Lee Perry (AKA Chicken Scratch, The Upsetter, Pipecock Jackson, Doctor Dick)

Lee Perry is without a doubt the maddest of all reggae artists and producers and is arguably one of the maddest musicians ever (in my book the only people who come close are Sun Ra and George Clinton). To illustrate the madness that is Perry here is an appreciation and some of his choicest lyrics.

Good day,
Greetings,
I am the King of Kings, The Lord of Lords,
The conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Good things are happening over there.
Within the inner communication,
Walking on air,
Hot Air.
Zodiac Galaxy,
LX 5 Selassie I Jah Rastafari

Lee Perry is a producer and all-around demented genius. Perry's carrer in the music business has included operating R&B sound systems of the late 50s, talent scouting ska bands in the early 60s, producing rock steady and then reggae in the early 70s (when he worked with Bob Marley). Perry's work was always at the edge of the mainstream music being made in Jamaica. He has also worked under a baffling array of psuedonyms, the most famous being Scracth and The Upsetter. On of his latest incarnations is as President Abraham Perry. In 1974 Lee built a four-track home studio called Black Ark. There he produced hits for others and recorded his own albums,many released through Island Records. Although best known for his reggae he also collaborated with well known non-reggae stars The Beatles and The Clash. In 1979 Perry's love for spliff, rum and cocaine, combined with a manic apocalyptic worldview got the best of him. He literally went mad, scribbled graffiti across every inch of Black Ark and burnt it to the ground. In the process many of the most valuable and unreleased material was destroyed.

Perry was one of the founding fathers of dub reggae and as such is also responsible for the introduction of the multiple 'versions', 'dub mixes' etc that are constantly recycled in modern dance music and hip-hop.

All Hail the Lion of Judah - President Abraham Perry

"Don't think I'm crazy,
don't think I'm insane.
I come and I came, I slew the Maffia,
I slew the Cosa Nostra, I slew the I.M.F.
and I slew the I.T.T., I slew the Devil in Hell
and I break all their spells."

TIME BOOM X DE DEVIL DEAD