
A legend of Jamaican music since forming The Wailers alongside Bob Marley and Bunny Livingston in 1962, Peter Tosh also was a leading figure in the struggle for social justice and human rights directly confronting the oppressive system, for instance by speaking out in favor of the legalization of marijuana and denouncing apartheid in South Africa or the dire situation of the Palestinian people. Tosh launched his own label, Intel-Diplo H.I.M., in 1972 coinciding with the days the three Wailers were parting ways. "Legalize It" was his debut LP and it had multinational release in June 1976 on CBS Records. The title track soon became popular among supporters of cannabis decriminalization and reggae music enthusiasts over the world. "Equal Rights", his second album and masterpiece, was released in 1977 before starting a close relationship with The Rolling Stones who signed him to their own record label where were issued his next three albums: "Bush Doctor" (1978), "Mystic Man" (1979) and "Wanted Dread and Alive" (1981). Tosh was introduced to a larger audience but these new productions made many musical concessions due to this new status in the industry. Although, of course, his philosophy and attitude remained unquestionable. In April 1978, during his performance at the One Love Peace Concert, Tosh harshly criticized Prime Minister Michael Manley and police chiefs to their faces, marking him as a target for the authorities. A few months later, while he was near the Aquarius studios in Half Way Tree, several officers approached him and aggressively snatched away the spliff he was smoking. Tosh challenged their rough behavior and was taken to a police station. There he was subjected to a brutal beating that nearly cost him the life. This terrible incident served only to further fuel his activism against oppression and injustice. On September 11, 1987, Tosh was murdered at his home in Kingston allegedly during a robbery committed by a gang of three men... "I see the mark of the beast on their ugly faces".