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Marley bassist loses $113M claim

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Bob Marley died in 1981 of cancer without leaving a will.

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Bob Marley
Justice and Rights
London
Great Britain

LONDON, England -- A British judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Bob Marley's bass guitarist Aston "Family Man" Barrett for a multimillion-pound slice of the late reggae legend's royalties.

Barrett, who was seeking £60 million ($113 million) in unpaid royalties from Island Records and the Marley family, heard the verdict at London's High Court on Monday.

High Court judge Mr. Justice Lewison threw out the claim against Universal-Island and the Marley family and imposed an order barring Barrett from taking any further action without the permission of the court.

The musician now faces legal costs for the trial approaching £2 million and must sell his two homes in Jamaica.

Barrett, now 60 and reputedly the father of 52 children, had testified that he and his brother Carlton Barrett, a drummer for the reggae band, who was murdered in 1985, received little money after Marley died of cancer aged 36 in 1981 without making a will.

The brothers played on several albums by Bob Marley and the Wailers, including "Natty Dread," "Rastaman Vibration" and "Babylon by Bus."

Barrett had claimed Marley promised the members of the band equal shares of the royalties from hit albums including "Natty Dread," "Rastaman Vibration" and "Babylon by Bus."

The judge agreed with arguments put by Island-Universal and the Marley family that Barrett surrendered his rights to any further royalties in a 1994 settlement in exchange for several hundred thousand dollars.

In a press release after the ruling, the Marley family said: "For the last four years Aston Barrett has persisted in this hurtful and extremely expensive claim which was actually settled in 1994.

"The family of Bob Marley is delighted that the claim has now been rejected in full.

"We always felt that this would be the outcome and it was hard to listen to Aston Barrett reduce his friend Bob to someone who was more interested in playing football than making music.

"It is good to see our position vindicated."

During the hearing in March this year, Stephen Bate, representing the musician, told the judge: "Aston Barrett and his brother literally created the sound of the Wailers, though not for a minute to detract from the extraordinary songwriting ability of Mr. Marley.

"It was the Barretts' unique sound which brought the Wailers international success."

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