For the photographer Kate Simonthe trip to Europe with them Bob Marley and the Wailers on their 1977 tour it felt like yesterday, even though 40 years had passed.

“I covered his concert Bob Marley at the Lyceum in London for a newspaper and a friend introduced us afterwards,” recalls Simon referring to meeting the reggae legend in an interview with People magazine. “I had a good relationship with him from the beginning. You can’t really define what makes good chemistry, but we had good chemistry,” he notes.

Marley later invited the American photographer and writer to Jamaica to shoot for his iconic ‘Kaya’ album cover and then asked her to join him on his 1977 European tour.

The photos are part of his book “Rebel Music: Bob Marley & Roots Reggae”, which was re-released by Genesis on November 7 and features footage of Bob Marley and his band and never-before-heard stories from those who knew them best.

“Bob would sit alone on the tour bus usually with his guitar,” says Simon, describing photos from the 1977 tour. On the bus he was really thoughtful, even in airports, reading the Bible. He often talked about interdependence and humanity,” he explains.

For ‘Kaya’ album cover Kate Simon says it’s a really famous photo. “When I go to Jamaica, I see her on billboards, I see her on bags. I am always very happy to see her. The photo shoot took place before the Exodus tour. I traveled to Kingston from London and stayed at the Sheraton and competed with Chris Blackwell (founder of Island Records) in the breaststroke pool, I was a competitive swimmer and Chris was really good. That’s how he won. I got out of the pool and there was Bob sitting at a table by the pool and I picked up my camera and photographed him while I was in my bathing suit. I think that laugh was his response to me losing the breast,” he recounts.

The book includes over 400 photographs from Kate Simon’s remarkable archive, an introduction by Patti Smith, a foreword by Lenny Kravitz, and an afterword by Keith Richards.

The stories behind the images are told by former Wailers guitarist Junior Marvin, singer Bruce Springsteen, director Don Letts and Chris Blackwell, among others.