Over an incredibly prolific and lengthy 50-plus year career as a producer, artist and record label exec, much ink has been spilled over the legendary and influential Lee “Scratch” Perry especially in light of the fact that Perry along with Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear, Toots and the Maytals and a lengthy list of others have been instrumental in popularizing reggae across both the African Diaspora and across the rest of the world. Arguably, Perry’s influence on both reggae and contemporary music may loom as enormous and as critically important as that of Bob Marley — as a producer, Perry has worked with some of Jamaica’s and reggae’s most revered and legendary artists on some of their biggest and most beloved songs and just as important, he is largely considered being the creator of the dub sound while creating some revolutionary production techniques that producers have long since copied although his sound and approach manage to be wildly unique.
Perry turned 80 in March, and remarkably the man has managed to remain youthful, vital, challenging, forward-thinking, innovative, eccentric and imitable as ever as over the past decade or so he’s collaborated with the likes of The Beastie Boys, The Orb, Felix Da Housecat and several others while keeping a fairly busy touring schedule.
The reggae legend returns for the annual Dub Champions Festival at Brooklyn Bowl and this year’s appearance continues Perry’s continued tour with Subatomic Sound System to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of Super Ape — and to celebrate the legend’s 80th birthday. Of course, in honor of that occasion check out some live footage of the great and incredibly eccentric Mr. Perry.
