
Steppin' Razor
The Rebel Life of Peter Tosh
John Masouri(Author)
Omnibus Press
Published on 19. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
512 pages
978-1-917274-20-3 (ISBN)
Description
'A masterwork' - Roger Steffens
Peter Tosh: the rude boy, the radical,
the Rasta. A founding member of The Wailers and a compelling recording artist
in his own right, Tosh was much more than Bob Marley's bandmate. An
uncompromising firebrand, he was Jamaica's most controversial star.
In this, the very first and definitive
biography of Tosh, esteemed reggae journalist John Masouri explores one of
reggae's most extraordinary stories. This story ended in violence in 1987, when
Tosh was brutally murdered. In the aftermath, rumours swirled about his
involvement in Kingston's criminal underworld.
Steppin' Razor draws on hundreds of
interviews with those who knew Peter Tosh best, including Bunny Wailer and
other close associates. Tracing Tosh's recording career from The Wailers to
international acclaim, Masouri details his encounters with Eric Clapton and Joe
Cocker and his volatile relationships with Bob Marley and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.
Tosh's darker side is also revealed - from his fascination with the occult to,
in unprecedented detail, the events surrounding his tragic, untimely and
mysterious death.
Peter Tosh: the rude boy, the radical,
the Rasta. A founding member of The Wailers and a compelling recording artist
in his own right, Tosh was much more than Bob Marley's bandmate. An
uncompromising firebrand, he was Jamaica's most controversial star.
In this, the very first and definitive
biography of Tosh, esteemed reggae journalist John Masouri explores one of
reggae's most extraordinary stories. This story ended in violence in 1987, when
Tosh was brutally murdered. In the aftermath, rumours swirled about his
involvement in Kingston's criminal underworld.
Steppin' Razor draws on hundreds of
interviews with those who knew Peter Tosh best, including Bunny Wailer and
other close associates. Tracing Tosh's recording career from The Wailers to
international acclaim, Masouri details his encounters with Eric Clapton and Joe
Cocker and his volatile relationships with Bob Marley and Lee 'Scratch' Perry.
Tosh's darker side is also revealed - from his fascination with the occult to,
in unprecedented detail, the events surrounding his tragic, untimely and
mysterious death.
Reviews / Votes
'Astoundingly detailed... authoritatively written' Record CollectorMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 196 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 43 mm
Weight
522 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-917274-20-3 (9781917274203)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
02/2026
Omnibus Press
€11.49
Available for download
Persons
John Masouri is a British music journalist and author based in Cornwall, with over four decades of expertise illuminating reggae and its vibrant offshoots - roots, dub, dancehall, and lovers rock. He's written acclaimed biographies like Wailing Blues: The Story of Bob Marley's Wailers, Pressure Drop: Reggae in the Seventies, and Simmer Down: The Early Wailers' Story. A longtime contributor to Echoes magazine, he has also penned album liner notes, interviews, and documentaries for BBC, VP Records, and major labels.