When the Bloodfire Posse performed at 'Take Me Away 2008' with Richie Stephens and Friends, held at the National Indoor Sports Centre on Sunday, April 27, it was the first time the band had performed in nearly 20 years.

The trademark black trenchcoats and dark glasses were in place, admittedly on somewhat portlier frames for the most part (Danny Browne joked at the launch of the concert that their popular Get Flat could be renamed 'Get Fat'). But there were two generations of lead singers in Paul Blake and Trevor 'Skatta' Bonnick. And there were two faces that replaced a pair of original 'bloodfires' who did not get a chance to don the black outfits one more time.

missing members

Steven 'Lenky' Marsden and Cleveland 'Clevie' Browne stood in on keyboards and drums for Alden Stewart and Carl Ayton, respectively. Stewart died in June 1990 and Ayton 11 years later.

The other member on stage that night was Donovan 'Benjie' Belnavis.

The band, formed in 1983, recorded the chart-toppers Rub a Dub Soldier and Get Flat, taking their showmanship live outside Jamaica when they performed in England in 1985 at the second Reggae Sunsplash Festival there, and going on to do the United Kingdom and Ireland. They toured with UB40, Toots and the Maytals, Third World, Sly & Robbie and Ini Kamoze, performing on the famed Ol' Grey Whistle Test.

sheer showmanship

However, it was not only their infectious music and undeniable talent which made them popular, but also their sheer showmanship, a hallmark of popular bands from the era, such as Chalice.

They were also technologically way ahead of their time, utilising electronic drums and now-popular devices, such as auto tune, to change the feel of their songs.

Among their other popular recordings are Are You Ready, Can't Stop Rocking Tonight and, of course, the rockers remake of the Pink Panther theme.

Most of the popular tracks are collected on the 1992 album Best of Bloodfire Posse.

The group disbanded in 1993 and the reunion for 'Take Me Away' was a one-off performance.