Another reason for the band's breakup is that both Bunny and Peter were unwilling to suffer through the physically taxing tours like the one the band had just embarked on to promote the release of Catch A Fire. As for Chris Blackwell, Peter did not hold his one time producer in very high regard, as evidenced here in one of Tosh's interviews:"Chris Whiteworst.
You talk about Blackwell, what was well with him? (much laughter) So me call him every time me see him, 'what happen whitewell, what happen Blackwell?' (Holmes and Steffens, Reasoning With Tosh 12)."
Tosh became bitter with his ex-bandmate, at one point claiming that the only reason Marley was so successful was that his father was white, although Peter was known for having a big mouth and was not always to be taken too seriously in his pronouncements. Many biographies focusing on members of the Wailers relate a specific incident where several people alleged that Tosh became enraged upon hearing that Marley was seeing a well known white woman in Kingston.
He talked big and threatened both physical violence and damnation and hellfire for his friend, vowing to track him down and take him to task. Later that day Bob casually walked into a room where Peter was relaxing with some of their mutual friends but mysteriously Tosh seemed happy to see him and made no mention of any misgivings about the controversial relationship.
When Marley was eventually told the whole story he allegedly laughed and responded: "Petah? Fussin'? You don't seh!" - suggesting like many other sources that some of Tosh's personal relationships were stormy and complicated but not necessarily mean-spirited.
Tosh began recording under the name Peter Tosh, and released his solo debut, Legalize It, in 1976 on CBS Records. The title track soon became an anthem for the marijuana movement and was a favorite at Tosh's concerts. As Marley preached his "One Love" message, Tosh railed against the hypocritical "shitstem," and became a favorite target of the Jamaican police. He proudly wore his scars that he had received from the beatings he endured. Always taking the militant approach, he released Equal Rights in 1977.
In the famous free One Love Peace Concert in 1978, first Tosh lambasted the audience, including attending dignitaries, with political demands that included legalizing cannabis. He did this while smoking a spliff, a criminal act in Jamaica. Bob Marley asked both then-Prime Minister Michael Manley, and opposition leader Edward Seaga onto the stage; and a famous picture was taken with all three of them holding their hands together above their heads in a symbolic gesture of peace during what had been a very violent election campaign.
Bush Doctor (1978), Mystic Man (1979), and Wanted Dread or Alive followed. Released on the Rolling Stones' personal label, Tosh tried to gain some mainstream success while keeping his militant views, but was largely unsuccessful, especially compared to Marley's achievements. After the release of 1983's Mama Africa, Tosh went into self-imposed exile, seeking the spiritual advice of traditional medicine men in Africa, and trying to free himself from recording agreements that distributed his records in South Africa.
In 1987, Tosh appeared to be on the way to a career revival. He was awarded a Grammy for Best Reggae Performance in 1987 for No Nuclear War. However on September 11, 1987 three men came to his house demanding money, and when Tosh replied that he did not have any with him he was shot dead, along with disk jockey Jess "Free I" Dixon.
The leader was Dennis 'Leppo' Lobban, a man whom Peter had befriended and tried to help find work after a long jail sentence. Lebbo turned himself over to the authorities, and was tried and convicted in the shortest jury deliberation in Jamaican history: eleven minutes. Neither of his two alleged accomplices were found, though rumors persist that both were gunned down in the streets.
