Greetings: Here follows is the transcript of a live and direct interview with Mikey Spice from Jamaica on the "Reggae Rock", WESU 88.1 FM Middletown, Connecticut, November 18, 1995. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Sound clips of the interview are available at Irie Jam: http://www.nai.net/~reggaerk/home.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------- Mikey Chong: Mr. Spice how's the weather in Jamaica right now? Mikey Spice: Hmm, too cool. It was raining earlier on, but it cool down now. M. Chong: Well, right about now, we want to tell our listeners that we have Mikey Spice live on the phone, and he's in Jamaica. Well you say it's kinda cool? M. Spice: Yeah, I'm in the studio right now, I just took a look outside. M. Chong: For the past couple of days, the temperature has dropped, and we have been getting freezing rain. Yeah man it cold, yah so. You have an album that has been released recently. One called Happiness on Ras Records, and how is the feedback in Jamaica? M. Spice: The album is doing good, in fact, very well. The album has gotten a lot of air play, and God bless those people, and you, who have done their part and on your side (in the USA). And many thanks to the fans. M. Chong: What are your next plans? Are you working on another album in the studio right now? M. Spice: Actually yes. There's one coming out on the Bobby Digital label. It's coming out pretty soon. But what I'm really doing right now is production work in the studio. Since we're always in the studio. But basically, there is an album coming out soon, I can't say much about it. I know it's on the Bobby Digital label. M. Chong: How would describe the working relationship with Barry O'Hare? I know he produced the Happiness album, and it's on Ras Records. M. Spice: It was one of those relationships that we had developed over the years, as kids growing up, and you can hear it in the music. M. Chong: Yes, these days with all the problems in the society we definetly need Happiness. M. Spice: Yeah man, it's all about where it is right now. The rapport with Barry (O'Hare) is no more to hear except for you to listen to the music, and he is a very good producer. And thank God for him, RAS and myself who make it possible to make the Happiness album. M. Chong: For all the listeners, if you've just tuned in. We're talking to Mikey Spice, he's live in Jamaica. Mikey Spice in terms of all the slackness in reggae music, and the bad bwoy lyrics, do you think it has a detrimental effect on the reggae industry? M. Spice: Seriously, seriously, not only to (the industry), but to the kids, the younger ones who have no knowledge where the root of reggae music is coming from. We have to set the trend to pass on. Basically, I don't want to throw stones, but stones have to be thrown any how. Because he who have doing such things, it's not going anywhere. It's not something that we should really pass on for the younger generation who are looking up to reggae music to that standard. It's all about love and being clean in what you do. M. Chong: Most definitely, when are we going to see you in Connecticut? M. Spice: (Laughing) M. Chong: Yeah, there is tremendous demand for you and your music in the state of Connecticut. M. Spice: OK, I will put it this way. Whenever Connecticut is ready for me, I will be ready for them. If you're ready tomorrow, then I will show up. M. Chong: Laughing, you went to Kingston College right? You're a KC Old Boy, right? M. Spice: Yes, yes, yes, and proud of it! M. Chong: Yeah man, I'm a KC Old Boy myself. I left KC back in 1985. M. Spice: Oh, yes, it's about that time I left too. M. Chong: As a Rastafarian, do you think you have certain responsibility for the music that you produce? M. Spice: Yeah man, a whole leap of responsibility. I would look at it this way. I am responsible for the music I produce. I want to be conscious and reach out to the public. It's not just being conscious with Rastafari, it's all in me. It's what I have to offer. M. Chong: I can see Mikey Spice becoming a real superstar in the industry? How do you feel about this, and do you feel there are any limits in terms of what you can accomplish in reggae? M. Spice: I hate to use the term that the sky is the limit. It all goes beyond the imaginary sky limit. To my prayer, I hope I will live for a little bit longer throughout my music, to do what I'm doing. To please the public, but not really looking at it as a success, and all about being a superstar. I just want to serve the public well. M. Chong: I heard you got the name Spice from an American tourist? Is that true? M. Spice: (Laughing), Who told you that? M. Chong: (Laughing) M. Spice: Actually it's true. What really happened is that I was on the northcoast, and most of my musical knowledge is from the northcoast. I was in a band, and the owner for the band was called sugar. He used to say that I should be named Spice, he used to talk, and I used to sing. So basically I got the name around '85 or '86. M. Chong: I heard that you captivated the audience back in Reggae Sunsplash '93, can you give us some feedback on what transpired? M. Spice: I worked on Reggae Sunsplash with the Abyssinians. At that time I was with a band called Roots Explosion, I can't remember the exact act that we backed on, but yes, I worked on Reggae Sunsplash '93. M. Chong: Is there anybody that you looked up to during the early days of your career. Is there anybody now that you look up to and you respect what they are doing? M. Spice: Reggae music? M. Chong: Yes, reggae and other music. M. Spice: There are lots of reggae artists that I respect. Lots of artists that have set the trend for me. Both American artists and my hometown artists. To go into names, there is quite a lot. I wouldn't want to be selfish. But for the real inspiration that I've gotten is from my mother. She is a very good singer too. She sings in the (church) choir. From there I have been listening to a lot of people. Mr. (Barry) White we all know. Teddy Pendergrass, I'd say the bigger voices that captured the sentiments of love. Those are the artists that inspired me a lot. M. Chong: So Mikey, before we go yuh want to big up the listeners in Connecticut? M. Spice: Nuff respect, seen. And for my friends who are listening, yes Connecticut, whenever you are ready, just send for me. Big up! Nuff time! M. Chong: Now there you have it, Mikey Spice live & direct from Jamaica. M. Spice: Seen Signs and Wonders fades in from the Happiness album on Ras Records. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Maximum Respect from Mikey Chong ------------------------------------- ~~~~~~~ Reggae Rock ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ WESU 88.1 FM ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ Sat. 6-9pm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ Middletown, CT ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ************************************* Irie Jam http://www.nai.net/~reggaerk/home.htm *************************************