The now and then with Pato Banton

Pato Banton

Considered one of the greatest reggae artists off all time, UK transplant Pato Banton comes to Whiskey Creek of Mammoth Lakes this Friday night along with the Now Generation Band as part of his 50 state tour. In an effort to discuss the ‘90s, Sting and the Royal Wedding, I caught up with Pato via phone on Wednesday.

Sheet: So Pato, tell me a little bit about this tour.

Pato: Reggae music is a message of peace, love and positivity. Especially in this time of recession, there’s a lot of people that need some positive energy. I just feel that I need to bring this message across America. You know, I’m not just an artist. I’m a minister as well. So, I’ve been traveling across the U.S. and my fans have been asking me to marry them and baptize their kids.

Sheet: Wait, you‘re a minister? How many couples have you wed on this tour?

Pato: I’ve done about 6 marriages already. The other night a couple just turned up to the show and said they wanted to be married, So about halfway through the show, I just brought them onstage and married them right there.

Sheet: Wow, now I have no idea what to expect for this show.

Pato: Hah! It’s not just a music tour. A lot of people calculate a music tour just to make some money. We have a budget in mind, but we are really on a mission; it’s about uplifting people and changing their lives for the better.

Sheet: You know, the first time I ever heard your music was in 1996. Your song “Groovin’” was in the end credits for the film “Kazaam.” How did that happen? Is Shaq of fan of your music?

Pato: I’m not really close to Shaq. I have met him on one occasion. I have been told he likes my music.

Sheet: Well obviously, your music is in his best movie.

Pato: I think that is his only movie. But it was a nice surprise to see that he wanted to use that song.

Sheet: One of your other songs “Spirits in a Material World” is in my other favorite movie, “Ace Ventura When Nature Calls.”

Pato: Yes, that was with Sting.

Sheet: How did song that end up on Ace Ventura 2? The song seems kinda juxtaposed to the film.

Pato: I know. I’m not sure how it happened. It was nice. Actually the video for the song, all it is is clips from the movie. I’m not even in the music video.

Sheet: What’s it like working with Sting? Are you guys close?

Pato: We were for awhile, for about 3 years we worked together and traveled together. But he is awesome, you know. He’s a very down to Earth guy. Laid back. More of a thinker than a talker.

Sheet: Wait, is that code for he smokes weed?

Pato: I’m pretty sure he does.

Sheet: Soooo have you guys smoked together?

Pato: Yeah, on his private airplane.

Sheet: Ya gotta tell me more.

Pato: Sting was flying to Europe and he invited me and my entire band over to Europe on his private plane. As soon as we got on the plane, one of the pilots took out a huge bag of weed. So, everyone started rolling up. Sting had this magnetic chess board. The whole plane was filled with smoke.

Sheet: Did he challenge you to a game of chess?

Pato: Yeah, and he won. He’s good. He actually travels everywhere with that chessboard. It was kind of strange.

Sheet: It seems strange.

Pato: He was pretty focused, in front of that chessboard. He was just looking at me and I was looking at him. I couldn’t really believe I was smoking and playing chess with Sting on his plane.

Sheet: Sounds like a true Hollywood story from Charlie Murphy.

Pato: Uh huh.

Sheet: Speaking of weed. Your song, “Legalize It,” is exactly 4:20 long. Was that on purpose?

Pato: Oh, I didn’t realize that!

Sheet: Bulls%$t.

Pato: Seriously, I didn’t know that! I did not do that intentionally. Wow! That’s very cool to know.

Sheet: Since weed is kinda legal now, are you gonna do a remix of it? Maybe call it, “Make it a little more legal?”

Pato: No, I’m not satisfied yet. I think it needs to be totally decriminalized. We’ve got local and federal legislation, and we can be served locally but not nationally. It’s just a farce. It seems ridiculous to buy a license and then be taxed on it. It’s a natural plant, and when we start treating it like a natural plant that’s when I’ll be happy. People still smoke in fear.

Sheet: Don’t you think people will always smoke in fear because weed makes you kinda paranoid?

Pato: No, it depends on what kind of weed your smoking. There are different types of weed that have different types of effects. But people will grab any weed they can get, because in some areas it’s so scarce. But once people get educated about marijuana and the different strains available they will realize there’s different types of ailments it can target.

Sheet: I think you’re gonna like Mammoth Lakes since you’ve last been here. We have two marijuana dispensaries!

Pato: Awesome. Awesome.

Sheet: I gotta say your song “Bubblin’ Hot,” sounds a lot like Peter Tosh’s “Coming in Hot.”

Pato: I didn’t realize that at the time. I actually heard Peter Tosh’s song after I came out with “Bubblin’ Hot.”

Sheet: It’s sooo similar. Really?

Pato: Yeah, there’s even another artist in London who came out with a song called “Bubblin’ Hot” that sounds just like mine. I guess people get into a similar creative channel sometimes.

Sheet: Do you think you were channeling Peter Tosh?

Pato: Maybe. Perhaps I heard the song and it stayed with me subliminally.

Sheet: You’re from the UK, how much did you care about the Royal Wedding?

Pato: Which wedding?

Sheet: The Royal Wedding.

Pato: Huh? Which wedding are you talking about?

Sheet: The one that just happened.

Pato: I don’t know what you are talking about.

Sheet: Okay, there’s was just this wedding in your country and …

Pato: I know, I know!

Sheet: Ahhh you’re messing with me!

Pato: Yeah, to be honest I’m over it. There are some people who care and some that don’t. The poverty level in England is so vast, and the Royal family lives off the peoples’ taxes. They give very little back to the people. So, I’m not jumping around singing about it.

Sheet: Right, why spend $30 million on a wedding when you could just go to a Pato Banton concert?

Pato: Hah hah! That’s right! And see a great reggae show at the same time!

The 21+ show is this Friday, May 13, at Whiskey Creek. Doors open at 9 p.m. Tickets are still available at Stellar Brew and TicketWeb.com.