Lee Perry Interview in todays Metro (+ link)

[drbluebeat]

In the paper bu also online here

Done my best to format it below

60 SECONDS: Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
BY GRAEME GREEN - Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Lee Perry

Lee 'Scratch' Perry is a Grammy award-winning dub and reggae artist and producer who's worked with Bob Marley, King Tubby and the Mad Professor. Also known as The Upsetter, he has a reputation for being a bit mad and claims he burned down his old recording studio. He now lives with his wife and two children in Switzerland. His album, The Upsetter Selection, is out now, as part of Trojan Records' 40th anniversary celebrations.

How does it feel looking back on half a century of making music?
It’s good to show what we all did and what we all went through. It’s good to show people you’re still alive.

Have you a trademark sound?
My trademark is righteousness. There are two parties: the party of construction and the party of destruction and crucifixion. If you use righteous people to play the music, then you’ll have music that is righteous and that music will live forever. If the music is not righteous, it has nothing to do. It is doomed.

You sound like a man on a mission.
I am a man with a mission. I did not make reggae from the dancehall. I made reggae out of righteousness. My music is on the top shelf to lead the world to a higher power.

Is your work with Trojan records one of the things you’re proudest of?
Well, I’m proud of myself. And the people who are not proud of me, that’s not my fault. Reggae music was not started in Jamaica and people in Jamaica should realise that. It started in England with me and punk bands such as The Clash. What was in Jamaica was ska and, after that, rock-steady. But reggae started in England with the punk party. All the parties before – the ska party and the rock-steady party – they were not reggae.

Where does your name The Upsetter come from?
Upsetter has two meanings. The word is good and the word is evil, so you have to know how to use it. Some people are going to upset the people and put them down but I want to upset them and put them up.

Some people think I am a mad, mad, mad man but if I wasn’t, I’d have too many people around

Is it true you believe your music comes from angels and spirits?
My music is from my dreams and my dreams are my life.

Did you feel that, like Bob Marley, you had a role to play in furthering black human rights?
I tried to do that. That’s why I named my studio Black Ark but then I found some black people fighting against me, so I thought: ‘Why should I bother to try to help black people?’ They should look to Bob [Marley]. I am really a human rights fighter. I know I am. It’s hard for me to admit it, yes, because of black people’s reaction to me. I believe in black supremacy because we are black. I think we are the colour of gold. I was fighting for that, to bring it to life, but then I find myself with white people on my side and black people saying I am crazy and mad.

‘Mad’ often comes up in descriptions of you. How do you feel about that?
When I am mad, I have more chances, because if I am not mad then I have too many friends. Some people think I am a mad, mad, mad man but if I wasn’t, I’d have too many people around.

Did you really burn down your studio?
Of course I did.

Is it true you thought Satan was in the studio?
Satan is everywhere. Satan is always in the mix.

Reggae and punk merged in the late 1970s. What do you think of punk music?
I came to punk because, even when musicians were not really singing with good voices, they had the energy of revolution. The punks found me and they were looking for something for the revolution.

At 71, do you still dance and party like the early days?
I don’t go to dance parties anymore. I’m too old.

What kind of music are you listening to at the moment?
Generally, I listen to old-time American rhythm and blues, and old-time American soul and jazz music.

Do you like living in Switzerland?
Well, if it wasn’t for Switzerland, I’d be in Jamaica making ghetto music. I would end up in the ghetto and have too many of the ghetto beggars around. I prefer Switzerland, where I can chill out. Switzerland has become my bodyguard, so I don’t have so many people come begging any more or people to support. I enjoy it here. You can just live your life without anyone disturbing or tormenting you. They love the music here as well.

You’re known for creating futuristic sounds. Is that what interests you?
The thing about my music is it has the power to turn back time to what was, and to make what was wasn’t.

[danny bwoy]

nice one

though prancehall asked him questions that REALLY matter - like: "Have you got a girlfriend right now?"

[-blade-]

Lee Perry is the Magicman tho kool to hear hes healty and alive

[ikonika]

wicked,
was trying to read it over someones shoulder on tube while snot was pouring out my nose. reading it here is more comfortable

[ikonika]

'Satan is always in the mix' thats a quote and a half

should of asked him what he feels bout dubstep

[selector.dub.u]

good interview.

[Jubz]

One of them interviews where he keeps hisdistance, he aint so mad.