The 18 Bob Marley facts you need to know
As one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, Bob Marley is as much a myth as he was a man. We’ve gathered up the most important facts to know about his life, from the reggae legend’s love of football to the importance of his wife and children
Bob Marley’s life was tragically cut short at 36, but few individuals can claim as an enduring legacy as the reggae star turned international icon. Marley's image has become a totemic symbol for peace, unity and reggae, his songs have been a mainstay of popular music since the 1970s and, even now, Marley has the second-highest social media following of any posthumous celebrity. Last year, the Marley family and Island records starting rolling out a year-long commemorative celebration in honour of what would have been his 75th birthday, as well as the 40th anniversary of “Redemption Song”, which has seen festivities take place across the globe, from a new official music video for the track, which highlights Marley's contribution to the empowerment of black civilisation, to recordings, exhibitions and unreleased material from the family's private vaults. Here, we take a deep-dive into Marley's past to separate truth from myth and bring you the definitive facts about the Jamaican legend.