Tragedy has struck reggae legend and dub innovator Lee “Scratch” Perry, whose recording studio was destroyed in a fire.

Located in Switzerland, Perry’s Secret Laboratory Studio (also known as Blue Ark) was reportedly destroyed after he forgot to put out a candle.

Perry confirmed the news in Facebook post (embedded below). He explained that all of his studio gear was destroyed along with a great deal of personal effects. “I am so sad and my wife is so mad,” he wrote.

HALLO MY FANS
SOMETHNG VERY VERY SAD HAPPEND
I FORGOTT TO OUT A CANDLE AND MY WHOLE SECRET LABORATORY BURNED OUT.
MY WHOLE LIFE COLECTIONS,ARTS,MY MAGIC HATS, MY MAGIC BOOTS, ALL MY CRAZY SHOW OUTFITS AND COSTUMES:KING,POPE,GENERAL,MAGICIAN….. ALL MY ELECTRONICS AND STUDIO EQUIPMENT AND MY MAGIC MIC, BOOKS, MUSIK, CDS…
EVERYTHING GONE!!!!

I AM SO SAD AND MY WIFE IS SO MAD

TO MY ANGELS THAT ALWAYS GIVE ME PERFECT THINGS
IF YOU HAVE MADE SOMETHING FOR ME TO BRING IT TO THE SHOW WHEN IM IN YOUR AREA, IT WOULD BE SUPER IF YOU SEND THAT TO ME IN ADVANCE BY POST SO I CAN HAVE IT BEFORE I START WITH SHOWS IN MARCH, BECAUSE NOW IM GOING TO JAMAIKA AND WILL NOT HAVE THE TIME TO LOOK OR MAKE SPECIAL OUTFITS.
SEND ME A PRIVATE MESSAGE AND I WILL SEND YOU THE ADRESS.
ALSO WRITE ME WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED
THEN I WILL PUT YOU + ? ON THE GUESTLIST WHEN I COME TO YOUR AREA AND WITH BACKSTAGE ACSESS SO I CAN THANK YOU PERSONALY

GOD BLESS
LOVE £$P

In the late ’70s, Perry’s studio the Black Ark also burned to the ground. The artist has often insisted that he burned it down himself.