BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – RUMOURS have been circulating yesterday (June 12) that one of the keyboardists in the Nu Vybes Band, Kelvin ‘Ras Kelly’ Kelly, is no longer with the band.
The rumour comes as a shock as Kelly, who has been with the band for almost two and a half years, was described as the best thing since slice bread, comparing his new association with the former five-time Road March champs.
According to Kelly, the rumour is true and his agreement to leave the band became official on June 11.
“It’s a long story but it just was not working out,” he told SKNVibes.
He said that the decision was a mutual one between himself and management and that the discussion began a week ago.
“I feel some way about it; they said they had problems with the way I was playing…saying that it wasn’t their style, but I told them I am not Steba,” he said.
Kelly said that he is now looking to form his own band and has an idea of the persons he wants as members, adding that the idea came to him shortly leaving Nu Vybes.
Back in 2007, in an article posted on SKNVibes titled “Ras Kelly Says Greed is Justified”, Kelly said he joined the Nu Vybes Band because there was a space available.
"Well, I didn't choose to join Nu-Vybes…I work with music as a job," Kelly said. "Nu-Vybes had an open space; they needed a keyboardist. I told them I'm not with Small Axe anymore and I want to do something wid my life."
He continued: "It wasn't a revenge thing to try to get back at Small Axe, because it's like working. So I playing with Nu Vybes now and it was not to get back at anybody. It is a job! That's my work, that's what I do best; so, if they didn't have an open space it would be some other band or form my own band or something."
"I feel a lot of love being around them. In Small Axe I use to feel tension from everyone which never use to feel right. You go out to play and you feel like you got haters around," he said.
When asked about commenting on the situation and whether the rumour was true, Nu Vybes Manager David ‘Junie’ Adams said he could not confirm or deny.
“Suelika, Ras Kelly would be the best person to answer that,” he said.
SKNVibes also tried to contact Gregory ‘Mr. Mention’ Hobson for a comment but was unsuccessful in reaching him.
Kelly had been a member of the Small Axe Band for several years, where his signature way of playing helped the band in adopting the nickname ‘The Sweetest Band in the World’.
