Wailers bassist loses Marley royalties action

ASTON ‘Family Man’ Barrett, bass player in Bob Marley’s band The Wailers, failed yesterday in his battle for a multimillion-pound slice of the late reggae legend’s royalties.

Barrett, who with his drummer brother, Carlton, is credited with having invented the reggae beat which swept the world, was seeking up to £60 million (€88m) he claimed he was owed since Marley died aged 36 in 1981 without making a will.

But London 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 further action without court consent.