10.

Prince Far I – Cry Tuff Dub Encounter Chapter 3

I’d get off school and go to this record shop in Bristol on a Friday and I’d just hang out there. On a Friday – and this was just before punk started – there’d be a van coming round with all the heaviest reggae releases and the owner and his mate would be playing through all the 7”s to see which ones they were going to stock. And they’d play both sides of this very heavy dub and I knew that this would be my only chance to get hold of this stuff. You know, I went to blues dances and sound systems but I couldn’t keep going to the DJ to say, “’Scuse mate, but what’s this?” This was my only chance to get my hands on the stuff I loved.

A few weeks later I was in a delivery van with Adrian Sherwood and he goes, “I’m going to pick up Prince Far I.” I said, “What?!” And this guy isn’t a hero – he’s a role model! He’s my fucking god! Just his voice..! And we went into his kitchen and he goes [adopts deep booming voice], “Where’s my porridge?” I was then in the back of the car with Prince Far I and I just wanted to hug the dude. He’s that man! He did this version of ‘Deck Of Cards’ that Max Bygraves did. Oh mate!