Roots Archives Forum

GREAT thread and WONDERFUL stories!!
i have never met any reggae personalities, but have seen my share of shows (most noteworthy was Black Uhuru / King Sunny Ade here in boston in '84(?))...
i used to sport a tall mohawk (split duty with reggae and punk back then), and used to get a hard time most everywhere i went! but NOT at the BU/KSA show! everyone was totally chill and into the music and not the look! fantastic times...

I WAS RETURNING TO WORK ONE AFTERNOON, WHEN I NOTICED A CAMERA CREW ON A TRAFFIC ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY STREET. WHEN I WENT OVER TO SEE WHAT WAS UP, I NOTICED SCRATCH PERRY SITTING IN A BATH IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THIS TRAFFIC. I WAS GOBSMACKED. I KNEW HE WAS ECCENTRIC, BUT THIS DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. THEN SOMETIME LATER I SAW AN ADVERTISEMENT ON TELLY FOR GUINNESS WITH SCRATCH AND THERE HE IS SITTING IN THE BATH!
LOCATION: NEAR THE SHELBOURNE HOTEL, ST STEPHEN'S GREEN, DUBLIN. SEE IT ON YOUTUBE.

@arkle...pure genius

ital k

Kool stories. One more: reggae concert in 1995: several artists playing one after the other, starting with Mighty Diamonds, followed by Macka B. As Macka B sings, Diamonds are done, and lead singer Tabby is waiting. We start chating. "Do you know where I can eat some Thai food around here?" he asks. 5 minutes later we're driving in my car, singing a few tunes along the way, direction Thai restaurant. We eat, chat,I ask tons of questions regarding reggae music and production - I recall asking how much money it would take to record/produce and own a Diamond album; will keep number confidential - and I drive him back 45 minutes later to the show. Guess I was at the right place at the...right time.

Excellent thread Vlad!

I grew up on in summer resort location that brought in a fair amount of reggae acts. As it turns out, when you live year round in a seasonal resort location you are considered "the help" (but I digress). The island where I'm from is only accessible by boat or plane and I worked as a dock-hand for the ferry for the majority of my younger years of employment.

One day, I had the pleasure of carrying Aston "Family Man" Barret's luggage. At that point, I knew he was the bassist for The Wailers (who still play there every year), but I was unaware of his contributions to reggae music in a holistic sense. He was preceeded by a large group of young children, and then walked through calmly and peacefully as I took his luggage and directly them to the proper boarding area. We exchanged only a few words but you could really get a sense of his glowing and accepting personality. Maybe that is one of the reasons he remained one of Scratch's greatest allies throughout the turmoil of Scratch's music career (as I have read). All of my coworkers really got a kick out of how well he was handling his entourage.

Another artist who came through the island consistently was Eek a Mouse. His shows would almost always result in some antics. One time he pulled two female dancers on stage about half way through the show and then made an escape with them through the fire exit and back to the band house. The audience didn't mind too much, as most of us went back to the band house and enjoyed the plates of ganja being offered to all attending (it was a very small venue). Eek a Mouse is a man of intimidating size, but a very playful a nice person. I have heard of some legal trouble surrounding him in the more recent years, but I hope he can find his way out.

Praises,
Jah Chicken

I once walked into a restaurant next to where a 'roots' artist was playing later that night, went over just to pay a quick respect, that's when I spotted the pepperoni pizza, I think we both pretended like it wasn't there

Years later, was helping someone out at a Leroy Smart show - so Leroy hands me a $100 bill to go to the bar to buy a few things for him and the band. When I came back, he insisted that I keep the $40 or so plus dollars. I don't know why but there was no way he was taking back the change. That was weird, yet refreshing.

Just wish I could erase some of the times when I witnessed certain unlovely actions by some of my most beloved artists.

Back in 1994-95 I was at a Israel Vibrations show in Eugene Oregon and was with 4 good friends that happen to be girls with large dreads. We were walking past the tour bus and got invited in by Skelly and hung out for 2 or so hours eating, smoking and talking. It was very humbling to be in their presence.

Hi!

I saw Eek a Mouse live here in Florianopolis (brazil) in 2011. Before the concert, I talked to him and I sung "ganja smuglling" for him. He said "yeah man nice"

Afterwards, the show started (it was a very small place, less than 100 people watching)...and suddenly he left the stage and came into my direction, and he passed me the mic while he was singing "ganja smugling"! So I sang with him, it was very nice! unfortunately I dont have any footage of this, but it was a very nice moment!

I saw the Wailers play in 1998 or so and really wanted to get an interview with Aston "Family Man" Barrett. Here's how the interview went:

Sleeper: Mr. Barrett?
Barrett: Mmmm.
Sleeper: My name's Mick. I'm a radio DJ here in town and a big fan of your music. I'd love it if we could sit down for an interview.
Barrett: Mmmm hmm, yeah.
Sleeper: Wonderful. Let me get my tape recorder.

When I came back a minute later, everyone was gone. So not exactly an "unexpected" encounter, since I was trying to meet him, but certainly the end result was unexpected!

@Mick: What was this Jamaican saying again? Soon gone