Lee "Scratch" Perry's Wild World: Watch a Clip From 'The Upsetter'

Lee "Scratch" Perry is the psychedelic godfather of reggae, the mad scientist of dub and the producer of Super Ape and Bob Marley's early hits to the Clash's "Complete Control." His music and antics are the stuff of legend, and in the new documentary The Upsetter, filmmakers Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough take a never-before-seen look at the artist Rolling Stone calls "Reggae's Mad Scientist" in our current issue. In addition to interviews with Perry, The Upsetter features extensive archival footage from the musician's own collection.

In the exclusive sneak peek above, watch Perry lobby for the legalization of weed and take part in a religious ceremony that involves a bonfire — in his own living room. It's footage like this that backs up Perry's claims that he burned down his famed studio the Black Ark to rid it of its evil spirits. "I needed to be forgiven of my sin," Perry tells Rolling Stone. "I burned my sin, and I am born again." The Upsetter, which is narrated by actor Benicio Del Toro, charts Perry's journey from Jamaica to his current home in Zurich, Switzerland, and all the music in between.

"You could never put your finger on Lee Perry — he's the Salvador Dali of music," Keith Richards tells RS. "He's a mystery. The world is his instrument. You just have to listen. More than a producer, he knows how to inspire the artist's soul."

• 
  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
• 
  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
• 
  TV
• 
  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter