Entertainment

Stampede ends FAME FM anniversary

By MEL COOKE, Freelance Writer

From top: Sizzla, Bounty Killer and Shabba Ranks - file photos

western bureau:

ON SATURDAY NIGHT, it was fortunate that there was room to run in the parking area and beyond of Port Henderson Plaza in Portmore, St. Catherine.

It was space that many people at the rear of the huge crowd at the FAME FM 21st anniversary free party utilised to escape a stampede shortly before 3:00 a.m., that brought what up until then had been a rocking affair to an end.

Many of the session's faithful who had been dancing to Sizzla's 'Karate' a split second earlier employed the 'sprinting monk' style to get out of the way of the onrush of panicked spectators, who thundered for safety away from the pack.

There were no reports of injuries from the Greater Portmore Police, neither could they say what had caused the disturbance. However, one man close to THE STAR remarked that "a jus' true de bredda back de knife affa de man an him girl".

Ease him off

There seemed to be those who used the mayhem, which seemed to have started near the rear of the audience, as an opportunity for profit, as another man said "same time me a run one man a go inna me pocket. Me haffi ease him off."

After appealing for calm, the DJ on the turntables played Bob Marley's Forever Loving Jah and wished all good night and asked them not to linger too much.

There was, naturally, a traffic snarl as the mass exodus began, one woman in the passenger seat of a mini-van summing up the situation with "mi vex, mi vex, mi vex, mi vex!"

There were many to be vexed that night, as the FAME FM anniversary session attracted a massive crowd to the Sunshine City. Persons lined the corridors of the large, four-level Port Henderson Plaza, crammed the parking lot and slightly beyond and lined the road across from the plaza.

Up to when the party ended prematurely, they certainly had a lot to cheer about, as Karate was part of a series of Sizzla songs, including (ironically enough, considering the panicked run shortly after) Holding Firm and the combination with Jah Cure, Divide and Rule. Bounty Killer's Lodge had brought a segment of 'bad man' tunes, including Terror Fabulous

Gangster and Shabba Ranks' Oil Up All A De Gun Dem brought the anniversary to an emphatic climax, while singer's section with Beres Hammond, Tony Curtis and Sanchez was well appreciated.

And, just after 2:30, FAME FM's trademark versatility was put on display with Elephant Man commanding a 'crazy hype', John Legend advising 'take it slow' and Half-Pint bringing 'greetings', all to enthusiastic response, within five minutes.

Walking away, one man rued an opportunity lost. "Yu know whe hot me? Me jus'go fi draw fi a likkle catty in a jeans an braps, is de bomb rush," he complained.