HARDER THAN THE ROCK
Directed by Mark Warmington
Certificate: 12a
☆☆☆☆☆

THEY played sell-out dates at the Roundhouse, were so well thought of The Clash and The Jam were their support acts for gigs at the Electric Ballroom, and when Bob Marley split from Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, his first request was that a group of self-taught youngsters from Harlesden become his band.

Yet even the most confirmed of London reggae heads might not have heard of The Cimarons, and in this wonderful music documentary we learn why.

The Cimarons can truthfully claim to be the first British reggae band. They did the lot: played reggae in clubs that had never heard it before, entertained in venues that had previously operated an unofficial colour bar. They had a number one hit in Jamaica – unheard of for a British reggae band. They influenced Jamaican musicians, helping speed up the rocksteady tempo, and they played with Bob Marley, Toots Hibbert and had music produced by Lee Scratch Perry. In short, they were massive.

Director Mark Warmington came across their story and was immediately hooked: he wanted to know why a band that were pioneers of a genre disappeared from view. The answer lies in the groundbreaking work they were doing, and the messed up nature of the money makers in the music world.

The Cimarons faced racism in how they were treated, how they were marketed, and how they were paid. Despite their success, they never made money. The film lays bare the struggles musicians come up against when their talent produces something “the Man”wants to monetise.

Warmington recognises their value but doesn’t try to over egg it. We learn the context of their creativity, what went right and what went wrong, and then we see where they are today, as The Cimarons have reformed.

As well as hearing the individual stories which shed light on London in the 1960s and 1970s, discussing class-based issues as well as racism, these are lives revealed by extremely engaging people.

Warmington has captured the essence of this lovely bunch of north-west Londoners, and brought alive the passion they feel.