing about those he loaned money to and never got it back. About what HE did for Bob. Definately left me feeling angry, bored and dissapointed. Don't bother!

It is hard to get to know Bob from a Business view - this story was more of Don Taylors life and thoughts, as it should be, he did write the book. This is a great book to read, even if it is to see Bob Marley in someone else's eyes. I have been a fan of Bob's for Many years and I must say, there were more than a few new things I learned. I could have done without the ending, knowing all of his financials and all that happened to his estate. Personally, that is something the family should deal with and Don Taylor should keep that part private. Then again, it is his book and his way of seeing, knowing and loving Bob Marley. Anyone who is into Bob should read this book. ~Marleighgal