Scratch Attack

"Billy -- without being a big money guy or without a big company behind him and without even giving a hint of selling out -- completely promotes the hell out of this world," Pray continues. "It was actually Billy who told me I had to call the movie Scratch. He's like the DJs: He wasn't all cynical and guarded; he was just so into making sure that this really got done right."

Two decades into his tenure as one of the most indefatigable figures in the Bay Area's alternative music scene, Jam takes his notoriety in stride. Rifling through the 12-inch battle records and MiniDiscs stacked near a beat-up mixing board in his kitchen, Jam shrugs his shoulders.

Timi D

Billy Jam.

Details

Scratch screens March 8-21 at the Lumiere, 1572 California (at Polk), S.F. Call 352-0810 for details.

The film also shows March 8-14 at the Shattuck, 2230 Shattuck (at Kittridge), Berkeley. Call (510) 843-3456.

The Scratch Tour hits town on Tuesday, March 5, at 9 p.m. at the Fillmore, 1805 Geary (at Fillmore), S.F.

Dilated Peoples, Mixmaster Mike, Afrika Bambaataa, and Z-Trip perform

Tickets are $30

346-6000

KPFA-FM (94.1)

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"From one point of view, you could look at what I do and say I'm a total failure. In 1986 I was on a Top 40 radio station, and 10 years later I was doing pirate radio. Most people would think I should try and be on the biggest fucking station ever, broadcasting to everybody in the world. But I'd rather be heard by a hundred people who really get what I'm doing than by a million people who want me to play something that's completely old and boring. I'm not in it to make a bunch of money; I'm in it because I fucking love music. That's what's important."