The Upsetter: The Life and Music of Lee Scratch Perry is the result of seven years of Lee Perry digging by directors Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough, who speak now about Lee’s true spirit and his love for burning things and National Enquirer’s brand of gossip—especially when it involves Britney Spears. This interview by Lainna Fader.

I know you screened several different versions of the film before settling on the version screening at the Downtown Independent. How did you know when you had something that truly captured Lee’s spirit?
Ethan Higbee: I think we knew when we finally screened the last version. It ends on such a funny note and everybody was laughing in the theater and that last scene really encapsulates Lee. We had to put it in because it shows what a magician he is with words. In the last scene, he’s in San Francisco, and this drunk Canadian dude is like, “Who the fuck are you?” and Lee fools him with words.  That wasn’t in the original cut, but that was the cherry on the top for me. You got to see in a present-day context Lee interacting with an adversary. That was thrilling to film too—that was nerve-racking. Adam and I were filming it and we decided to keep rolling camera but it was a little scary. We thought we might have to physically get involved and my heart was racing. It was really strange. This guy’s belligerent and talking shit to Lee.  He totally reeked of booze but luckily Lee sent this guy packing with his tail between his legs.
Adam Bhala Lough: I think even the first rough-cut captured Lee’s spirit. He was really infused in every facet of the film because the film is just him telling his story through his own voice. For us, it was more about getting it perfect and right and then we added in Benicio Del Torro’s voiceover.
Why did Benicio Del Torro do the voiceover? What’s his connection to Lee?
ABL: He’s just a huge fan. He has been for a long time. He got into Lee Perry through the Clash when he was a teenager.
What was Lee’s reaction to the final cut?
EH: Oh, he loved it! He loved it. I went to Switzerland and showed it to him. We watched it with his family in his living room and it was hilarious.  He made his kids come and sit down and watch it with him. His kids are teenagers. He loved seeing that old footage of himself—you know when he was younger, his shirt off—‘Look how good I look! I was lookin’ good, man!’ He loves seeing pictures of him. And some of the tracks we used, he probably hadn’t heard some of them in thirty, forty years. We dug up old tracks—‘Hey man, where did you get that? You got that on a CD? Did you buy that? Give that to me, man!’ He wanted a copy. Sharing that with him was cool. He was chuckling. All of his songs have stories behind them so he liked remembering all the old stories of old Jamaica and his life at the time.
Keith Richards said, ‘You could never put your finger on Lee Perry—he’s the Salvador Dali of music. He’s a mystery. The world is his instrument. You just have to listen.’ After spending seven years on this project, is Lee still a mystery to you?
EH: For sure, absolutely. We got stories, man. He’s the most original dude and he likes to have his secrets. You know, he’s communicating to other—what would you call it?—I guess communicating to God. He’s talking to and hearing something—somebody—some energy—and he doesn’t want everything out there, you know? He doesn’t want everything exposed. He’s got a lot of secrets.
ABL: Yeah, very much so. He’s still an enigma. I feel like I know him as a person and as an artist now but he still remains a great mystery and there’s something great about that—he’s just that complex of a person.
The film talks about how after he burned down the Black Ark, he started painting obsessively, but his art wasn’t really highlighted in the film. Why is he so much better known as a musician than a visual artist?
ABL: Probably just ‘cuz he’s got fifty years of music history behind him. He hasn’t exactly been brought into the world yet as a visual artist. But it seems like that’s gonna change soon.
EH: His visual stuff is very private. He’s been painting for forty years, on walls wherever he’s been living—you can see it in the film—but it’s always been a private thing for him. A release. Some people have been sleeping on that side of his work but I don’t know if he ever thought to put it out. He just had an art show here though. I own a small gallery in West Hollywood and we had the first ever Lee Perry art exhibit with fourteen canvasses of his. It was called ‘Secret Education’ and we felt like these were some of his secrets that he was letting out on canvas. But sometimes he doesn’t want them out. He’ll paint something and he’ll burn it.
I heard that Lee has no interest in preserving his work—Why? Why does he like burning his work?
EH: Sometimes he’ll think, ‘You know what, I don’t actually want that to go out in the world.’ He’s very protective of his beliefs and his art. He’s not thinking, ‘Okay, time to go to the studio and paint some paintings.’ He’s really living it. Like right now, it’s 4AM in Switzerland, and he’s gluing a piece of paper that he just cut out from National Geographic to the wall. He’s doing that regardless of some German photographer photographing him doing that or not. He’s just the truest, realest dude I’ve ever met. The realest artist I’ve ever met. He is on par with Salvador Dali—not just in music but in all his art—his writing—everything. He’s a magician, really. He’s an amazing man.
ABL: I think he just likes to burn stuff—it doesn’t matter what it is. It could be his work or it could be anything. He just likes setting stuff on fire. I don’t know why he is interested in destroying his work. Sometimes I got the feeling he wanted to destroy his work because he wanted to keep it away from people and not let people monetize it. And other times I would maybe think he was destroying his work quite simply to let it go back Heaven. To turn into ash and let it disappear into Heaven.
What’s something that you were surprised to learn about Lee when you were working on The Upsetter? What’s something about his life or a facet or his personality that most people aren’t aware of?
EH: Nothing surprises me now! But at the time, his knowledge of current events. What’s going on in the world. He’s really paying attention to everything that’s happen. The funniest stuff is he loves tabloids—gossip—National Enquirer—that type of shit. He’s always asking me what’s going on with Britney Spears. What’s going on with Lil Wayne. He’s definitely got his finger on the pulse. And he’s got kids that are teenagers so he’s definitely very tied in. You can tell from his fashion sense too. He’s an amazing fashion designer as well. He’s always been ahead of the curve.
ABL: I was really surprised at how much of a family man he is. When we went to visit him in Switzerland, he was there with his family. He’d be at home having dinner and watching TV with his family. Eating spaghetti and just acting like a real dad. He’s still this real at-home family guy.
I read an interview you guys did for the film and Adam said Lee became a grandfather type figure to you guys. What’s the most useful, grandfather-y piece of advice he ever gave you?
ABL: He told us a lot about reading the Bible and studying the words of Jesus. That’s really important to him. He taught us how a lot of his greatest songs—like his classic reggae songs he did with Bob Marley—were based on Bible verses and stuff. He would stress to us the importance of—the power of—the words of Jesus and the Bible.
EH: To make babies! Ha ha!

