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The Bug
I’ve got the bug again! No, not that one. The creative bug.
As you’ll know if you’ve read my blogs before, I’ve spent most of my time so far this year working on updating my website and doing dull (but essential) admin, yet this week I realised I hadn’t worked on any new designs since late last year. There were a few things I had been working on that I just pressed pause on, so it was time to pick back up on them and get stuff done.
Marley
The design I’ve been spending most time on this week is one of Bob Marley. Now, I love Bob Marley – who doesn’t? He was the epitome of 70’s cool. While most people in 70’s music were getting busy with glittery spandex, Marley forged his own path. His early music was proper reggae – dubby, fuggy, dense bass. If you haven’t heard early Marley, you really should stop reading this, click this link, and listen to this.
When Marley moved to London in 1976, he altered his style to incorporate a few more Western elements (rock, blues), and he became a huge worldwide star. Although the reggae side was watered down a bit to incorporate these new styles, his music became even more seminal. He became a global symbol of Jamaican culture, identity, music, spirituality and cool.
Battered Gibson
This was a guy who survived assassination attempts, believed in a united Africa, loved his football, had amazing hair, and played a beautiful, battered, aged-cherry Gibson Les Paul. Guitars that look well-used and well-loved are just the best. I dream of playing a guitar so much that I carve wear marks into it. I know I could buy a relic or do it myself, but it’s just not the same is it?
I’m too young to have seen Marley live, but I have seen The Wailers with Aston “Familyman” Barrett on bass, and, wow, that was something else! Definitely the closest I’ll get to seeing anything like the Bob Marley live experience. I’ve missed out on seeing a few proper legends live – Bowie, Prince – But I have got to see some others – Oasis, McCartney. I’m determined to not miss out on any others once we can start to go to gigs again.
The ‘Twist’
Anyway, I digress. My Marley is looking good, so much so, I shared a ‘work-in-progress’ image on my socials this week and I’ve never done this before. As I write this, the piece is nearly finished and I even have an idea for the MaadWeb ‘twist’: that subtle part of my works that should set it apart from the crowd. I haven’t seen anyone else doing the idea that I’ve got and I think it might become part of a regular series it’s that good.
Watch this space!
Today’s soundtrack: Legend – The Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers (obviously)
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