“Small Axe Band not dead,”… says Manager

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – GREGORY WARNER, manager of the ‘sweetest band in the world’ - Small Axe, said he would like to assure fans that the band is still alive.

He spoke to SKNVibes about some of the upcoming gigs the band has including one today (Aug. 15) in Anguilla.

He said that despite the unfortunate situation during the 2008/09 National Carnival in which they did not have a generator to participate in J’Ouvert and the Street Parades, the band was still busy with gigs during the year.

On August 29 they are scheduled to perform in St. Croix and on September 4 they will perform in New York for the annual Labour Day celebrations.

The band will also be jamming in true ‘axe style’ as one of the highlights for the Miami Carnival celebrations.

The band is also focused on not having a repeat of last year’s mishap and intends to recapture the Road March title they last won in 2006 with ‘Masquerade’.

“We going to show that Small Axe is the real band, most experienced and better band; the band ain’t dead!” Warner said.

In terms of rumours circulating about former member Kelvin ‘Ras Kelly’ Kelly rejoining the band, Warner said he had no discussion with him on this issue.

Warner added that the band had recruited new members, who are on probation, and he is not ready to release their identity as yet.

Small Axe Band is said to be the band that has the world up-side-down with their energetic and pulsating sweet musical style of jamming. 

The band was formed in 1980 under the name Vibrational Roots Combo with Small Axe in parentheses, and it was quickly dubbed the "Best local Reggae band" with the thumping bass of then bandleader Livingstone Samuel and the smooth tenor and alto sounds of lead singers Royston ‘Mr. World’’ Wigley and Godfrey ‘I-Shu’ Humphrey.

The band has won the Road March title on six occasions - ‘Big League’ in 1988, ‘Who is de Dan’ in 1989, ‘Pan Man’ in 1990, ‘Shub back on de’ in 2000, ‘Watch de creep up’ in 2003 and ‘Masquerade’ in 2006.