BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - POPULAR calypsonian King Rockafella was given the choice to either replace a microphone he recently damaged or choose not to perform in the upcoming elimination calypso tent.
The incident in questioned occurred on Sunday night (Dec. 2) at 17 Degrees during the clash of the Proud Sound Calypso and Legends Kaiso Tents.
Band leader of Proud Sound Calypso Tent Wingrove Hicks informed that King Rockafella was given the “ultimatum” to either replace the microphone he destroyed or not perform at the upcoming elimination tents to be held this weekend.
During an interview with King Rockafella, he disclosed that he heard Hicks said he should bring his own microphone when he goes back to perform.
He said the incident occurred while on the third verse of his ‘Land For Sale’ tune.
“What happened is that I was there singing, and when I look back the trombone guy, the guy who blows the trombone who takes part in the Carnival activity also; he is a calypsonian also and he there laughing and giggling and he throw me off. I look back and see him and he pay me no mind. He continued, so I just pitch down de mic and walk off”, King Rockafella said.
According to Hicks, “Rock was wrong” for the behaviour he exhibited. He said one has to know how to deal with all types of audiences, including hecklers.
King Rockafella told this publication that “95 percent of the people come to hear me, and if you notice I was the only one singing different to what the other were singing”.
As gathered from him, all the other performers were singing anti-government tunes.
“All of them were singing politics and I wasn’t singing any politics. The others were bashing the government and all kind of things. And if you notice during the time, they get encore and I never get an opportunity to come back to the microphone.
“So if they have something personal against me, that’s their problem. But if you’re running a band and you have members in the band who don’t care who they back (politically), they must be professionals. If you can,t be professional, it doesn’t make sense you be in any band”, he stated.
Question on whether or not he spoke to Hicks about the incident, King Rockafella said, “Wingrove was right there. After the night, we talked and he never told me anything. Well, I hear he said that when I coming I must walk with my own mic. You understand me? But I don’t have anything against Wingrove. And Wingrove, I think, doesn’t have anything against me.”
King Rockafella said he had sponsored the band “many times and I have been there for the band over the years. If the band is 40 years, I’ve been there for the band for the 40 years”.
He was also asked if he believes he would make it past eliminations.
“I don’t see anything stopping me from making the (cut). Once they judge it fairly and so on, I will make it.”
King Rockafella however declared that after he shows up at the eliminations tents, “then I will know if I can sing or can’t sing”.
He indicated that he and De Unexpected are leading in performance at the tents.
Asked if he thinks he should have handled the situation better, King Rockafella stated: “Well, at the spur of the moment, when you see something going on you know the best thing to do is what I have to do. I wouldn’t say that I was wrong and on handling it better. They need to handle themselves better, not I handle myself better. I am a performer. I am drawing crowds to their tent. So you treat me respectfully. Don’t mind if because you know me and because of your political belief and how you feel and what it is.”
According to Rockafella, some people say “I right, some say I wrong. Some say I should apologise, but apologise for what? Nothing there to apologise for…it doesn’t make no sense! They need to apologise to me too, because I spoke to them (the band) a time before that”.
King Rockafella revealed that about two to three weeks ago, a similar incident had occurred at Spratt Net in Old Road.
“You don’t do that; there is no etiquette in them kind of things. That is nothing to laugh about! You come to blow (your instrument), you try follow me, but if you going stay behind there and giggle like some little child, you’re not supposed to be in any band. My fans will judge me if they want to judge me”, he remarked.
Eliminations will be held on Friday (Dec. 7) at De House Nitery at 8:00 p.m. and then on Saturday (Dec. 8) at 17 Degrees, starting at 5:00 p.m.
