Lee "Scratch" Perry interview with Fuse TV 2012

Lee "Scratch" Perry interview with Fuse TV 2012

Conventional wisdom says that Perry is a mad genius whose sanity left him years ago.

But the first time I interviewed him in 2007, he admitted that he was "crazy like a fox." "If the people expect to see a madman, they'll buy a ticket," he said at the time. Or maybe that's just what a madman would say.

The vocalist/producer has influenced innumerable artists—basically anyone with a passing interest in Jamaican music or remixes—and at 76 is still touring and performing two-hour shows. For Perry, interviews are more free association than question-and-answer; an unfiltered, his is a uncensored mind that's the antithesis of media-trained pop tarts. Maybe he'll answer your question. Maybe he'll say whatever he damn wants. As Perry relaxes in the basement of New York's Gramercy Theater post-show, he is, as usual, all about spiritual fulfillment. But now, he's also ready to become your next president.

Your shows routinely last more than two hours. Where does your energy come from?

It's 'cause I'm eternal life. It can't stop.

How are you feeling in general?

I never feel so good in all my life. I feel well-fit. Ready. I feel excellent and great but the way I am feeling now is that I'm feeling super-excellent. Super-perfect. And super-positive. I said to myself, "You better put away all the negativity and for anything, make it happen." If there's an explosion, I'm ready for the explosion. And if it's a sexplosion, I'm ready for the sexplosion. With Scratch they say, "Scratch is larger than life." I'm not ashamed to say that, but it's reality.

It's not easy to explain because I'm just working for someone else. But I have many character. I can change from personality to personality. Tonight, I was working with Superman. That's my favorite legend. He's my top man.

My focus shifts to Perry's suitcase, which he brings onstage as part of his show. His does not. What's in the suitcase?

Ignoring question Well, he come from a different planet above the Earth. But he's still connected with the water and the earth and the trees and the plants and the roses. So he have unlimited power to do anything. Power to heal people. Power to beat people. Power to kill people.

Okay. So 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of

Well, if the politicians want to give me some billions, I'll take it. Laughs Not in the millions. Too small. Think about billions or trillions. Put my family on the highest mountain.

How would you describe a Lee Perry crowd?

This is a spiritual vibration to come to heal people who believe in God. So the people who believe in God, you don't have to ask them anything, they feel it already and I tell them, "Feel what them listening for." They're waiting for somebody to free them from their suffering.