Teino Evans, Staff Reporter

Bloodfire Posse

Everybody may need to Get Flat for this one, as the Bloodfire Posse is planning a one-time only performance after 18 years of separation.

In an interview with THE WEEKEND STAR, Richie Stephens, promoter of the annual Take Me Away show, says he was the one who had suggested the idea to his close friend Danny Browne, who was also an original member of the Bloodfire Posse.

"Me and the Bloodfire Posse members are all good friends, especially Danny Browne, we talk almost every day and we deal with the same morals," Stephens said.

According to Stephens, it was after inviting Danny Browne and family to his Take Me Away show last year that he suggested that Danny and the Bloodfire Posse regroup for a rare performance at this year's show.

"When I asked him (Danny Browne) to get back together with the Bloodfire Posse to do Take Me Away, he asked me if I was mad because they hadn't performed for over 18 years. And I told him that although he was an ordained Christian, he still needed to play his part in uplifting the people through music ... and he said I was perfectly right," Stephens recalled.

"It took a while for him to get through to everybody, but they were all in for it and excited to be a part of it," Stephens said. "And people are looking forward to hearing songs like Rub A Dub Soldier, Pink Panther, Can't Stop Rocking Tonight, Get Flat, Do You Feel Like Dancing and many more."

Danny Browne, one of the original members of the Bloodfire Posse, says although this is a one-time only reunion, the feeling among everyone is one of mutual excitement.

"There is no intention for us to continue because as Christians it's not something that Paul and I would want to pursue. We just want to do this particular event, so it's not a resurgence of the Bloodfire Posse," Browne said.

He also added, "I am really looking forward to it, I can't explain why. We've had numerous requests for it (the reunion), but there is something different about this (one) and everyone feels the same."

According to Browne, "if my memory serves me correct, our last performance would have been around 1992". He said the good thing about this reunion is that "Paul, Benjie and myself are the real original members, although Clevie played on our very first recording, Rub A Dub Soldier, he played the marching drum".

"Even right now, there is excitement, people hearing, want to be there, including my pastor. Everybody who knew about Bloodfire Posse wants to be there," Browne added.

Browne also said that "Bloodfire never broke up as a group". "We just stopped in the height of our success and started doing other stuff - I became a producer - and we just got too busy for each other. But for me, it's like friends coming back together and doing what we do best and to be able to share this joy with Jamaica."

Fans will continue to eagerly await the Bloodfire Posse's return to the stage after more than 18 years when the 'Posse' will roll out at this year's staging of Take Me Away with Richie Stephens and friends, on April 27 at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

Danny Browne - Contributed