Dub Icon Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry Celebrates 80th Birthday with UK Tour

Known to many as the Godfather of dub and the high priest of reggae- not to mention being Bob Marley’s producer – the musical Jah-like enigma himself, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry will be returning to the stage once more for what is set to be a riotous set, hailing back to his 1976 album Super Ape, with Mad Professor on mixing duties. Also joining on stage will be Trojan Sound System for a live set, Channel One System, DJ Vadim and Real Roots for a historic and ‘soul-sweetening’ event.

Perry (born Rainford Hugh Perry, on 20th March 1936, in Kendal, Jamaica) began his career in the late 1950s working with Clement Coxsone Dodd’s sound system. He formed his own (now legendary) label, Upsetter, in 1968. His first single “People Funny Boy” has a distinctive chugging beat that became identifiable as “reggae” (the new sound did not really have a name at this time). 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 U.K.

From then up until the present day, his music has always kept against the grain, and his influence has remained consistently ever-reaching in dub-roots culture. In the early 1970s, Perry was one of the producers whose mixing board experiments resulted in the creation of dub; As a result, he is accredited strongly with spearheading the development of reggae and dub music in Jamaica, alongside Marley.

He soon became known for his innovative production techniques, as well as his somewhat eccentric character, which as a result has seen him rise to cult status over the ensuing vast decades his career has spanned across.

“I like to give something special to people: that’s why I tour. I go because the people believe in God, and there is no other God coming but me. I’m not working because of the money; I’m working because the people believe that God is going to come to save them. I give them a sweeter soul and take away the bitter souls. Save them from pain and save them from cocaine.
I am never nervous before a gig. I am the people’s servant: how can I get nervous? I am as brave as a doctor. They are the patients. I must be very fit, very pure, very sure and 100% positive. I don’t feel no pain, I don’t feel no strain, I don’t feel no weakness. I feel like Superman.” – Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry

Now our favourite Rasta Superman will be returning to the U.K with a comeback tour coinciding with his 80th Birthday. So if you wanna catch a legend in action while you still can grab yourself a ticket and stick it in your diary as this one will undoubtedly be a highlight…

Upcoming Tour Dates.

Mar 03
The Academy
Dublin, Ireland

Mar 04
Dolans Warehouse
Limerick City, Ireland

Mar 10
Brook
Southampton, United Kingdom

Mar 11
The Duke Of Cumberland
Whitstable, United Kingdom

Mar 12
Electric Brixton
London, United Kingdom

Mar 13
Concorde 2
Brighton, United Kingdom

Mar 15
Band on the Wall
Manchester, United Kingdom

Mar 16
Brudenell Social Club
Leeds, United Kingdom

Mar 18
LA BAM
Metz, France

Mar 19
DE ROMA
Borgerhout, Belgium

Mar 20
Cabaret Sauvage
Paris, France

Mar 23
Postbahnhof am Ostbahnhof
Berlin, Germany

Mar 24
Backstage Werk
Munich, Germany

Mar 25
L’Aeronef
Lille, France

Mar 26
FZW / Freizeitzentrum West
Dortmund, Germany

Mar 27
Centralstation
Darmstadt, Germany

Mar 31
Le Moulin
Marseille, France

Apr 29
Carson Creek Ranch
Austin, TX

See full info on his homepage and get tickets here.

Words by Natalie Wardle.