The world of music is full of old band members who feel gypped when one member goes on to become vastly more rich and famous than them. Especially when they’ve fathered 52 children like Aston Barrett.

Aston Barrett, unsurprisingly known as ‘Family Man’ played bass in The Wailers. And now he’s suing the family and record label of Bob Marley because he thinks that he’s owed about £60 million in unpaid royalties. Which, when split between him and all his kids, works out at just over a million quid each. Doesn’t seem so bad when you look at it like that.

Former Wailer (CDs) Aston ‘Family Man’ Barrett is suing the family and
record label of Bob Marley in London’s High Court for what he claims are
£60 million in unpaid royalties, stemming from a record contract signed
in 1974 plus a number of songs that Barrett co-wrote with Bob Marley.

The barrister of Aston ‘Family Man Barrett’, Stephen Bate, told the
court yesterday that since Bob Marley died, his old musicians -
including Aston Barrett and his late drummer brother Carlton, were left
"desperately short of money." Then again, that’s what having 52 kids
does to a man’s wallet. Bate added:

"Aston Barrett and his brother
literally created the sound of the Wailers, though not for a minute to
detract from the extraordinary songwriting ability of Mr. Marley… It
was the Barretts’ unique sound which brought the Wailers international
success. The Barretts were the bedrock of the music."

The lawsuit
claims that an old record contract promised that all royalties Wailers
albums including Natty Dread and Rastaman Vibration would be split
equally. Island records, on the other hand, claims that Barrett and the
Wailers gave up those rights for a one-off payment in 1994.

Judging
by the number of children Aston Barrett had, we wish him all the best.
Because the chances of us being somehow related to him are pretty huge, and we want to freeload the shit out of him if he wins.

Read more:

Ex-Wailer Gets Up, Stands Up in Court – E! Online 

[story by Stuart Heritage]