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The Upsetters

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

The Upsetters were the house band of the Jamaican reggae producer Lee Scratch Perry. The name comes from Perry's nickname Upsetter, after his song I Am the Upsetter, a musical settling of scores with his former boss Coxsone Dodd. The band was active from 1968 to 1986, with a changing line-up.

Music and breakthrough

The Upsetters were originally Gladdy's All-Stars, led by the pianist Gladstone Anderson, and made the international hits Live Injection and Return of Django. The double A-side Return of Django with Dollar in the Teeth reached number five in the British chart in November 1969. When the All-Stars had no time for a tour of England, the band the Hippy Boys took their place. That line-up is the studio band most associated with the name. It consisted of the guitarist Alva Lewis, the organist Glen Adams and the brothers Aston Family Man Barrett on bass and Carlton Barrett on drums. Under Perry's leadership they backed Bob Marley, above all on the albums Soul Rebels and Soul Revolution Part II. After 1972 Perry brought in other musicians, such as Boris Gardiner and Sly Dunbar, for the Black Ark.

Influence

The Upsetters show how in Jamaica a producer could form a band of his own. They laid the foundation for the later Wailers, and their records for Perry are regarded as building blocks of reggae and dub. Dread Lion belongs to the later period at the Black Ark.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Dread Lion and notice the bass and the drums. Can you hear how the rhythm section carries the song?

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: ArtistsDub