By Howard Campbell—
Six weeks ahead of Sting, the show’s hard-nosed founder and promoter Isaiah Laing is looking for financial backers. The December 26 dancehall extravaganza is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
Laing has made no secret over the years about the challenges he faces to mount what he calls ‘The Greatest One Night Show On Earth’.
“Everything is set but we still need some money, we need an investor. We need to give the people a show they can appreciate, but I can’t do it alone,” said Laing.
Sting is scheduled to be officially launched in Kingston in late November. Laing boasts that 25 of the biggest stars in dancehall music will be on the card, but refuses to name them.
The show returns to the Jamworld Complex in Portmore, a sprawling housing development on the outskirts of Kingston. It is the scene of some of Sting’s most memorable moments including verbal clashes between perennial stars, Ninja Man, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, Merciless, Papa San, and Lieutenant Stitchie.
Laing, a flamboyant ex-cop, made his name as one of Jamaica’s leading crime-fighters during the 1980s. He started Sting in 1984 with Sugar Minott and Tenor Saw as headliners.
He is on record as saying the 1991 show at the National Stadium in Kingston was the most profitable, attracting 41,000 paying fans.
That was also the year Super Cat was unceremoniously pelted with missiles and had to flee the stage. Other well-known acts such as Bunny Wailer suffered a similar fate at Sting.
For all its drama, which includes extravagant costumes and brash behavior, Laing states that Sting remains the litmus test for any dancehall act. “All of the top artists perform at Sting and they have to bring their A-game, because this show can make you or break you,” he said.
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