KINGSTON, Jamaica- Veteran reggae artiste Capleton has reason to celebrate as he was recently granted a work permit to perform in the United Kingdom. Capleton last performed in the UK in 2010.

Cabel Stephenson and Tameka Reynolds, the principals of Free People Entertainment, are the masterminds of the move that has paved the way for Capleton’s return to the lucrative UK market.

Stephenson, head of Free People Entertainment, dubbed the development a “momentous occasion” and a “great day for reggae music”.

“We approached the task with an open mind and we focused on Capleton’s ability as an artiste, a humanitarian and a great human being. There was an objection for obvious reasons but we’re past those obstacles, he’s evolved beyond certain perceptions,” Stephenson told Observer Online.

“Capleton is a loving person, a humanitarian person, he has applied himself in his community everyday, he gives to the less fortunate and indigent in his community, his door is always open to them. He doesn’t discriminate against people based on any orientation,” he added.

Capleton is presently on a tour organised by Free People Entertainment and Mediacom in Europe. The Wings of the Morning artiste has upcoming dates at Evenstar in Mouilleron-le-Captif in France on November 2, before heading off to the Le Splendid in Lille on November 3, and Lyon on November 7.

His remaining seven performances will snake through The Netherlands, Italy, the Slovakian capital Bratislava, with additional performances in France. Capleton will also be doing a Spring tour in the UK in 2024.

Capleton, the ‘Fireman’, has been bringing back the authentic vibe and energy in reggae music which Europeans love and are accustomed to. He is getting ready to complete his new studio album—the first studio project in over a decade— which is expected re-energise his huge fanbase internationally.

Capleton, 56, whose real name is Clifton George Bailey III, was in the past, criticised for lyrics that allegedly advocated for violence against homosexuals.

In 2004, according to an article published in the Independent, Capleton was one of eight reggae stars investigated by the Home Office because of his anti-gay lyrics and public incitements to violence.

It was a strange time for reggae and during that era, the Crown Prosecution Service had been examining the lyrics from songs by the eight artistes to establish whether there were grounds for prosecution. The other artistes were Elephant Man, Beenie Man, Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Vybz Kartel, Sizzla and the group T.O.K. No action was ever taken.

Capleton’s brand of reggae music is simultaneously entertaining while reflecting his Rastafarian beliefs and ideals that deal with love, freedom and peace among the human race. He has explained in interviews that ‘fire burning’, a favourite subject of his lyrics, are metaphoric references of purification, not violence or murder.

In another article published in The Guardian, Capleton was one of several Jamaican artistes, including Beenie Man and Sizzla, who signed the Reggae Compassionate Act, pledging not to sing songs “inciting hatred or violence against anyone from any community”.

Nevertheless, things reached a head in 2010 when several tour dates of Capleton were cancelled in the US after pressure from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.

Capleton remains one of the most enduring artistes of his generation. His album ‘Prophecy’, released by DefJam, peaked at number 65 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart in 1995. He scored seminal dancehall hits such as ‘Tour’ which peaked at number 57 on the Hot 100 Chart, ‘Wings of The Morning’ which soared to number 79 and ‘Heathen Rage’ which was number 79 on the R&B Hip Hop Songs Chart.

He has enjoyed other successes during his career with Grammy nominated albums, and worldwide tours. He has had several local hits like ‘Bombo Red’, ‘Lotion Man’, ‘Almshouse’, ‘More Fire’, and ‘Jah Jah City’.

The ‘Fireman’ was recently featured in DJ Khaled’s 2023 Grammy nominated album God Did on the track ‘The Streets Know My Name’ with Skillibeng, Sizzla, Bounty Killer, and Buju Banton.

He was also featured on the album, Khaled Khaled, on the track ‘Where You Come From’ along with Buju Banton, Barrington Levy, and Bounty Killer.

– Claude Mills