No money was too much to see ‘Uncle Beres’

According to Dionne Layne, when she heard Beres Hammond was merging with longtime friend and collaborator Buju Banton for a groundbreaking concert experience that would give fans an 'intimate' look at the icons, she thought her ticket was secured.

Layne said that her sister is related to Hammond, and expected that she could find VIP tickets. But after hearing no such plans were made, Layne decided to take matters into her own hands.

"I paid my $60,000 for me and my husband," she said gesturing to her spouse Antonio Ruglass. "I paid $60,000 Kim and guess what? I'm gonna be in the paper without you," she playfully taunted. Layne and Ruglass were among the thousands in attendance at Grizzly's Plantation Cove in St Ann on January 1 for Intimate, a show headlined by Hammond and Buju.

Layne explained that although she had to spend her own money, she would have spent any amount to see Hammond in concert.

"I came all the way from Connecticut to see Beres Hammond, that's it. Marcia (Griffiths), I love you ... but Beres is my guy. I could die tomorrow and be happy, literally," she said.

Layne told THE STAR that her love for 'Uncle Beres' began in her youth.

"From I was a little girl, we used to clean the house on Saturdays, when he put on that song about him coming home when he knows he was being a bad guy," she said, referring to Hammond's hit Double Trouble.

"I was like, I wanna be the apple so he can take a bite," she said, referring to another hit Come Back Home. "And now this (Intimate). This is my dream, this is literally my dream. I just love him."

Responding to speculation that her favourite artiste may be close to retirement, Layne joked, "I think I'm gonna die."

"No but seriously, if it's not for his health, I hope he doesn't retire. I hope he never retires. Even if he's in a wheelchair, call me Beres, I'll come and push you in a wheelchair," she said.