Lee “Scratch” Perry had a recent part on the big screen with ‘MARLEY’ hitting indie theaters everywhere, and for those around the District, he was at the State Theater in Falls Church last Wednesday night. For me, he’s the subject of one of my favorite backstage portraits. It was at the 9:30 Club a few years back.
Scratch’s show was part lecture, part music, where somehow the sounds and beats seemed to make points between the points he was making with the words he was actually saying. He had the crowd in a sort of trance.
A prominent reaction that night was one of child-like fascination.
(Always near him: his suitcase.)
At the end of the night, I was fortunate enough to run into him backstage, and I asked if I could grab a shot of him with the aforementioned suitcase. After a few words about not normally mugging for cameras, he smiled and became simultanously spry and gracious. Here’s the shot I’m thankful for:
Thanks, Scratch–Respect.