DISGRACELAND: Peter Tosh (Pt. 2) – A Home Invasion, an Assassination, and No Compromise

Release Date: October 5, 2025
Host: Jake Brennan (Double Elvis Productions)

Episode Overview

This gripping second installment on the life and death of reggae legend Peter Tosh delves into the circumstances surrounding his brutal 1987 murder, examining the revolutionary’s unwavering stance against injustice, and the high personal cost he paid for refusing to compromise. Jake Brennan reconstructs the fateful night of Tosh’s assassination and explores the broader themes of power, betrayal, and truth, juxtaposed with Tosh’s lifelong commitment to using music as a force for social change.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Night of the Murder: September 11, 1987

[02:15 – 13:40]

• Setting the Scene: Kingston, Jamaica, is described as a place where reggae music is the heartbeat of society. But the night of Tosh's murder, there is only the sound of crickets and an ominous, blood-red sky.
• Home Invasion: Peter Tosh, his partner Marlene Brown, and friends are at home when a familiar face, Dennis “Leppo” Lobban, arrives with two armed men (once friend, now threat), intent on robbery and violence.
• Dramatic Tension: The assailants demand money, believing Tosh wealthy from international tours. When they come up empty-handed, violence escalates:
  • “He got down on his belly. Leppo wanted to know where the money was. Peter shook his head. There was no money. Not the kind of money Leppo was talking about.” (07:47, Jake Brennan)
  • Marlene confronts Leppo, denouncing his betrayal.
• Gunfire Erupts: Additional guests arrive mid-crime, further chaos ensues. The attackers ultimately open fire, killing Peter Tosh, Doc Brown, and Free Eye Dixon, while severely injuring Marlene.

Tosh’s Path to Danger: Outspoken, Unyielding Revolutionary

[16:54 – 25:23]

• Marked Man: Tosh lived years believing he had a target on his back, a sentiment reinforced by the fates of global revolutionaries (King, Malcolm X, Lennon).
• Philosophy & Friction:
  • Tosh refused to embrace peace at the expense of truth and justice. Unlike Marley, he saw reggae as a weapon for change, not just unity and love.
  • “Music wasn’t about being famous. It was about delivering a message. And not a message to shake your ass. A message that if things didn’t change, you’d no longer have an ass to shake.” (17:24, Jake Brennan)
• Radio 1 Uprising: Tosh and DJ Free Eye Dixon attempt to buy Jamaica’s Radio 1 to counter the government’s “downpressing” of Rasta/Black culture. Their bid is denied, increasing his exposure and vulnerability.
• Spiritual Protection: Ailing from ulcers, Tosh sought bush doctors in Africa. He returns unchanged, his stubbornness and danger only more pronounced.

Aftermath & Theories: Who Killed Peter Tosh?

[27:10 – 35:50]

• Motivation? Revenge, Wounded Pride, or Murder-for-Hire?
  Brennan presents three competing theories:

  • 1. Revenge: Leppo, supported by Tosh during prison, felt undercompensated upon release; resentment festered.
  • 2. Wounded Ego: Marlene’s protective management and harsh words provoked Leppo, leading to fatal vengeance.
  • 3. Conspiracy (Murder for Hire): Tosh’s activism and plans for the airwaves threatened those in power; government/authorities may have used Leppo as a pawn.
    • “Flanked by two men who were not criminals like Leppo, but actually cops… a detail allegedly later confirmed by an anonymous Jamaican official.” (33:09)

• Sham Justice: Only Leppo is arrested (fastest conviction in Jamaican history, 11 minutes), despite eyewitnesses and unclosed leads on the other attackers:

  • “There was no search for the other two gunmen. No interest in finding out more about the shocking tragedy that had rippled through Jamaica and the reggae world. No interest in the truth…” (34:20)

Eyewitnesses & Final Moments

[35:57 – 39:02]

• Survivor Testimonies: Marlene Brown, Santa Davis, Michael Robinson, and Joy Dixon all identify Leppo as ringleader.
• Santa Davis Recounts: Narrowly avoids death but is gravely wounded, “drowning in his own blood.”
• Tosh’s Posthumous Recognition: Peter dies weeks before his 43rd birthday and his first Grammy win for “No Nuclear War”—the award that finally recognized his influence.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Leppo jammed his gun into the back of Marlene’s head, forcing her into the carpet. One of the other gunmen began to pistol whip Peter in the head. ‘You’re dying tonight,’ the man said.” (10:35, Jake Brennan)
• "Peter wasn't some street dealer who kept his bills stuffed under his mattress. He was a major recording artist on EMI Records now. He had international bank accounts. He had accountants." (06:35)
• “Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, John Lennon… The assassin’s gun found each and every one of them before long, and they almost got to Bob, too, though Peter wasn’t ruling out the possibility that they actually did get to his former bandmate.” (17:12, Jake Brennan)
• “Love wasn’t going to protect him from some asshole with a pistol and no moral compass. Peter grew tired of love and love songs. He’d been over those for years now…” (17:29, Jake Brennan)
• “In the end, Leppo fancied himself a tough guy, but in the end, he was just a patsy. Or so went the thinking.” (34:45)
• “I'm afraid Mr. Tosh has left us.” —Doctor, after failed resuscitation efforts (38:11)

Important Timestamps

• [02:15] – The murder reenactment begins
• [07:47] – Peter’s confrontation with Leppo
• [10:35] – Violence escalates; Peter is pistol whipped
• [13:40] – The assailants open fire
• [16:54] – Tosh’s revolutionary path and growing threats
• [22:15] – The Radio 1 takeover plot
• [24:50] – Tosh’s African healing journey
• [27:10] – Motive theories and Leppo’s background
• [33:09] – Discussion of murder-for-hire theory
• [34:20] – Discussion on lack of further investigation
• [38:11] – Santa Davis’s survival and Tosh’s death
• [39:00] – Peter Tosh’s legacy and posthumous Grammy

Episode Tone & Style

Jake Brennan delivers the story in a vivid, pulpy, narrative style, blending factual reporting with noir dramatization. There’s reverence for Tosh’s artistry and suffering, but also a sense of righteous indignation at the injustice and unresolved mysteries lingering over his murder. The tone is urgent, cinematic, and at times bitterly ironic—a signature Disgraceland approach.

Closing Thoughts

This episode offers a haunting portrait of Peter Tosh as an audacious, uncompromising figure—beloved, feared, ultimately martyred for his refusal to soften his message or shield himself from the dangers of truth-telling. It’s a sobering tale of fame’s cost, unfinished justice, and the enduring struggle between power and resistance—underscored by reggae’s indomitable rhythm, even in silence.