Conflicting Political Affiliation
The next series of challenges encountered by Wadadli Experience band were the most dangerous and hardest to overcome, and they are the ones that changed the composition and trajectory of the band forever.
The band played at a nightclub owned by Selvyn Walter called La Valbonne, back in the 1970s and the band transport did not show up after the gig. Tired of waiting, the musicians decided to pack up the equipment on the stage and left assuming they were safe and secured.
Inferior Musical Equipment
Wadadli did not have top of the line equipment like other bands in Antigua, most of the band's instruments were old, used amplifiers and speakers covered with sheep and goat skins.
When they return the next day to collect them, they were unpleasantly surprised and stunned to find most of the instruments were stripped of their covering, and the speakers shredded to pieces by Selvyn's Dogs.
New Instruments And Sound
Very little was salvageable from the remains, so Selvyn decided to replace the damaged equipment without any strings attached. Staying true to his word, It was not long before the Band got back all the instruments it lost and some extra pieces.
From the band's perspective, Selvin was just replacing the instruments they lost at La Valbonne with no strings attached, but they were very grateful for the extra pieces he gave them.
The Band offered to play at the PLM labor day celebration free of cost as a gesture of appreciation for the new equipment. Selvyn accepted the offer, so Wadadli played for the PLM Queen shows and Labor Day parades in 1973/74 without any financial benefits.
The band was gaining popularity, so In 1975 Wadadli Experience was offered a job to play for the (ALP) Antigua Labor Party Queen Show. The musicians felt no obligation to Selvyn or any political party at the time, they needed money to pay the band house rent, so they accepted the job and was very excited to play for a big event and get paid.