Lee Scratch Perry Will Say Goodbye To Live Shows If COVID Vaccine Becomes Mandatory
Reggae legend Lee Scratch Perry says he will have no choice but to stop doing live shows, if the COVID-19 vaccine becomes mandatory for international travel.
The I am a Mad Man singer who is regarded as one of the most important creative, artistic and musical figures of the second half of the 1900s, made the not-so-surprising announcement on his Instagram page just over a week ago.
“My UK tour is being rebooked for the third time, now for autumn. Let’s hope it’s going to happen this time! What do you think? I’m soo looking forward to perform and see my fans again! 😊,” the 84 year old, who is revered across Europe, where he was constantly booked for tours prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, noted on his Instagram page.
“Hopefully we will be able to travel at least for this year without the shot passport! Once that gets required for traveling I will sadly have to say goodbye to live-shows. 😢,” he added.
The Grammy award winner then asked his fans why was it that some people who purport to be Rastafarians are encouraging others to get vaccinated and wear masks, which in his eyes are part of the “Babylonian system”.
“But there is something I’m wondering about: isn’t Rasta supposed to stand for freedom, against slavery and against Babylon system? How comes that some of them calling themselves rasta are promoting exactly that system by telling people to maskup and get the shot, while we should know what that means?” Perry noted.
“Please let me know what you think about it? I love ❤️ and bless 🙏🏽you all with a prayer that Jah open your eyes and your minds so you’ll be able to make the right choice!” he added.
The singer and producer recently flew to his native Jamaica to enjoy the sunshine and get away from what he describes as ‘Babylon madness’ and from the cold of Switzerland where he resides with his family.
In December, Perry had announced that he would be returning to the island to establish an off-the-grid community, to enable him to get away from “this Babylon Madness”.
The octogenarian, who is a big fan of Alkaline and Vybz Kartel, produced more than 1000 recordings during his career including Bob Marley and the Wailers’ Soul Rebel and Soul Revolution albums as well as the Small Axe, Duppy Conqueror, Jah Live, Punky Reggae Party and Rastaman Live Up singles.
The Kendal, Hanover native also pioneered beat-making strategies such as recording garden implements, burying microphones under trees, and blowing ganja smoke over tapes, and even running the tapes backward.
In December 2019, he released Heavy Rain album, a 12-track album that debuted at number one on the Billboard Reggae Albums Charts. The compilation was his first number one album in his 60-year career, and also earned him the distinction of being the oldest artist to top the charts.
Lee won his first and only Reggae Grammy award back in 2002 for the album, Jamaican E.T. He has also been nominated on four other occasions; in 2014 for Back on the Controls; Revelation in 2010; Repentance in 2008 and The End Of An American Dream in 2007.