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Biography

Lee "Scratch" Perry

 

Lee "Scratch" Perry OD (born Rainford Hugh Perry, 20 March 1936 in Kendal, Jamaica)[1] is a Jamaican reggaeproducer noted for his innovative studio techniques and production values. Perry was one of the pioneers in the development of dub music with his early adoption of effects and remixing to create new instrumental or vocal versions of existing reggae tracks.[2] Perry has worked with Bob Marley and the Wailers, Junior Murvin, the Congos, Max Romeoand many others.

 

Early career[edit]

Perry's musical career began in the late 1950s as a record seller for Clement Coxsone Dodd's sound system. As his sometimes turbulent relationship with Dodd developed, he found himself performing a variety of important tasks at Dodd's Studio One hit factory, going on to record nearly thirty songs for the label.[1] Disagreements between the pair due to personality and financial conflicts led him to leave the studio and seek new musical outlets. He soon found a new home at Joe Gibbs's Amalgamated Records.[1]

Working with Gibbs, Perry continued his recording career but, once again, financial problems caused conflict. Perry broke ranks with Gibbs and formed his own label, Upsetter Records, in 1968. His first major single "People Funny Boy", which was an insult directed at Gibbs, sold well with 60,000 copies sold in Jamaica alone. It is notable for its innovative use of a sample (a crying baby) as well as a fast, chugging beat that would soon become identifiable as "reggae" (the new kind of sound which was given the name "Steppers"). Similarly his acrimonious 1967 single as Lee "King" PerryRun for Cover was likewise aimed at Sir Coxsone. From 1968 until 1972 he worked with his studio band The Upsetters. During the 1970s, Perry released numerous recordings on a variety of record labels that he controlled, and many of his songs were popular in both Jamaica and the UK. He soon became known for his innovative production techniques as well as his eccentric character.[1] In 1970 Perry produced and released The Wailers track "Mr Brown" (1970) with its unusual use of studio effects and eerie opening highlighting his unique approach to production.

The Black Ark[edit]

In 1973, Perry built a studio in his back yard, the Black Ark, to have more control over his productions and continued to produce notable musicians such as Bob Marley & the Wailers, Junior Byles, Junior Murvin, the Heptones, the Congos and Max Romeo. With his own studio at his disposal, Perry's productions became more lavish, as the energetic producer was able to spend as much time as he wanted on the music he produced. Virtually everything Perry recorded in The Black Ark was done using basic recording equipment; through sonic sleight-of-hand, Perry made it sound unique. Perry remained behind the mixing desk for many years, producing songs and albums that stand out as a high point in reggae history.

By 1978, stress and unwanted outside influences began to take their toll: both Perry and The Black Ark quickly fell into a state of disrepair. Eventually, the studio burned to the ground. Perry has constantly insisted that he burned the Black Ark himself in a fit of rage.

After Black Ark (1980s and 1990s)[edit]

After the demise of the Black Ark in the early 1980s, Perry spent time in England and the United States, performing live and making erratic records with a variety of collaborators.[1] His career took a new path in 1985 when he met Mark Downie (Marcus Downbeat) with whom he worked on the 1986 album "Battle Of Armagideon" for Trojan. It was not until the late 1980s, when he began working with British producers Adrian Sherwood and Neil Fraser (who is better known asMad Professor), that Perry's career began to get back on solid ground again. Perry also has attributed the recent resurgence of his creative muse to his deciding to quit drinking alcohol and smoking cannabis. Perry stated in an interview that he wanted to see if "it was the smoke making the music or Lee Perry making the music. I found out it was me and that I don't need to smoke."[3]

In 1998 Perry reached a wider global audience as vocalist on the track "Dr. Lee, PhD" from the Beastie Boys' album Hello Nasty.[4]

Later career[edit]

In 2003, Perry won a Grammy for Best Reggae Album with the album Jamaican E.T.. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Perry #100 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.[5] More recently, he teamed up with a group of Swiss musicians and performed under the name Lee Perry and the White Belly Rats, and toured the United States in 2006 and 2007 using the New York City-based group Dub Is A Weapon as his backing band. Currently there are two films made about his life and work: Volker Schaner's Vision Of Paradise and The Upsetter by film-makers Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough.

After meeting Andrew W.K. at SXSW in 2006, Perry invited him to co-produce his album Repentance. The album, released on 19 August 2008, on Narnack Records, featured several guest artists including Moby, Ari Up, producer Don Fleming, drummer Brian Chippendale and bassist Josh Werner.

In 2007, Perry's song "Enter the Dragon" was sampled on the track "Carrots" by Panda Bear of Animal Collective. As well, Perry was selected by Animal Collective in 2011 to perform at All Tomorrow's Parties, which the band curated in May 2011.[6] That same year, he recorded Rise Again with bassist and producer Bill Laswell; the album featured contributions from Tunde Adebimpe, Sly Dunbar and Bernie Worrell, and was released on Laswell's M.O.D. Technologies label.[7]

In 2008, Perry reunited with Adrian Sherwood on The Mighty Upsetter.. Between 2007 and 2010, Perry recorded three albums with British producer, Steve Marshall. The albums featured performances by Keith Richards, and George Clinton. Two of these albums, End Of An American Dream (2008) and Revelation (2010), received Grammy nominations in the category Best Reggae Album.


