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Felix Duke Osagie aka Felix Duke started music way back in the 80’s. As an amateur he played for some home based bands in Benin City, the Edo State capital, and later formed a band called The Black Boys alongside Righteousman Erabor and late Fidelis Blackman among others. The band was the opening act for top musicians like Majek Fashek and others whenever they were in Benin to perform. Felix Duke later relocated to Lagos in 1990. While in Lagos he played drums for the likes of Daniel Wilson, Stella Monye, Uche Ubeto, Blackky, Alex Zito and Evi Edna Ogoli among a host of others. TheWalare singer shares his experience today.
When was the first time you played on stage as a professional musician?
Well, I have been playing live for a very long time. I could remember when some of us left Daniel Wilson’s band to form True Experience Band, which became the official band for the now defunct Fame Music Awards organised by Fame Weekly Magazine.
As Felix Duke, when was the first time you played on stage as a professional musician and not as a group?
That was in 1996 when I launched my debut album entitled Walare, at the Jabita Intercontinetal Hotel, Lagos, with the late Steve Kadiri as MC.
How was your performance?
It was okay because it is something I had been doing with other bands so doing mine was as easy as pie.
Playing with your band for the first time, were you afraid?
Obviously I was because I don’t drink or smoke. There was some anxiety but once I stepped on stage and saw the people’s response, I was energised.
So you did not take any stimulant like coffee, brandy or any other thing?
I didn’t because I’m hyper-active; taking any stimulant may cause problems.
How do you prepare for a show?
Just like anybody will prepare for exams. I take my job very seriously. I will first of all rehearse with my band and put everything in order.
Twenty four hours before a show, what do you do?
What I do mainly is to rest so as not to lose my voice and conserve my energy.
Do you threat your voice with honey, alligator pepper, bitter kola or any other thing?
When I started music in the 80’s I did but that didn’t work. Then we took alligator pepper, raw eggs and so many other things but it did not work for me so I devise my own style of resting my voice.
So what works for you then?
The only thing that works for me is milk; it cleanses my voice.
On the day of the show, how is your day like? That is, when do you wake up? What do you eat and which other thing do you do?
I wake up in the morning as usual, do light exercise by jogging and eat normally. I can even eat 30 minutes before the show but it must be light food.
How is your back stage like?
My back stage is always organised because I always use it to study the crowd or the audience so I’m always cool and calculative especially if an artiste is playing before me. This will give me an insight into the kind of audience. It enables me change my strategy which has work for me in so many occasions.
How do you relate with your male and female fans?
I appreciate my fans; I don’t discriminate whether the person is male or female because without them we can’t exist.
What crazy thing has a fan done to you?
Nothing much; they have appreciated me with crisp naira notes, gifts and wine which is normal. I have always appreciated this.
What of crazy female fan?
Same goes for them. The female fans have always appreciated me by jumping on stage to shake, roll or twerk and hold on to me for two or three minutes until security frees me from their hold. A lady once traced me to the back stage at a very open place and stripped.
What did you do?
Nothing. I just looked at her and said she was crazy and she said ‘yes I am crazy about you’ and she said she was following to any where I was going. After the show I ran away.
So you did not do anything with her, you just looked?
What do you want me to do? I said I ran away. What else do you want to hear?
Like that?
Yes, just like that.
About Unknown
Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.
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