The Mad Professor

Rip It Up, Issue 211, 1 March 1995, Page 9

The Mad Professor

Neil Fraser, aka The Mad Professor, has just turned a new page from a very old book. This month the enigmatic dub/reggae producer tours New Zealand for the first time on the university orientation ticket. Fraser’s first musical steps were made behind amplifiers and underneath mixing desks, as a service technician. With these skills in hand, in 1979 he built a four-track studio in his house, and launched the now legendary Ariwa label. Throughout the 80s, Fraser’s stable of artists increased along with the size of his studio, and Ariwa scaled the charts with releases from Pato Banton, Sandra Cross and reggae star Macka B. “Macka B is one of a kind,” says Fraser. He’s probably released more albums than any other British reggae artist. It’s incredible that

he’s still going with such velocity.” In 1992, Fraser slowed the flow of releases from Ariwa and left home, touring Europe and America, before returning-to break into the remix market. His credits include the Orb, Sade (“I didn’t meet her. Probably a good thing, I might not have left her alone"), and the newly released Mad Professor Vs. Massive Attack album, No Protection. “I’ve liked Massive Attack for years. The songs they like are similar to the songs I like. They contacted me with the idea to do some dub remixes for them, and it developed to the point where it evolved into an album.” Keen to break out of the studio, he's out on the touring tip again, and is bringing Macka B, Sister Audrey and Nolan Irie with him to New Zealand. Surprisingly, he has no intention of taking in the greenery. “No, I don’t smoke or do drugs at all.”

JOHN RUSSELL