Interview with Luciano:
Messenjah Production Studios

Luciano had a rift with the Firehouse Crew; he left for the hills, has come back and reconfigured his band. In this interview, he discusses his cancelled European tour and the changes in his band. Without the Firehouse Crew and the Daffodils, Luciano has now put together a new band, Jahmessenjah Band, to include Firehouse members Bo Pee on guitar, percussionist Sydney Watson and Rayon Webb on keyboards. Sean McDonald replaces Dean Fraser on saxophone, Maurice Duncan and Jah Lloyd are the new basseys, and he’s added Scoobie on keyboards and Prince on drums. The backup vocalists are Rochelle Bradshaw, Sharron Myles and Yvonne Patrick. This is his first known interview since the rift occurred.

Francesca: Within the past few months, I caught your show for the "New Day" tour. There was a lot of positive feedback on the Internet concerning the tour. However, as your tour continued on to Europe, there was some news that while in the Netherlands the tour had stopped and you made the decision to return to Jamaica.

Luciano: This was actually not a part of the "New Day" tour because we completed the 7 weeks tour in USA. This other tour was the "Great Controversy" European tour which should have been 3 weeks long. I saw it as a disturbance in the family, because I see the group–Firehouse, the Daffodils and myself–as a family. When I started recording at Xterminator years ago, Firehouse was already there. It was an entity that had already established itself really. And now we have found that the Daffodils’ backing vocals are very integral and very important to the whole presentation of the music.

But because of certain developments (pause), I have noticed over the years that I have really tried to walk with the sistren and the brothers as a Rastaman. I have clearly established that I am a Rastaman from creation. I have managed to overlook many things over the years for the sake of peace and love of the music. I have really allowed trespassing in my own philosophy quite a few times when it came to dress codes and the like. As a Rastaman, we have our own philosophy and I realize that there has been a slight stubbornness from the sisters to back I’n’I in that.

I have managed to compromise over the years but I made a note to one of the backup singers about a certain jean span that was her code of dressing. Her attitude was not as Empress as I had expected. I am a respectable person and I show respect to people. If you reach a stage where people within the organization don't have that respect for you, it hurts you and it breaks you down. If you're not careful you can lose your cool. I expect that these wonderful Empresses I am working with should at least try to overstand my status as a Rastaman. Apparently Uncle Dusty, the drummer, didn't see it either because I made a one speech about her way. The way she answered me led to a conversation in which she got out of hand. And at one time I really had to address the matter. But being truthful, I never wanted that.

I have no regrets with the work I have done with the Firehouse and the Daffodils. In my own evidence right now I have a principle as a Rastaman and want the Empress to wear her skirt at least three inches below her knee. If she wants to wear pants or so while she is on the bus, on tour, we cannot prevent that. But on stage or in rehearsal and so on, to me, these are points or locations of duty, so we should respect that. Within the duty, within the boundaries of our duty, we must have principles around it.

Francesca: I'm sure it's a difficult situation because it is similar to a break up within a family.

Luciano: Yes, but there are loved ones who I have been singing with earlier when I first started. I know they have good intentions and they have skills and I've not given them a chance to really do their part. So the whole thing is a growing process. Every one of us is a part of the whole human family and once God has designated us to do a certain work, we should do it respectfully, respecting those who Jah puts above us because there is a head at order. No matter how big the band is, Firehouse or Daffodils, the head of the whole tradition and the whole band must be Luciano–lead singer–you understand?

Mr. Forbes is my personal management. He makes sure things are regulated: we reach the airport in time, we get our tickets ready and we hit the plane, we get our hotels once we reach our destination. So I'm saying we must have a head that really sets an example and sets a protocol by which we all should abide. I have done so and it has caused a disturbance. To me that is not right…

We have really breached a lot in terms of falling short in Jah’s sight. I try in my own little way to rebuild and restore my understanding of God's Kingdom or heritage and there is a principle. God said, "Man is the head and the woman is the heart." The man rules with reason and judgment while the woman rules with emotion and there is no other way. If the head said, "Empress, no over-tight jeans and a short skirt and some likkle belly blouse and some blouse exposing some likkle parts," (pause) and to me, I don't like that. I think that Zion is a holy place. No sin can enter there. Before I can find Zion anywhere else–the highest mountain, highest region–the first place of Zion that I know is within my own conscience. Within my own knowing there is truth and right and everyone has his rights. Give thanks.

Francesca: Some of your fans have wondered how you are doing personally.