From Roger Steffens regarding "Old Fire Sticks" 4/9/02

Hi Mike,

You may post this if you wish for all those inquiring about Bunny's book:

Leroy Jodie Pierson and I have been working on Bunny Wailer's autobiography, 
"Old Fire Sticks," since October of 1990.  It has been a long and arduous 
process. Sixty-four hours of interviews had to be transcribed - that took 
years and filled 1,800 pages.  

The index alone is 45 pages. For example, every time the Lee Perry period was 
mentioned, we had to locate and review what Bunny told us.  Ultimately, all 
of this raw material had to be synthesized into an accurate chronological 
account. Next, because the book is intended for an international 
English-speaking audience, we had to refine the patois into a more 
understandable form but also retain the natural rhythm and poetry of Bunny's 
speech.  

Three completed chapters - on the Wailers return to Nine Mile and retirement 
from the music business in 1967; on the founding of their own Wail 'n Soul 'm 
record label; and on Bunny's ganja arrest, trial and 14 month imprisonment - w
ere given to him in Colorado in September of 1998. Since then he has not read 
them.

Obviously Leroy and I cannot continue until we have his approval of this 
literary "voice," this style. If he really doesn't like how it reads, then 
we'll have to find another way. But I'm not going to go ahead and write an 
entire book and then have him tell me it's not how he wanted it.  This is 
supposed to be, after all, a collaboration.

So the ball has sat in Bunny's court for 3 1/2 years now, and he doesn't seem 
to be in any hurry to move it forward. He told me a couple of years ago that 
I should come to Florida "and read it to" him. I don't have that kind of 
time, neither does Leroy. We have been working with no money in all this 
time, no contract, and mounting frustration. This is largely due to the fact 
that the information in Bunny's story is unique, thrilling, controversial, 
amazingly detailed, corrosive, amusing, and ultimately the Wailers' own 
history as only he himself remains to tell it. And for all those who have 
passed in the last decade, without ever having read this story, my heart goes 
out. Every day we lose more of the warriors who were there in the days this 
remarkable tale was being lived out - they're the ones who need - and would 
appreciate it -  most. So Bunny is robbing his own fans - and ultimately the 
world, and allowing other (predominantly non-Jamaican) writers to weave the 
story in their ways, not his. He often complains bitterly about distortions 
in the Wailers history, so it is his duty to set the record straight. I had 
hoped to play a part in that vital work, but now I have doubts that it shall 
ever be accomplished in my lifetime.

My heart is lighter, however, with the knowledge that these interviews do 
exist - on tape and paper - in several secure locations, so that ultimately 
our children's children will have a fuller story than we seem destined to 
discover. At least it's there.

Why is Bunny reacting this way?  I don't know. I can tell you that his 
recently deceased drummer/band leader Carl Ayton, pulled me aside at the 
opening night party for my exhibition at the Queen Mary last year. Bunny had 
been the promised headliner, and he sent his entire 18 member entourage ahead 
the day before the Friday night party - but Bunny never showed up until late 
Sunday afternoon. "Roger," said Carl, "you know Bunny is never going to 
finish that book." Stunned, I asked why. "In order to get his royalties from 
the Marley box 'Songs of Freedom,' he had to promise Rita Marley no to 
publish his book." If this is so, Bunny never told us, but his silence, and 
continuing refusal to re-engage his work, speak for themselves.