Musician Paul Kastick has drummed his way into some of the biggest festivals across the globe, earning for himself a name that is as big as that of some of the celebrity singers with whom he has worked. It is not surprising that Kastick has released a projected titled My Reggae Rockin’ Journey Vol 1 , but there’s a catch, he’s up front and centre, mic in hand, as the singer rather than the drummer. Seven years in the making, the release has come at the right time, and that is no cliché.
It synced with Kastick’s need for some personal, spiritual uplifting following a bad experience when he was robbery while on tour in the US in July. His backpack with his passports, his laptop, and US$15,000 were among his losses when the tour bus was broken into while his group had breakfast at a Denny’s in Seattle, having played drums at a gig at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma the night before. Kastick was devastated.
“All my years on tour, this has never happened to me,” Kastick told The Gleaner . “They smashed the window and stole four backpacks ..
. but luckily, the other three persons had their passports on them. We called the cops, they said, ‘We don’t investigate calls like this any more.
’ Can you imagine? Crime happened to us that traumatised us and we were told to go online and make the report. Nobody cares! Luckily for us, one police officer came and took a report..
. he was quite decent. And that’s how I was able to get a travel certificate, but when yuh.