Laing talks Sting retirement, D’Angel, giants and dinosaurs
Published:Sunday | December 17, 2023 | 12:11 AMYasmine Peru - Sunday Gleaner Writer
Sting co-founder Isaiah Laing is quietly adamant that his announcement of retirement after 40 years is no gimmick nor some kind of twisted PR ploy. Laing, who ruefully acknowledged that those of his generation may be seen as “dinosaurs”, genuinely believes it is now time for new, meaning young, blood to be injected into the ‘greatest one-night reggae and dancehall show on earth’.
“When I mention the names of some of the veteran and not-so-veteran artistes, these young people look at me and ask ‘Wha’ song dem sing again?’ Dem seh we a dinosaur ... feisty!” Laing said laughing.
He believes that Sting 2023 on December 26 Jam World entertainment centre in Portmore, St Catherine, will be “the last of its kind” and he is excitedly looking forward to what he is certain will be a great show.
“My son will be taking over from me, but as long as I am alive I will be there to guide him ... but these young people going to tek it in a different direction,” he said sombrely.
This year, the highlight of Sting is the 10 Giants, namely Tommy Lee Sparta, Tanya Stephens, Bounty Killer, Bugle, Fantan Mojah, Anthony B, Spragga Benz, Macka Diamond, Capleton and Turbulence, a far cry from last year’s return after a seven-year hiatus which saw Laing’s Supreme Team leading the charge with young artistes to the exclusion of the veterans.
What has caused Laing’s change of heart and direction? His answer was surprising.
“A man’s legacy is man’s legacy. I stood up for the veterans last year. I wanted Beenie, Bounty, Capleton and Sizzla to headline the show, but I was outvoted. But ... we nah go back inna di past. We find the formula and we working with it. The show is going to start at 7 p.m. sharp. Last year we started one hour late and it throw off everything. Anyone who don’t turn up at the venue to perform in their time slot will not be put on later. Everything under orders. One order for everybody. We can’t carry the show on a high and then bring it back down,” the seasoned show promoter and former policeman stated.
His task on the weekend includes doing the running order, scratching his head as he wrestles with who to close the show.
“Who yuh tink should close this year?” he asked. “Capleton haffi work before the sun come out so that the fire can blaze, so that’s around 4 a.m. Right now, Capleton a sell favourite and Tanya a go hard to. Fantan want to open the giants segment and dun the stage. And Spragga is a tough nut to yuh know. And, of course, we have heavyweights like Bounty and we have Tommy Lee. All the giants dem bad ... and don’t forget the young giants too,” Laing said, his excitement level going up several notches.
But before he went off on a sojourn about the young giants, the question of D’Angel popped up.
The Lady of the Danehall was confirmed for the Sting lineup just last week, and interestingly, she’s coming off a ban which was imposed in 2015.
“Angel a angel ... and angels move mysteriously,” Laing said somewhat cryptically. “Something as big as this couldn’t be happening in Jamaica and Angel not on it. Angel is the type of artiste like a captain Barkey and Wickerman ... yuh know when something a gwaan out front and you need it fi quench yuh rush backstage and find dem and send them on stage quick quick. That is Angel. Bwoy ... it’s going to be a night and a morning to remember,” Laing said.
Insisting that “we can’t leave out the young giants who will be performing this year”, he gave a shoutout to Najeeri, Mali Don, Jahshii, Suspense and I-Waata, who he declared “have di biggest song fi di Christmas”.