Bob Marley's bassist wins right to claim royalties

The man who created the trademark bouncing basslines for Bob Marley won High Court backing yesterday to claim millions of pounds in royalties over 20 years. Aston "Familyman" Barrett says he and his late brother, the band's drummer Carlton, murdered in 1986, have not been paid royalties under two agreements made with Marley in the 1970s.

Barrett, 56, says he and other members of the Wailers entered partnerships with the Jamaican singer, with the profits to be shared equally between Marley and the band. The claim relates to the years Marley recorded some of his greatest albums, which still sell well. These include: Natty Dread, Live!, Rastaman Vibration, Exodus, Kaya, Babylon by Bus, Survival, Uprising, and Confrontation.

Barrett, who still tours with the Wailers, is also seeking further payments for six of the band's songs he says were written by him or his brother.

Universal-Island Records Ltd and The Island Def Jam Music Group had asked for the claim to be struck out, saying it was an abuse of process and stood no real prospect of success. The record companies claim an agreement in 1994 settled all legal differences between the parties with the payment of several hundred thousand dollars.

But Mr Justice Laddie ruled that Barrett's claims can go ahead, saying the issues raised were "far too complex and numerous" for it to be safe to strike out before a full trial. Before launching the claim, Barrett had said: "I had a contract with Bob but I have received no royalties since he died in 1981. I was his right-hand man and now they are trying to erase me."

The legal claim relates to Barrett's time with Bob Marley & the Wailers under contracts signed in 1974 and 1975.

Marley, son of Captain Norval Marley, a Briton, recorded his first song at 16. He was a founder member of the original Wailers in 1963. The band embraced Rastafarianism when Emperor Haile Selassie visited Jamaica in 1966. The original Wailers split in the early 1970s and Marley became front man of Bob Marley & the Wailers in 1974, retaining the stalwart rhythm section of the Barrett brothers.

Marley was diagnosed with melanoma cancer in 1976, the result of a neglected football injury. It reoccurred in 1980 and he died in Miami in 1981. Several musicians have made legal claims against Marley's estate and record companies since 1981.

The Wailers

Bob Marley enjoyed global success. He died of cancer on 11 May 1981. Shortly before his death the government of Jamaica awarded him the Order of Merit.

Pete Tosh left the group in 1974 to pursue a successful solo career. He was shot dead in 1987 during a robbery at his home.

Bunny Wailer was described as the forgotten Wailer. He is the sole surviving founding member. He received a Grammy in 1997 and plans to release The Living Legend, a DVD of the singer's career.

The I-Threes were Marcia Griffiths, Rita Marley and Judy Mowatt. They provided the rich harmonies for Marley. The three women later chose to pursue solo careers.