In a compelling fusion of contrasting worlds, Jamaican artist Militant General and punk rock legend Mickey Leigh unite to resurrect a 37-year-old anthem with their upcoming single, “I Won’t Be Your Victim (No More)”.
Scheduled for release on October 25th, this collaboration merges two unique artistic journeys, resulting in a captivating and unconventional musical experience.
Militant General, known for his inspiring journey and natural leadership, takes a bold leap into hip-hop culture. He ingeniously samples elements of the original punk anthem by Leigh’s seminal punk band The Rattlers, and weaves them into a fresh composition.
Mickey Leigh, celebrated for his pivotal role in the punk rock scene, and the brother of punk legend Joey Ramone, brings his legendary edge to this partnership.
The genesis of this creative alliance traces back to Militant General To The Emperor’s friend, Empress Inez Patrick, an associate of Mickey, sharing a photo of Militant General brandishing a t-shirt from Leigh’s band “Mutated Music”, hence the connection was bridged.
“I knew this song had legs, but i didn’t think it could run all the to Kingston…Jamaica. About a year ago, my assistant and head choreographer, Miss Patsy Inez Williams, showed me a pic of a guy in her native town of Clarendon wearing a Mickey Leigh’s mUtaTeD mUSic t-shirt. “I said “who…how…WOW!!” She told me it was a friend of hers; a rapper called Militant General To The Emperor, and that he’d gotten hold of some of my stuff.
A few weeks later she said she wanted to play an old song by my band old band The Rattlers called “I Won’t Be Your Victim.” It must be that the message of this song stays strong, universally. It was adapted in Portuguese when people in Brazil were singing it during the (violent) protests in 2014; played around the country by US musician/activist David Peel during the Occupy Wall Street movement, + a video made with it for the Anti-Bully campaign in 2016. Then Inez put it on and it sounded…very different than i’d remembered it….”-,
Mickey Leigh
“Sifting through Leigh’s works one of the overlooked nuggets that was discovered was his 1985-1986 “I Won’t Be Your Victim” …my mind and thoughts were gripped by the words I heard while my heart & body were moved by the groovy sounds of the irresistible rhythm that made me want to become apart of it…so I did”,
Militant General To The Emperor
Recorded in 2023 at Tuff Gong International Recording Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, this innovative soundscape promises to blend diverse influences. Militant General and Leigh’s revival of this punk rock anthem transcends mere music; it represents a cultural movement that seeks to infuse contemporary energy into timeless messages that resonate today.
About Militant General:
Militant General To The Emperor is a transformative force in the Jamaican music scene. His work combines various talents, offering a powerful call to action rooted in a commitment to positive change.
About Mickey Leigh:
Mickey Leigh is a celebrated American musician and writer, known for his significant contributions to the punk rock genre with his bands Birdland (which he formed with famed music journalist Lester Bangs), The Rattlers, and more recently, Mickey Leigh’s Mutated Music.
