Bob Marley’s last concert before his untimely death on May 11, 1981 at age 36 from cancer, will be released as a live album from Universal Music, reports Music News.
The original Uprising album was released the year before his death in May 1980, and the band had completed a major tour of Europe, where they played their biggest concert, to a hundred thousand people in Milan.
After the tour, Marley went to America, where he performed two shows at Madison Square Garden as part of the Uprising Tour. Shortly afterwards, his health deteriorated and he became very ill; the cancer had spread throughout his body. The rest of the tour was cancelled and Marley sought treatment
Uprising, Live Forever was recorded at the Stanley Theatre in Pittsburgh on September 23, 1980. It features Marley performing classics like No Woman No Cry, Jammin’ and Is This Love.
“Bob’s music has always conveyed a message of hope, unity and love. It has brought countless people together as it did that night 30 years ago in Pittsburgh. To hear that music today and to be able to share it with a new generation shows that Bob is as relevant today as he was 30 years ago,” said his widow Rita Marley.
The undisputed master of reggae was the best ambassador of Jamaica and its music; the global star has sold over 200 million albums to date.
The live album of his last gig will contain 19 of his most popular songs, and will be released on February 1, 2011.