On May 11th, 1981, the world lost the celebrated poet, philosopher reggae icon Bob Marley. From his humble birth on his grandmother’s farm, Marley rose to the status of cultural icon. The laid-back island vibe of his music ran in contrast to the passionate way he addressed the topics of equality, love, and hope. It’s difficult to fully grasp the impact he has had on our society as a whole, but, of all he left behind, nothing is more important than the music.

Marley’s songs are ingrained in the world’s collective conscious, and musicians continue to pay tribute by performing them. Enjoy this video playlist of some of our favorites, and join us in remembering Bob Marley on the anniversary of his death.

Phish – “Trenchtown Rock”

On the 11th of August, 1998, jam band superstars Phish took the stage and blew the crowd away with a stellar version of Marley’s “Trenchtown Rock”. Check out their take below:

[Video: deadphishpanthers76]

Eric Clapton – “I Shot The Sheriff”

A whole section of the music-loving population got introduced to Marley’s music, thanks to Eric Clapton‘s chart-topping cover of Marley’s classic “I Shot The Sheriff”. Listen to a stellar version of the tune from 2010’s Crossroads Festival below:

[Video: RHINO]

Eddie Vedder & Beyonce – “Redemption Song”

Eddie Vedder and his band Pearl Jam have often covered Marley’s plaintive “Redemption Song”, but the night Vedder was joined onstage by superstar Beyonce, the version they performed transformed the song into something all their own.

[Video: Beyoncé LEGENDAS]

The Fugees – “No Woman No Cry”

Hip-hop supergroup The Fugees were known for liberally mixing reggae flavors into their musical stew, and their wildly popular cover of “No Woman No Cry” helped show that Marley’s music was open to endless reinterpretation.  Check it out below:

The Bob Marley All-Star Tribute – “One Love”

An all-star memorial tribute to Marley in 1999 featured his children, alongside superstars like Lauryn Hill, Chrissie Hynde, Chris Robinson, and many more. The show ended with everyone coming out on stage for a joyous version of “One Love”. Check it out below:

[Video: LAUTAREX VIDEOS]

Greensky Bluegrass – “Could You Be Loved”

Showing that Bob Marley’s music knows no boundaries, Greensky Bluegrass adapts his island flavor into their roots music style with surprisingly heartwarming deftness on their version of “Could You Be Loved”. Fire it up below for an uplifting musical experience.

[Video: GreenskyBluegrass]

The String Cheese Incident – “Exodus”

The String Cheese Incident is a band of many influences, but during this version of Marley’s album title track “Exodus”, they show just how in tune they are with his legendary vibe. Have a listen below:

[Video: The String Cheese Incident]

Matisyahu – “Running Away”

The reggae love runs deep in Matisyahu, and he has covered many of Marley’s tunes over the years. We decided that his version of “Running Away” was his finest representation of Marley’s spirit, and placed it below for all to hear.

[Video: Billboard]

Umphrey’s McGee – “Lively Up Yourself”

Jam band shredders Umphrey’s McGee is known for some stellar covers, and their version of “Lively Up Yourself” with special guest Adam Smirnoff from Lettuce was one for the ages. Check it out below.

[Video: TheQuinnski]

Tara Nevins – “Talkin Blues”

Tara Nevins, a founding member of Donna The Buffalo, took an American approach to interpreting Marley’s lesser heard “Talkin’ Blues”, and the results were very enjoyable. Check it out below:

Sublime – “Zimbabwe”

Bradley Nowell and his cohorts in Sublime were more to the ska end of the reggae influences, but this stripped down acoustic version of Marley’s “Zimbabwe” shows that they were more than capable of treating the material with proper reverence. Give a listen below:

Of course, this is just a portion of the many, many bands who have taken Bob Marley’s work to the stage. It’s a sure sign of the respect and love Marley inspired that so many of the most talented musicians in the world list him as an inspiration. In good times and bad, Marley had his music to sustain him, and his work has lit the way for endless numbers of people weary of the weight of the world.

“When the music hits you, you feel no pain.”