Bob Marley - a legendary musician and the most prominent representative of the reggae style - lived a very short life. His earthly path was cut short at the age of 36 due to a serious illness. The artist's religious views prevented the successful fight against the disease. In addition, among Marley's fans, the version is very popular that American special services are behind his death, eliminating the musician as an influential figure in Jamaican politics.
Disease and death
Malignant melanoma, a skin cancer that was first discovered on his big toe, and eventually spread throughout the body, led to the death of the legendary musician. Marley learned about his illness in 1977, when he began to seriously worry about an injury received on the football field. The tumor formed under the nail and, as the condition worsened, required urgent surgical treatment - amputation of the finger.
However, the question of saving lives unexpectedly came into conflict with Marley's religious beliefs. The fact is that he was an ardent follower of Rastafarianism, a doctrine that preached the interpretation of biblical values, mainly for the black population. Typical representatives of this religion were called Rastamans. According to the canons of Rastafarianism, the human body was considered a "temple" and it was forbidden to subject it to any modifications, in particular, hair cutting and flesh amputation. Like a true rastaman, Marley refused the operation he needed. In addition, he did not want to lose the opportunity to play football and move freely on stage.
By the end of the summer of 1980, the musician's condition deteriorated sharply: the tumor metastasized throughout the body. At this time, he was on a tour of the United States. The seriousness of the situation Marley began to realize when he suddenly passed out while jogging in Central Park in New York. In September 1980, the performer completed his tour ahead of schedule with a concert in Pittsburgh. This performance was the last in his life.
In search of unconventional methods of treatment, Marley went to Germany, where he turned to the doctor Josef Issels for help. This specialist, who was once a soldier in the Nazi army, combined different approaches in the fight against cancer. For his patients, he developed a special diet, used highly controversial vaccines. However, his treatment also included quite traditional elements. For example, Marley had to agree to skin grafts and chemotherapy, which caused him to lose his famous dreadlocks.
Unfortunately, after 8 months it turned out that the treatment did not work, and Marley decided to return to Jamaica to die in his homeland. During the flight, his condition deteriorated sharply. When the plane made a stop in Miami, the musician was rushed to the local University hospital, where he died on May 11, 1981. At the time of his death, next to him was the eldest son of Ziggy, to whom Marley addressed his last words: "You can't buy life with money."
Farewell to the national hero of Jamaica took place on his home island on May 21. The musician was taken off on his last journey with state honors and was buried along with his beloved guitar in a chapel located near his birthplace.
Conspiracy theories in the death of a musician
Robert Nesta Marley, a simple guy who grew up in a Jamaican village, in a short time managed to become the most popular musician in his country and a real icon for hundreds of thousands of people. As a person who sincerely worries about the fate of his homeland, he could not stay away from politics. For power in Jamaica, there was a fierce struggle between two political forces. Marley supported incumbent Prime Minister Michael Manley, for which he almost paid with his life. In December 1976, he was assassinated shortly before a series of concerts aimed at reconciling the warring parties of state power.
As a result, the musician was wounded in the chest and arm. By the way, the bullet in his hand remained with him until his death. According to one of the versions, representatives of the CIA were behind the attack, which was playing its secret game in the Caribbean, and was afraid of the growing political influence of Marley in Jamaica. When the first attempt on his life was unsuccessful, the special services allegedly resorted to a more sophisticated method.
According to one of the versions, the son of the CIA director presented the musician with a pair of boots, one of which contained a radioactive copper wire. Trying on shoes, Marley pricked his big toe, after which he developed melanoma. According to another theory, the doctor Joseph Issels, who treated the Jamaican performer, collaborated with the CIA. And on a secret mission, he was slowly killing his patient. However, both of these versions always remained at the level of legends and rumors, and no one was involved in checking their consistency.
