Revisiting a reggae legend

Stacy Tamori

Think you?re a Bob Marley fan? Reggae expert Roger Steffens has six rooms and a garage filled with memorabilia from Bob Marley?s career and private life.

Steffens, the founding editor of “The Beat” magazine, will be sharing his knowledge and passion for the reggae legend through a film and lecture entitled “The Life of Bob Marley” at Sacramento State?s University Union Ballroom. This presentation was postponed after the Sept. 11 attacks, but has been rescheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

“It?s the half that has never been told about Bob Marley. No matter how much you think you?ve seen or known about Bob, you?ll be shaken and surprised by what I?m bringing,” Steffens said.

The footage Steffens will be showing is unreleased and varies from the earliest known video filmed in January 1973 to a chilling documentary about the assassination attempt on his life in 1976, as well as concert footage.

“What I want to show is that the person Bob became, the noble, moral figure he has been universally acknowledged as, is worthy of our respect,” Steffens said.

The lecture will tell Bob Marley?s true-life story, with most of it based on more than 80 hours of interviews Steffens has done with Bunny Wailer for Marley?s autobiography.

Steffens? favorite piece of Marley memorabilia is a blurry picture of them together in the singer?s dressing room in 1979, taken when Steffens was traveling with him.

“It?s the only one I have of us together, and it means more to me than anything,” Steffens said.

The event is free of charge, and is sure to be a memorable, informative and brilliant documentary of Bob Marley?s life told through the eyes of his biggest fan.