Flavorwire Exclusive: Dub Legend Lee “Scratch” Perry Sets the Record (Kind of) Straight

Not only is Lee “Scratch” Perry one of dub’s most important and influential icons, but he’s also a prolific producer. On his work with Bob Marley and the Clash (to say nothing of his own albums), he’s consistently shown a flair for devilishly off-kilter atmospheres. As the Beastie Boys’ Adam Horovitz once said, “One thing the Beastie Boys do when we’re finishing tracks is make sure that there’s a Lee Perry part: some weird detail that’s not supposed to be there, but somehow makes sense.”

Perry’s latest album, Repentance, is no exception — it’s rife with the kind of unearthly sounds that have made him a dub mainstay. Chris Kompanek of Flavorwire sister pub Earplug rang Perry up in Zurich to talk about the new record, his appendage-obsessed alter-ego, Pipecock Jackson, the future of dub, and how he feels about spazz-rocker and recent collaborator Andrew W.K. allegedly releasing tracks behind his back. Find the interview here.

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