Zig Zag
The Prairie Dogg finds the dirt on the Cars, Pirates of the Caribbean and (what else?) smoking herb with Ziggy Marley.
PD: Hey, Ziggy, how are you doing?
ZM: Yeah, man. Perfect.
Is touring the States in winter tough for a guy from Jamaica?
Nah, I’ve done this before.
You’re hitting a lot of ski-resort towns. Do you ski or snowboard?
Nah, man. I don’t touch the snow. I try not to even look at the snow.
Is it strange anymore coming from Kingston to a place like Kansas City?
Not really. I bring Jamaica with me in my mind. Everywhere is my home now. I belong to the world. See new places. I get to grow as a person. I am a Lewis and Clark explorer, you know?
You recently covered the Cars’ “Drive” for the 50 First Dates soundtrack. That’s a tough song to turn reggae.
Oh yeah, man. In the beginning, I wasn’t in it all the way. Then one night, I woke up and went to the studio and started feeling it.
Any musicians you’re spinning a lot right now?
Norah Jones. I like her voice. Outkast. The White Stripes.
Catch any movies on the road?
I enjoyed Lord of the Rings and Pirates of the Caribbean. And I like technology. I mess around with the computer. I used to take apart my grandfather’s radio and then put it back together.
Do the Marleys get together for reunions often?
Yeah, man. Every few months we get together. Everybody is cooking, telling jokes, playing foot soccer.
Is it frustrating to have some crowds that are as interested in the lifestyle as they are in messages of love and rebellion?
I don’t think about that. My role is to give the message. It’s up to the people to listen.
Do you think people in the United States are prudes when it comes to things like marijuana?
Ah, man. There ain’t nothing wrong with smoking a little herb. We don’t do no harm to anybody. It’s no different than having a beer or a glass of wine. You just relax and have a joint. They make it look like we’re criminals. That’s bullshit.
Is the world better off now than it was when your father was singing “One Love”?
The leaders of the world are fucking it up. All of the leaders and not just George Bush. Because they each have their own agenda and it has nothing to do with the people. I think the people are conscious that we need to love each other. We just need a leader to stand up. The people are ready for that.
