Lee 'Scratch' Perry at Sala Apolo
One of the most original, and strangest, musicans in history, who has worked with The Heptones, The Skatalites and The Clash
Rainford Hugh Perry (Kendal, 20th March 1936), better known as Lee Scratch Perry, Pipecock Jaxxon or The Upsetter, is a Grammy-winning, Jamaica-born musician who has made a major contribution to musical styles like Ska, Rocksteady, Reggae, and especially Dub. This unique musician began his career in 1950, working for Clement Coxsone Dodd’s studio, which would go on to become the iconic Studio One. After leaving that job for personal reasons, he went on to work for Joe Gibbs at Wirl Records until 1968. Financial reasons drove him to found his own label, Upsetter, and his own studio band, called The Upsetters. In 1973 he built his own studio, which he called Black Ark. But it was burnt down in 1978, by Perry according to his own claims. At the end of the 1980s he began to work with Adrian Sherwood and Neil Fraser (Mad Professor).
More recently, in 2003, Perry won a Grammy for Jamaican E.T., and, in 2004, he was hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 100 best artists of all time. He currently resides in Switzerland, where he created the band Lee Perry and the White Belly Rats, with whom he continues to release albums. Although his public appearances are becoming scarcer, we will have the chance to enjoy one of his live shows at Sala Apolo on the 21st of March. It will be an almost unique opportunity to see one of the most original, and perhaps the strangest, figure in music history on a live stage; one who has worked with legends like The Heptones, The Skatalites and The Clash. Tickets are on sale here.
Lee 'Scratch' Perry at Sala Apolo
When: Monday 21 March.
Where: Sala Apolo.
Price: €30.
Further information is available here.