Sam: My $50,000 gig for a drug lord Ex-model Fox on tour of Colombia
SAMANTHA Fox was once handed $50,000 to sing at a drug lord’s party in Colombia.
The glamour girl turned international pop star was touring in South America when she was asked to perform at a 21st birthday bash.
After yesterday’s tales of sexual assault, betrayal and national humiliation Sam, who publishes her autobiography, Forever, this week, opens up on her dealings with drug cartels.
The star, 51, said: “When we arrived in Colombia, George Bush’s war on drugs was going strong and no international stars were performing there.
“So when I arrived there were 10,000 people at the airport. They were so happy.
“I felt like The Beatles when they started jumping in the limousine,” she said.
“After we’d done three shows this very serious looking guy came up to my tour manager and asked if I’d perform at his daughter’s 21st birthday the following night for $50,000. He literally handed over the cash there and then. I just thought he was a very rich man who wanted a gig for his daughter, but in retrospect I guess it’s pretty obvious what his business must have been.”
Sam was taken to a huge house guarded by men with machine guns, where she sang for the birthday girl.
Days later, her manager got the dates confused and Sam turned up a day late for a show. Despite issuing a public apology, the promoters kept Sam, her equipment and her entourage hostage till a $100,000 ransom was paid.
She said: “My dad ended up flying from England with the cash. We did a gig for free, got our passports back and fled to Panama.”
Sam also reveals that, at a gig in Delhi, male fans had an odd way of showing their appreciation. She said: “I noticed all the men were lifting their shirts to expose their willies to me, which apparently meant they loved me or fancied me. “I was trying to remember the words to my songs with 70,000 willies doing the propeller in front of me. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.” ■ Forever, by Samantha Fox, is published by Backbeat. Sam sings in 2004