Adrian Sherwood is not becoming a cliché

How did the first contact with Real World come about?
Adrian Sherwood: "Real World basically asked me to do a remix album, inspired by what I did with S.E. Rogie's 'Dead Man Walking'. But I couldn't get the permission to use the voices I asked for. So I said: let me just do a record for myself, and they said yes. That's why there's only one voice on 'Never Trust A Hippy', and that's S.E. Rogie's. Apart from that all the material was original. 'Becoming A Cliché' is my second record for Real World and I will also relaunch my own label, On-U Sound, distributed by EMI. First we release 'On-U Sound Crash' and 'Tackhead Sound Crash', two compilation albums, new versions of all the back catalogue. In Japan these records are doing very well already. After that there's a remix of a Mark Stewart record, the new Mark Stewart album is almost finished as well, and also African Headcharge's 'Visions Of A Psychedelic Africa', a new album. Named after a Brian Eno quote. Than we plan a Harry Beckett record. He's great trumpet player, 82 years old. Has been playing since the fifties. 'The Modern Sound Of Harry Beckett' is ready for release too. Modern Jamaican beats fused with jazz."

Adrian Sherwood is back on the tracks.
Adrian Sherwood: "I deliberately didn't put anything out because my distributor in France got into serious problems and my European distributor EFA went broke. I didn't have a structure anymore to release records, so it didn't make any point. Very depressing, to be honest. Now, I've regrouped myself and the people I work with, and things look very good again. I never wanted to be tied up to a major record label like EMI but I wouldn't be able to sell my music otherwise."

Do you recognize the influence you had on contemporary alternative music?
Adrian Sherwood: "Everything has blended together. I know what I've done and I know a lot of people were inspired by what we did with On-U Sound, especially by the creative environment we worked in. I feel very lucky to have been able to work with all these great musicians. But now I'm getting older and I've got to reinvent myself again, do what I'm comfortable with. There's no point in me trying to make dance music, so I have to keep working with young people to keep the evolution going."

Do you still keep track of the developments in Jamaican music?
Adrian Sherwood: "I go to Dub Vendor every other week. There's still some very nice artists around. I Wayne is great, Buju Banton... Sizzla's peak of creativity seems to be over but I'm sure Jamaica will keep on creating great artists."

In the past you've invited many Jamaican artists to your studio. Bim Sherman, Mikey Dread, Prince Far I, Junior Delgado... Who would you consider of the present generation?
Adrian Sherwood: "I don't feel the same urge to do it as when I was 21 or 22. You spend too much time and efforts for too little a reward. Never even mind the money you put in. So, first I have to get my business running again. Find some finances and take care of promotion, so I can guarantee some success. On that level, Peter (Gabriel) is doing a very good job with Real World, investing in new artists and equipment. He's a nice bloke who's got my complete respect."

Has Peter always been a fan of yours?
Adrian Sherwood: "No, he didn't know me. He listened to 'Never Trust A Hippy' and immediately liked it."

Lee Perry is featured on your new album. Was it hard to get him to the record again for you?
Adrian Sherwood: "I used a voicing he did a couple of years ago, played the tune to his wife on the phone and than we went out for dinner. I've got a good relationship with him again. In October I toured with him in Japan and we're probably gonna make a new record together. I know I can get another good record out of Lee Perry."

The younger generation considers your two records with Scratch to be his best work.
Adrian Sherwood: "He made hundreds of great records as a producer but some of his best work feature him as a vocalist. I think his own productions are better than the stuff he did with me, but they are both very interesting records because you can hear that Lee Perry is also a superior vocalist. I pushed him to a higher level, something other producers never really achieved. I made every effort to make sure that 'Time Boom x The Devil Dead' and 'Secret Laboratory' had good lyrics."

Have you ever visited him in Switzerland?
Adrian Sherwood: "I was invited to his wedding and have visited him several times since them."

There's also a track with the voice of Bim Sherman on 'Becoming A Cliché'. The album 'Miracle' you made with him was a true masterpiece. Is this a recording of that session?
Adrian Sherwood: "No... You know, I still play 'Miracle' regularly. It could have been better but in a way it was a perfect record. Sadly you can't get it anymore."

Was Bim the greatest talent you ever worked with?
Adrian Sherwood: "I was a big fan of Bim's. I worked in Palmer's Record Shop in Harlesden, which later became Jet Star. I remember the very first Bim Sherman single that was brought in and it really sounded like anything else. Like a voice from nowhere. I asked Prince Far I to cut a tune with him, a Heptones cover, and Jah Woosh, also a friend of mine, produced 'It Must Be A Dream'. That's when I brought Bim to England. In those days I also brought Prince Hammer to Europe, and Style Scott."

Prince Hammer? Is he still around?
Adrian Sherwood: "He lives in Manchester now."

What's your take on the batty boy lyrics in Jamaican music?
Adrian Sherwood: "White people see things with white people's eyes. It's a question of ignorance, of black and white people not reading books and not accepting new ideas. Jamaica, England, Belgium: everywhere there are ignorant people with empty minds who get informed by right wing newspapers or rap records. So the real enemy is ignorance. Now, people in the West Indies grew up with a different angle on homosexuality. You can't condone these expressions but I don't think you should forbid them either. At least they get the debate going and you can say: "Shut up, wanker!" You got to be very careful with certain interpretations and not judge people on what they say under the influence of the bible or whatever. What you see happening now for example is that the Anglican church in England agreed with gay marriages but that its African division doesn't follow the leaders. Fuck them! Should we now persecute all African priests and people who follow them?"