THE UPSETTER: THE LIFE AND MUSIC OF LEE SCRATCH PERRY AT THE DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT FROM FRI., MAR. 25 (8PM, 10:30PM) TO THURS. MAR. 31 (5PM). PERFORMANCE BY LIONS ON SUNDAY MARCH 27TH AT 7:45PM. WWW.DOWNTOWNINDEPENDENT.COM.

Starting June 1rst, the Production 101 workshops will be held inside the theatre of the Downtown Independent, and as usual the workshops are FREE and open to the public.

If you plan on attending please rsvp on this page (so we have an idea of how how many people are coming), and feel free to post any ideas or suggestions you may have for topics to be covered.

The level of instruction depends on the desire of the people who attend… if the majority of people want to learn more advanced techniques then we won’t spend much time on the basics, and vice versa.

June 1rst, 7-9pm at the Downtown Independent! Come and learn for FREE!

Watch out, motherfuckers: Kid Infinity has arrived. 

After months of talking about it, the rap duo hosted their music video premiere at the Downtown Independent with friends Batwings Catwings, VerBs, DJ Black Mambo Mabson, and the consistently impressive Signals. “P.Y.C.O.” is an expertly-shot, colorful, and hilarious piece of branding for the group; if there is any justice in the world it’ll “go viral” this spring and be the big thing in college dorm rooms around the nation. Seeing it for the first time on the big screen—surrounded by the video’s shining cast of Pehrspace and Smell regulars—was a treat.

As great as it was, the video would have only been half as good if it hadn’t been followed by such a commanding live performance by the group. Tonight was their “coming out,” and they came out with aplomb. While gorgeous, the Downtown Independent can be an awkward place to play because it’s a theater with stadium-seating and not a “proper” venue. Yet KI handled the space with ease, calling their pals up front and turning the area between the first row of seats and the screen into a full-fledged dance party worthy of a Monday night at Pehr.

They were already warmed up when they started, and they only got hotter and hotter during the set as MC Ryan Pardeiro pumped up the crowd and surfed into it while delivering his rhymes. They whipped us into frenzy and commanded us to dance harder and harder with each catchy track. 

I go to a lot of shows, and even when I like the bands I’m usually pretty stoked when sets end just because I’m tired and probably have a show to see the next night. Tonight, it was different. I found myself jumping up and down frantically after KI announced their last song—I wanted to savor the moment! I got a bit panicky when I realized that the beats weren’t going to last forever.

It’s not just their breathless performances that makes Kid Infinity special—it’s also the tunes. Too often, I go to hip hop shows just to be pummeled into the ground by uninspired MPC sequences that lose their novelty after about thirty seconds but get repeated for another four minutes. DJ Nathan Huber, however, constructs amazing tracks. His electro jams start somewhere and always manage to end somewhere different, utilizing all manner of drops and breaks in order to keep audience on our toes. These backgrounds are legitimately interesting, and they create stunning palettes for Ryan’s acrobatic and melodic rapping that occasionally reminds me of the Beastie Boys but for the most part sounds completely unique. Make no mistake—these guys may have chosen hip hop as their genre, but hip hop is just a conduit for delivering pure, throbbing pop of the highest caliber. 

