One love: Bob Marley in London in 1977
(Picture: Getty Images)Bob Marley had a special relationship with London, the city he once described as his “second base”. It was the site of some of his most legendary gigs; its studios recorded some of his most enduringly brilliant music; it provided refuge when he ran into trouble abroad; and it lovingly wove his music into its own cultural fabric, still felt to this day.
Earlier this month, a new exhibition celebrating Marley’s legacy opened at the Saatchi gallery — and it was given a sparkling five-star review by our critic. As your first port of call, make time to go down and see the show for yourself. And if, after that, you’re still hungry for more Marley, make the pilgrimage to these London locations, each of which have their own connection to the late, great icon.
Mural on the Brockley Barge pub
In one form or another, Brockley has had its own artistic tribute to Bob Marley for almost half a century — although they haven’t come without a struggle. The first mural, painted by an unknown artist in the Seventies, lasted for more than 40 years, adorning a wall outside the Brockley MOT Centre on Coulgate Street, but was unceremoniously demolished in 2014 to make way for flats. A crowdfunding campaign raised funds to replace it, though, with street artist Dale Grimshaw commissioned to create a new mural, which now brightens up the exterior of the Brockley Barge pub (even if it is sometimes partially obscured by the recycling bins).
Crystal Palace Bowl
Marley played his first London gig with the Wailers in 1973, at the Speakeasy Club on Margaret Street, near Oxford Circus — and according to those who were there, the four-night run was a revelation. The venue is, sadly, no longer with us; it’s now a nightclub, temporarily closed, so you couldn’t visit even if you wanted to. A far better option would be to catch a gig at the newly renovated Crystal Palace Bowl, the site of Marley’s last and largest ever London show, with an airing of Redemption Song — only ever played once in the capital — among the highlights on the night.
Battersea Park
"If you want to get to know me, you will have to play football against me and the Wailers." That’s the famous quote attributed to Marley who, by all accounts, was absolutely football mad. His club loyalties were split between Santos in Brazil and Tottenham Hotspur in the UK (sorry, Arsenal fans). Marley would try to set up an impromptu game at any given opportunity and, spending a lot of his time around west London, Battersea Park was often his venue of choice. So gather a group of mates, head down and pay tribute to Marley with a good old fashioned kickabout.
His London homes
In 1976, Marley fled Jamaica after narrowly escaping an attempt on his life, and found refuge in London. He and the Wailers settled in Chelsea, and hunkered down at 42 Oakley Street, where they put the finishing touches to Exodus, the album that featured some of their most widely loved tracks, from Jamming to Three Little Birds. Head to the address today and you’ll see a Blue Plaque commemorating it, as you will at another of his former abodes, 34 Ridgmount Gardens, near Goodge Street, this time placed by the Mayor of London and the Nubian Jak Community Trust.
Get Up, Stand Up! at the Lyric Theatre
The exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery isn’t the only major cultural celebration of Marley happening in the capital right now. The Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue is the home of Get Up, Stand Up!, telling the story of Marley’s life and work in musical form. With a show-stopping central performance from Arinzé Kene as Marley, the Standard’s review called it “a major and important cultural event”. Tickets are on sale now — a must see for any Marley obsessive.
