Bob Marley Honored With 7-Foot Tall Statue In Liverpool — See Photos
As the Baltic Triangle in Liverpool roars with celebration in the final day of its annual Positive Vibration Festival of Reggae, patrons to the highly popular event had their love for the world-renowned genre immortalized when they were met with a towering, 7-foot tall statue of Reggae icon, Bob Marley, which had been unveiled just two days earlier on September 9, 2021.
The award-winning festival, dubbed “a weekend city celebration of the uplifting power of reggae and dub’s righteous reverberations”, began in 2016, and has, every year since, grown to accommodate thousands of patrons and some exciting international reggae acts. And now, with Bob Marley’s statue adding to the ambience of the celebrations, promoters of the event felt it was a fitting tribute to acknowledge his legacy, and the impact of reggae music on people all over the world.
The handiwork of artist, Andy Edwards, the statue, which was unveiled on Jamaica Street and commissioned by PV Fest, was an obvious choice for organizers. Rory Taylor, one of the instrumental visionaries behind the statue being erected, shared, “Firstly, Bob is my hero and we are a reggae festival, so for me that was the obvious choice. Importantly, Bob is a cultural icon. He is known and adored by everybody around the world, young and old. He is a symbol of peace, a symbol of love and unity… It’s an honour and pleasure to be a part of an event that celebrates the greatness of Bob Marley.”
The Positive Vibration Festival of Reggae marked the opening of the Art of Reggae Exhibition, and hosts names such as General Levy, Congo Natty, Future Dub Orchestra and a number of other reggae enthusiasts and performers.
The festival, which runs just for two days, is yet another testament to Bob Marley’s greatness and enduring legacy – both of which continue to keep reggae at the forefront of international music. Marley’s name is reggae gold, and there is a constant market for the legendary singer, who continues to rack up accolades, even in death.
Just last year (2020), Bob Marley earned $14 million USD, easily making his way onto Forbes’ “The Highest-Paid Dead Celebrities” list. Additionally, his House of Marley line continues to do well, and last year accounted for over $3 million USD in sales. More recently, the 12-part Webby-nominated documentary series, Legacy, based on Marley’s life, has been just another notch in the long list of activities crafted to capitalize on and celebrate the life of one of the world’s most iconic figures.
Currently, a series of shows are underway in the US, headed by Ziggy Marley, that will serve to honour the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s legacy. They are expected to end on October 8, 2021 at the Southern Ground Amphitheatre, and will be live tribute sets. Stephen Marley, among others, is also expected to take part in the celebrations.
Bob Marley remains one of the modern era’s most influential voices, and given the timelessness of his music and legacy, that may not soon change.