Harder Than the Rock is a rollercoaster of a film that charts the highs and lows of the music business, as well as its precarious nature. But it also highlights the passion, commitment and humility that drives the creative architects of reggae, The Cimarons, to deliver such heartful joy to their fans – in spite of the personal cost.
My first encounter with The Cimarons was listening to Trojan Reggae Party Volume One (1971), a live album recorded from the White Hart pub in Harlesden, north west London. This LP formed part of my father’s cherished record collection.
It was played relentlessly on the fabled radiogram every Saturday afternoon after the communal ritual of watching the wrestling on TV. Much of the music that I would go on to listen to, and eventually collect, would be compositions and arrangements delivered by the very same band.
