BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – IF the Burning Flames had anything to prove prior to their performance last night at the Music Festival, they have proven it; and even after being separated and rejoining forces, their sound and performances and bond are as tight as they were in times past.
The Original Burning Flames was one of the main acts for last night’s (Jun. 23) event at Warner Park and, during its hour and 10 minutes performance, the older generation was reminded of the songs it grew up on while the younger folk got to experience first-hand the group that they would have heard their older relatives and friends speak of.
The Band’s keyboardist and arranger who is also one of its lead vocalists, Oungku, told the media yesterday that prior to 1985, Burning Flames was a “heavy rock, hard rock, acid rock, soft rock, rock and roll band with full costumes, everything…”
But in 1985 it became a force to be reckoned with, changing its sound and putting out its first album. He said there were naysayers but those were confounded with each year an album was produced.
Differences often pose difficulties especially when there is no clear resolution in sight. In 2005 the band split and the Red Hot Flames was birthed with both bands receiving calls to perform.
According to Oungku however, the fans kept hankering for the reborn of the original Burning Flames.
“But the pressure of people...they supported both entities, but they still wanted the original. The brothers came back together last year and we had a sold-out crowd of over 20,000 in Antigua just for that.”
He said that crowd was more than the band had seen even prior to the split.
“After doing that, the demand came high, high, high for the original Burning Flames. We still performed separately but I see the current and times really tugging for the original Burning Flames to really transcend beyond.”
Favourites such as ‘Chook and Dig’, ‘‘I Command You’, ‘Workey’, ‘If You Get What You Want Tonight’, ‘Island Girl’, ‘Swinging Engine’, ‘Iron Band’ and ‘Sugar Apple’ had the crowd on edge last evening. And even after the band had completed its act, the audience was still asking for the flames to be fanned.
Also at the press conference, Oungku informed that the Burning Flames has the St. Kitts record for the longest J’Ouvert or Last Lap jam session.
He said it currently stands at 14 non-stop hours.
