U2’S BONO ‘BIG UP’ BRITISH PUBLICIST, ROB PARTRIDGE, WHO DIED AT AGE 60

                                                                                          By R. T.

  Bono, the popular front man for the internationally famous Irish band, U2, is quoted in the international media for paying glowing tribute to Rob Partridge, a British music industry veteran publicist, who recently passed away at the age of 60.  Partridge, who has worked as publicist for Bob Marley, U2, and other acts, which were on the roster of Chris Blackwell’s, Island Records; recently succumbed to bowel and liver caner on November 26, in London, England.

Bob Partridge was head of Island Records’ publicity department for 16 years.  He played a significant role in publicising the April 1978, “One Love Peace Concert”, which was held at the National Stadium, here in Kingston.  The headline act of that event was Bob Marley.  Two years later, he went on to sign the emerging U2 band from Dublin, Ireland to the Island Record label.

Bono, in paying his tribute to Partridge on the U2 website wrote, “”Rob Partridge was the first person in the British music industry to sing our praises.  He not only had an eye for upcoming talent, he was also a nurturer….a person who would educate you about the kind of obstacles you were going to meet and how to get over them….a rare human being,”

While at the head of Island Records’ press office, Bob Partridge acted as U2’s publicist fro over a decade, seeing them through to superstardom status with the 1987 album “The Joshua Tree.”  He also had the responsibility of keeping the images of Bob Marley and another then popular Jamaican act, Grace Jones, in the international spotlight at a time when reggae music was largely an underground sound.

Popular British singers, Tom Waits and Marianne Faithfull also came under his wings while they were on the roster of Island Records list of acts.

Rob Partridge was born in Devon, South England, and is survived by his wife Tina.