An In-Depth Look Into Andrew Tosh

Written by Lady Cham - December, 2007

 

 

 

I don’t believe that there are many people who know the real Carlos Andrew McDonald McIntosh, a.k.a. ‘Andrew Tosh.’

Andrew is the third son of the late great Reggae warrior Hubert Winston McIntosh a.k.a. ‘Peter Tosh.’   Although Andrew is the third son of Peter’s, it is he, who has taken the mantle and is keeping the name of Peter Tosh alive.  It is Andrew who Peter has chosen to live through. 

On a recent visit to Jamaica I spent exactly 24 hours straight with Andrew Tosh and I took a deep look into who he really is, what message he is trying to relay to the world and what forces lay within him.   As you read this, keep in mind that these are my (Lady Cham’s) observations, some things about Andrew may seem ‘dark’ to many but, this is the life of TOSH.

Words of Peter Tosh "Most people don’t want to deal with me because most people say I’m hostile, some people say I’m arrogant. Them have all different kinds of names to class me and most people who hear these things are in fear to even talk to me."

Just like Peter, many people pre-judge Andrew Tosh, saying he is ignorant, angry and living in the shadows of his father.  They say these things without ever having spoken to Andrew and without even having listened Andrew’s original music.  Some are afraid to get close to Andrew Tosh or even look into what he is trying to accomplish because he walks tall, proud, boastful, and he does have an arrogant countenance; he has all these traits because he knows he has been chosen to continue the legacy of Peter Tosh, he is an Ambassador for Jamaica and Reggae music and is recognized, revered and embraced all over the world.  He is a proud black man who dares anyone to challenge him.

Spiritual Realm

Let’s go back to September 11^th 1987, the day Andrew’s father, Peter was murdered.  Andrew told me that he (Andrew) was at a popular dancehall called ‘Skateland’ in Kingston, when “I felt my father's spirit come right there to me and told me to leave that place right now.”  He says he knew something had happened to Peter but he did not expect for them to murder Peter the way they did.  Andrew says he could have dealt with it better if they had chopped off Peter’s head with a machete but to point a gun to his head and fire at point blank range he cannot understand it.  He also says “Peter believed that the cowards around him would have covered him but that was not the case, they allowed Peter to be murdered.”  Since Peter’s death those who have spent time with Andrew know that Peter lies within him.  It was at Peter’s funeral at the National Arena in Kingston, Jamaica that the public became aware that Andrew sounded exactly like Peter.  Andrew says it was astonishing, he sang Peter's "Jah Guide” and 'Equal Rights,' and everyone was amazed.  From that day, Peter has walked inside Andrew, occasionally you will hear Peter (not Andrew) become volatile, ranting and raving and being thoroughly argumentative, sometimes about the most inconsequential things.   Andrew says “I am the son of Peter Tosh, straight from Tosh backbone and no one can take that from me and no one can trouble me.”  I, Lady Cham, have looked into the eyes of Peter Tosh as he took over Andrew and I felt no fear, I could sense that Peter was a powerful force to reckon with, but he was also JUST.  Having said that, if someone were trying to hurt Andrew, I truly believe that Peter, through Andrew, would deal with them.

Raspect

Andrew is a ganja chain smoker, it is a very rare occasion that you will find him without a spliff in his mouth and he dares anyone in the world to take away his ganja.  He told me “Peter Tosh genes is in me, Peter passed on the ganja to me and so therefore I need it and four years ago I got my Cannabis Card from America and no one can stop me, they have to respect me!”   In 2004 Andrew was incarcerated in a Downtown Bakersfield, California jail after disturbing the peace at the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival.  Andrew had been asked by promoters of a show in Sierra Nevada to make a special guest appearance and perform at a show which was dubbed as a tribute to his father, Peter Tosh. Apparently, the promoters had contracted Andrew for a press release to promote the show and to drive from LA and perform at the show.  The promoters had reneged on the arrangement and informed Andrew that not only would they NOT pay him but he would NOT be performing on the show.  Incensed at the injustice, Andrew rushed the stage at the point that Burning Spear was performing and told Burning Spear to stop performing, when he realized that Spear would not stop, Andrew began to turn off monitors trying his best to stop the show. He was escorted from the stage by security personnel and was later stopped while driving and was charged and held without bail on multiple counts,   He was charged on five counts 1. Obstructing the work of a peace officer 2. Resisting arrest 3. Driving under the influence of a controlled substance 4. Threatening to terrorize 5. Two (2) counts of battery on a peace officer. While in jail, he racked up additional charges of battery on an officer and was placed in solitary confinement.  Andrew spent 2 ½ months in jail and was subsequently released and the charges dropped. 