Audience participation at a Lee Perry gig in Manchester, 2013

In 2009, Perry collaborated with Dubblestandart, on their Return from Planet Dub double album, revisiting some of his material from the 1970s and 1980s, as well as collaborating on new material with Dubblestandart, some of which also included Ari Up of the Slits. In 2008 leading up to this release, Perry's first foray into the dubstep genre was released on 12" vinyl, a collaboration with Dubblestandart and New York City's Subatomic Sound System called "Iron Devil".[8] That record was followed by several more reggae oriented dubstep collaborations with Dubblestandart and Subatomic Sound System on digital and vinyl, first Blackboard Jungle Vols. 1 & 2 (2009), which featured dancehall vocalist Jahdan Blakkamoore and then Chrome Optimism (2010)[9] which also featured American filmmaker David Lynch. Following that, in 2010, Scratch and Ari Up of The Slits on a limited edition Subatomic Sound System 7" called "Hello, Hell Is Very Low", a rootical dubstep tracks that would turn out to be one of Ari Up's last recordings and the final release during her lifetime.

In 2010, Perry had his first ever solo art exhibition at Dem Passwords art gallery in Los Angeles, California.[10] The show entitled "Secret Education" featured works on canvas, paper, and a video installation.

In 2011, The Upsetter, a documentary film about Perry narrated by Benicio Del Toro,[11] was released worldwide in theaters after its premiere at the 2008 SXSW Film Festival.[12] The film was directed and produced by the American film makers Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough and opened in Los Angeles in March 2011.[13] It continued to screen worldwide into 2012, with the DVD, ITUNES and Video On Demand release soon following.[14][15]

In 2012, Perry teamed with The Orb to produce The Orbserver in the Star House, which was recorded in Berlin over a period of several months.[16] The album earned critical acclaim,[17][18] and featured the single "Golden Clouds", named after the historic property located near Perry’s hometown in Jamaica. In August 2012 it was announced that Perry would receive Jamaica's sixth highest honour, theOrder of Distinction, Commander class.[19]

In 2013, Perry performed at the first Dub Champions Festival in Vienna, a sold out performance, backed by Dubblestandart with Adrian Sherwood handling the dub mix. Perry also performed at the first two Dub Champions Festivals in New York City in 2011 and 2012, backed by Subatomic Sound System. Perry performed at the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.

Perry features as the DJ on the Dub and Reggae radio station Blue Ark in Grand Theft Auto V. The station includes a number of dubs by Perry and the Upsetters including Disco Devil and Grumblin' Dub.

In October 2013 it was announced that he was to be awarded a Gold Musgrave Medal later that month by the Institute of Jamaica.[20]

Perry has recorded an album with Daniel Boyle in London, released in May 2014 as Lee "Scratch" Perry – Back on the Controls.[21] The album received a Grammy nomination later that year.[22]

Perry remixed the "Thor's Stone" single by UK producer Forest Swords in November 2013.[23]

Perry currently resides in Switzerland, with his wife Mireille and two children.

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Compilation albums[edit]

  • Note: Lee Perry has had numerous compilations come out under his name, with many being illegitimate. This list tries to round up a few more "essential" compilations.

Appearances[edit]

  • Co-wrote "Police and Thieves" with Junior Murvin. It was later covered by The Clash on their 1977 debut album, some versions of which include their Perry-produced single "Complete Control".
  • "The Only Alternative" on the compilation Roots Of Innovation - 15 And X Years On-U Sound (1994) by Dub Syndicate on On-U Sound label.
  • "Dr. Lee, PhD" on the album Hello Nasty (1998) by Beastie Boys
  • Appears on two tracks on the album Whaa! (2005) by Zuco 103
  • Starred in a series of Guinness advertisements (2008)
  • Appears on two tracks on the album "Nairobi meets Mad Professor: Wu Wei" (2009) by Argentinian dub band Nairobi

Films[edit]

  • Lee Perry: Return Of The Super Ape (BA BA ZEE) - Rick Elgood and Don Letts (UK)
  • Visions of Paradise - director Volker Schaner
  • Scratch in Deutschland (1992) (10mins)
  • Ich sende aus dem All (1995) (30mins) 16mm, director Peter Braatz
  • The Upsetter: The Life and Music of Lee 'Scratch' Perry (90mins) (2011) directed by Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough narrated by Academy Award WinnerBenicio Del Toro Official website
  • Tracks: Lee Perry (2005) (ARTE) (France)

Videos[edit]

  • Jesus Perry Live - Dir. InYourFaceTV (2013) From Humanicity Album Produced by EasyRiddimMaker on YouTube
  • Golden Clouds - Dir. Volker Schaner (2012) Collaboration with The Orb on YouTube
  • Lee Scratch Perry: The Unlimited Destruction, 2002, US
  • Lee Scratch Perry: In Concert - The Ultimate Alien, 2003, US
  • Lee Scratch Perry With Mad Professor, 2004, US
  • Roots Rock Reggae - Inside the Jamaican Music Scene, 1977. Directed by Jeremy Marre.
  • Carrying The Swing;; - Dir. Howard Johnson (1998)
  • Reggae: The Story Of Jamaican Music (Part.2 - Rebel Music) 2002. Mike Connolly
  • Rock & Roll - Punk (10 part series) (PBS) (US) (1995)(Episode 9 only) aka Dancing in the Street: A Rock and Roll History (Episode 8 only) (UK)
  • Tribute To Sister D - The Forum, London 1995 (One Drop - Crazy Baldheads - Roastfish and Cornbread)
  • Portraits Of Jamaican Music - Dir.Pierre Marc Simonin (2003)Video Clip
  • Jools in Jamaica - Dir.Geoff Wonfor, Presenter Jools Holland