Strawberry Alarm Clock

Ed King went on to join Lynyrd Skynyrd and several members of Strawberry Alarm Clock reunited in the '80s to perform on oldies tours. These are the highest rated compilations on All Music Guide. In various forms the group managed to keep performing until 1971, when the band finally broke up. One of Tosh's personal friends was sentenced to hang following the murder trial. Although the group followed up with more LPs in 1968 (The World in a Seashell) and 1969 (Good Morning Starshine) the band had begun to fall apart and the audience was mostly gone. Only one of the three men was caught. Gary Lovetro left the band before the second album, Wake Up It's Tomorrow, (also 1967). He died on September 11, 1987.

Bunnell would also become their main songwriter. Membership changes were many. Shortly after the release of his 1987 album, No Nuclear War, Tosh was murdered at his own home during a burglary. After that success the band added George Bunnell (bass and rhythm guitar) before making their first LP in 1967. After the release of 1983's Mama Africa, Tosh went into self-imposed exile, seeking the spiritual advice of traditional medicine men in Africa, and trying to free himself from recording agreements that distributed his records in South Africa. Interestingly, on their first and most famous single, "Incense and Peppermints," lead vocals were sung by Greg Munford, a 16-year-old friend of the band. Released on the Rolling Stones' personal label, Tosh tried to gain some mainstream success while keeping his militant views, but was largely unsuccessful, especially compared to Marley's achievements. The group originally consisted of Ed King (lead guitar), Mark Weitz (keyboards), Lee Freeman (guitar), Gary Lovetro (bass), and Randy Seol (drums). Bush Doctor (1978), Mystic Man (1979), and Wanted: Dread or Alive followed.

Strawberry Alarm Clock was a psychedelic rock band from Los Angeles, best known for their 1967 hit "Incense and Peppermints" and their appearance in the film Beyond The Valley of the Dolls. His lyric "I don't want no peace, I want equal rights and justice!" would become a rallying cry for the world's downtrodden masses. Always taking the militant approach, he released Equal Rights in 1977. He proudly wore his scars that he had received from the beatings he endured. As Marley preached his "One Love" message, Tosh railed against the hypocritical "shitstem," and became a favorite target of the Jamaican police.

The title track soon became an anthem for the marijuana movement and was a favorite at Tosh's concerts. McIntosh began recording under the name Peter Tosh, and released his solo debut, Legalize It, in 1976 on CBS Records. When Marley was eventually told the whole story he allegedly laughed and responded: "Petah? Fussin'? You don't say!" - suggesting like many other sources that some of Tosh's personal relationships were stormy and complicated but not necessarily mean spirited. Later that day Bob casually walked into a room where Peter was relaxing with some of their mutual friends but mysteriously McIntosh seemed happy to see him and made no mention of any misgivings about the controversial relationship.

He talked big and threatened both physical violence and damnation and hellfire for his friend, vowing to track him down and take him to task. Many biographies focusing on members of the Wailers relate a specific incident where several people alleged that Tosh became enraged upon hearing that Marley was seeing a well known white woman in Kingston. McIntosh became bitter with his ex-bandmate, claiming that the only reason Marley was so successful was that his father was white, although it should be noted that Peter was known for having a big mouth and was not always to be taken too seriously in his pronouncements. After Island Records president Chris Blackwell refused to issue his solo album in 1974, the volatile McIntosh and Bunny Wailer left the Wailers citing the unfair treatment they received from Blackwell, who Tosh often referred to as 'Whiteworse'.

He survived, but became even harder to deal with. In 1973, McIntosh accidentally drove his car off a bridge, killing his girlfriend at the time and severely fracturing his own skull. The band earned a record contract with Island and released their debut, Catch a Fire, in 1972; following it up with Burnin' the following year. The Wailers penned several songs for American singer Johnny Nash before teaming up with production wizard Lee Perry to record some of reggae's earliest hits including "Soul Rebel," "Duppy Conqueror" and "Small Axe." With the addition of bassist Aston "Family Man" Barrett and his brother, drummer Carlton in 1970, the Wailers became Caribbean superstars.

Veering away from the up-tempo dance of ska, the band slowed down to a rock-steady pace, and infused their lyrics with political and social messages. Soon afterwards, they renamed the group the Wailers. McIntosh and Bunny were already rastafarians when Bob returned from the USA and the three became heavily involved in the Rastafarian movement. Marley spent much of 1966 in America with his mother, but he returned to Jamaica in early 1967 with a renewed interest in music and a new spirituality.

The Wailing Wailers had a huge ska hit with their first single, "Simmer Down," and recorded several more successful singles before Braithwaite, Kelso and Smith left the band in late 1965. In 1962 he was the driving force behind the trio's formation of the Wailing Wailers with Junior Braithwaite and back-up singers Beverly Kelso and Cherry Smith. In the early 1960s he met Bob Marley and Bunny Livingston through his guitar teacher, Joe Higgs and taught Bob to play the guitar. Although his short-fuse temper usually kept him in trouble, earning him the nickname Stepping Razor, he began to sing and learn guitar at a young age, inspired by the American stations he could pick up on his radio.

Born Winston Hubert McIntosh, young Peter grew up in the Kingston, Jamaica slum of Trenchtown. Militant, well-read and trailblazing, Tosh was the Malcolm X to former bandmate Bob Marley's Martin Luther King, Jr. Peter Tosh (October 9, 1944 – September 11, 1987) was a pioneer reggae musician. The Essential Peter Tosh - the Columbia Years (2003).

Arise Black Man (1999). Scrolls Of The Prophet: The Best of Peter Tosh (1999). Honorary Citizen (1997). Collection Gold (1994).

No Nuclear War (1987). Captured Live (1984). Mama Africa (1983). Wanted Dread And Alive (1981).

Mystic Man (1979). Island Zorro (1979). Bush Doctor (1978). Equal Rights (1977).

Legalize It (1976).