I, like many people questioned Andrew as to why he is not headlined on the many tributes to his father Peter and he stated, “The tributes that have Andrew Tosh headlined are the official tributes endorsed by the Tosh family, all others are by those people who pirate the name of Peter Tosh and use the Tosh name to make their money.  Sometimes they want me to come and be on their show but if I do not have a contract to perform on a show I will not touch the stage, not in Jamaica or anywhere else in the world.”  Andrew rarely thinks before acting, and woe betide anyone who crosses him.  He is fiercely passionate about the truth and does not hold back his feelings, regardless of the consequences.  Andrew’s philosophy is “life is too short to beat about the bush or play games; say what you mean and act on what you say.”  

The Lighter Side

There is of course a lighter side to Andrew, one that is rarely seen as he spends most of his life on his toes, expecting the worst out of life.  He is very compassionate when it comes to his children, 3 girls and 3 boys and his eyes light up as he smiles when talking about them.  Andrew says that his wish is for all his children to come together under one roof and spend time getting to know one another, family is vitally important to him and he roams from one family home to another in Kingston, daily, just to keep connected to his family.  He also tries to visit his Grandmother Alvera Coke (Peter’s Mother) who lives in Westmoreland, Jamaica, as often as possible, saying he tries to get to her before she goes to church on a Sunday, so he can give her a ride.  He is caring, imagine me a journalist from the US in Jamaica and Andrew would call just to ask if I drank tea today!  As for the women in his life, Andrew is a lover and tries to make all of his women feel as though they are number one, he does not lie to them and each one knows that when he is not with her, he is most likely with another one of his loves.  Andrew can be playful and loves to laugh, he does not show that persona very often but when he does he captivates people with his charm.  However, watch out, for as sure as the sun will shine tomorrow, the militant Peter will emerge and the soft side of Andrew will disappear.  Typically Peter appears in Andrew when he is being tested, aggravated or when he has been disappointed.  He shuts down completely.  Andrew will quickly tell you he has no time for you and you need to move from him and don’t bother him anymore.  Those close to him know that he will snap back and they do not take his words literally, they just wait for Andrew to return.   

Music

Andrew’s music speaks volumes about his love for the Creator and mankind, Andrew explained to me that he loves Selassi I and worships Selassi every day; he points to his belt buckle which is engraved with a picture of HIM and says “this is who I wake up and praise every day Lady Cham, His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassi I.”  Andrew has released 4 albums; the first was ‘Original Man’ then ‘Make Place for the Youth’, which was nominated for a Grammy, ‘Message From Jah’ and ‘Andrew Tosh Sings Tosh: He Never Died’, which was a tribute to his father.  He has also recorded a DVD entitled ‘Tributo A Peter Tosh’ which captures a tribute show to Peter that was filmed in Brazil.  From Andrew’s entrance onto the stage on a Unicycle to his immediate capture of the audience you can see that Peter’s legacy lives on, however, you can also see that Andrew is a great artist in his own right. 

Andrew’s latest works is an album entitled ‘Focus’ and is set for release in February 2008.  Andrew wants the release to happen in February as he loves Black History month.  ‘Focus’ combines hardcore roots and culture with a message for the youth and Andrew plans on spreading the message all over the world.  He wants the youth to be focused on what really matters in life and stop spending time on material things that cannot help them. 

Peter Tosh dedicated his life to humanity and the quest for equal rights and justice for all; Andrew Tosh has dedicated his life to keeping alive his father’s legacy, and making sure that Peter’s message is forever in the minds of humans all over the world.  Andrew carries Peter within him like a torch, a beacon, sometimes dark, brooding, militant and unmanageable; but always shining the light of JUSTICE.  Take a closer look at Andrew Tosh and his works, listen to his music for yourselves, open up your hearts and minds and let the message touch your inner being.