Bob Marley lives on at Glasto

United Kingdom | | 24 June 2007

Thirty years after 'Exodus' was released and 26 years after his death, the reggae legend finally made his mark at Glastonbury today, as his sons covered his greatest hits.

Bob Marley’s ‘Exodus’ talks about justice and that’s exactly what his sons Stephen, Julian and Damien Marley gave the classic album today. The album may be 30 years old but the songs are still as strong as they ever were. The three played a sun soaked set, scorching through classics ‘Buffalo Soldier’, ‘Stand Up for Your Rights’ and, of course, title track ‘Exodus’.

A packed Pyramid Stage crowd watched as the memory of Bob Marley was truly resurrected. It was a fitting tribute to celebrate thirty years of arguably Marley and reggae’s great ever album.

Julian Marley, akin to his father wearing a green trench coat and dreadlocks opened the set as the three boys took turns in delivering their late father’s lyrics. As well as playing Marley’s hits, ‘Iron Lion Zion,’ ‘Stir It Up’ and ‘Could You Be Loved’ the brother’s, with complete band, skanked through Damien Marley’s reworking of Ini Kamoze’s ‘World-A-Music’ with his 2005 single ‘Welcome To Jamrock’.

Waving arms, smiling faces and dozens of flags rocked along to barrage of hits of which only Bob Marley himself could’ve bettered. As part of the band’s entourage was a flag bearing Rastafarian who waved a giant flag for an arm achingly long one hour set.

A spine tingling good version of ‘One Love’ saw two younger children shyly enter onto the stage with their own miniature flags before the Marley brothers ended one of the weekend’s highlight sets with title track ‘Exodus’.

Earlier in the day the Pyramid Stage had seen a strong performance from omnipresent Glastonbury favourites The Waterboys. Coventry trio The Enemy took to the other stage for their first ever performance at the festival storming through ‘Away From Here’, ‘Pressure’ and ‘It’s Not Ok’.

Glastonbury debutants The Epstein played to a fittingly large crowd at the Acoustic Tent after they earned the right to perform at the festival after impressing judges at the ‘Emerging Talent’ competition.