HOVE-LIVE FESTIVAL: HOVE(ANTWERP)BELGIUM-SEPT 4, 2004

By Joel Savage

Joel: Good performance Johnny, happy to meet you.

Johnny: Nice to hear that.

Joel: I know you through the media, as one of the early pioneers of reggae, with hits like "Rockers time now" "Dreader dread" and "Don't trouble" after all these years, it's like you are no more Johnny Clarke, that you used to be. What went wrong?

Johnny: Yeah well, actually I have never been out of music. I'm always been into music. Music is I and I is music. Music is spiritual and spiritually I'm alive. I do perform worldwide and also in my native country Jamaica.

Joel: In your time, there were great groups like "Mighty Diamonds" and "Toots and the Maytals" Where are all of them now?

Jonny: Time changes and it changes so fast. They are all doing well today, but they have taken different dimensions. Because at this time, there are competition all over, and so you need to be strong and tough spiritually to stay in the music industry.

Joel: So many reggae artists sing about Africa, showing their love and devotion to the children of that continent. But only a fraction of a percentage has set foot there. Why is it so?

Johnny: There many kinds of musicians. Some remember Africa, as their ancestral home and do visit the continent, at least once in their life time. Some also sing about Africa, because of money and they never go down there.

Joel: You have played in hundreds of concerts, what is your experience, playing at HoveLive tonight?

Johnny: It's an Irie feeling. I just give them what they want and they are happy with it. That's an experience I can't forget. The response was great.

Joel: Reggae music is fast changing now. What do you think about the reggae the youngsters are playing at the moment?

Johnny: The style and rhythm of reggae is constantly changing to fit the present generation of reggae lovers. Every young artist today, wants to come out with something special to sell, because the competiton is heavy. But artists who want to play the new style of reggae play, and those who wants to play the roots, also play.

Joel: What has inspired you all these years in the field of roots reggae, as the great Johnny Clarke?

Johnny: The music industry is a hard job. In my time, there were good musicians who came before and after me, who are no more on the music scene. You need to be strong spiritually to be part of the team. Jah guides and Jah rules, spiritually Jah has helped me through.

Joel: Jamaica is increasingly becoming notorious crime and drug affected country, despite its good image as tourists booming country. What is the government doing about this?

Johnny: In every big city, there is always a crime. Because the lazy man and the unemployed man, want the same thing as the hard worker. But the good people, including musicians, are trying their best in many ways to reduce crime.

Joel: Johnny thank you very much for this interview.

Johnny: That's fine