This show was a triumph. I have nothing but effusive things to say about Kid Infinity.

—Geoff Geis

The Friday Q&A show sold out, but don’t fret!

On Saturday, the Downtown Independent is showing director Werner Herzog’s newest film, which he calls “a horror film without the blood, chainsaws and gore, but with a strange, anonymous fear creeping up in you, ” and Herzog HIMSELF will be present for a Q&A in association with the 7:35 PM show. He’ll also introduce the 9:15 PM show. Produced by David Lynch, starring Willem Dafoe, Chloë Sevigny and Michael Shannon, who plays Kim Fowley in the upcoming Runaways movie! Tickets below and don’t be afraid of a little stray gunfire—Herzog sure isn’t.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, AT DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT, 251 S MAIN ST, LOS ANGELES, 7:35PM & 9:15PM, $10-$12. DOWNTOWNINDEPENDENT.COM

BUY TICKETS HERE.

The Friday Q&A show sold out, but don’t fret!

On Saturday, the Downtown Independent is showing director Werner Herzog’s newest film, which he calls “a horror film without the blood, chainsaws and gore, but with a strange, anonymous fear creeping up in you, ” and Herzog HIMSELF will be present for a Q&A in association with the 7:35 PM show. He’ll also introduce the 9:15 PM show. Produced by David Lynch, starring Willem Dafoe, Chloë Sevigny and Michael Shannon, who plays Kim Fowley in the upcoming Runaways movie! Tickets below and don’t be afraid of a little stray gunfire—Herzog sure isn’t.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, AT DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT, 251 S MAIN ST, LOS ANGELES, 7:35PM & 9:15PM, $10-$12. DOWNTOWNINDEPENDENT.COM

BUY TICKETS HERE.

On Friday, the Downtown Independent is premiering director Werner Herzog’s newest film, which he calls “a horror film without the blood, chainsaws and gore, but with a strange, anonymous fear creeping up in you, ” and Herzog HIMSELF will be present for a Q&A in association with the 7 PM screening. Produced by David Lynch, starring Willem Dafoe, Chloë Sevigny and Michael Shannon, who plays Kim Fowley in the upcoming Runaways movie! Tickets below and don’t be afraid of a little stray gunfire—Herzog sure isn’t.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18, AT DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT, 251 S MAIN ST, LOS ANGELES, 7PM & 9PM, $10-$12. DOWNTOWNINDEPENDENT.COM

BUY TICKETS HERE.

Below you will find a list of venues in Los Angeles and surrounding communities. If we have overlooked a venue please leave it in the comments field and we will add it to our list.

The Echo
1822 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026-3227
(213) 413-8200
www.attheecho.com

The Echoplex
1154 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 413-8200
www.attheecho.com

Spaceland
1717 Silver Lake Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026-1221
(323) 661-4380
www.clubspaceland.com

The Music Box at Fonda
6126 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 464-0808
www.henryfondatheater.com

Hollywood Palladium
6215 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 962-7600

Airliner Club
2419 N Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90031-2218
(323) 221-0771

The Smell
Neighborhood: Downtown
247 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
www.thesmell.org

Downtown Independent
251 S Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-1033
www.downtownindependent.com

L’Keg
311 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 413-5534
www.lkeggallery.com

Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90012-3034
(213) 972-7211
www.disneyhall.org

Echo Curio
1519 Sunset Blvd
Echo Park, CA 90026
www.echocurio.com

El Rey Theatre
5515 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(323) 936-6400
www.theelrey.com

Club Nokia
800 West Olympic Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90015
(213) 765-7000
www.clubnokia.com

Mr. T’s Bowl
5621 N Figueroa St
Highland Park, CA
http://mrtsbowl.tripod.com/
Converted bowling alley night spot with great sound in Highland Park.

Pehrspace
325 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 483-7374
www.pehrspace.org

Tribal Cafe
1651 W Temple St
Los Angeles, CA 90026-5026
(213) 483-4458
www.tribalcafe.com

Synchronicity Space
306 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 284-8960
www.syncspacela.com

Coma Alternative Space
3503 W. Pico Blvd
Los Angeles, CA, 90019
myspace.com/comaalternativespace

HM 157
3110 N. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90031

Hotel Cafe
1623 1/2 N Cahuenga Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90028-6201
(323) 461-2040
www.hotelcafe.com

Silverlake Lounge
2906 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026-2128
(323) 663-9636
www.foldsilverlake.com

Troubadour
9081 Santa Monica Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 276-6168
www.troubadour.com

Viper Room
8852 W Sunset Blvd
West Hollywood, CA 90069-2108
www.viperroom.com

Bordello Bar
901 E. 1st St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 687-3766
www.bordellobar.com
(310) 652-7869