Misty In
Roots
Photo by Robert Salzman -
Phantom Photos
With a career spanning four
decades, Misty in Roots are one of England’s finest reggae
groups. The band was one of the most powerful live reggae acts
to emerge from 1970s London, and they were a major force in the
Rock Against Racism movement. They are back in style in 2002
with a great new album on Real World Records.
This British based Roots Reggae Band MISTY IN ROOTS have played
together for the past 20 years, first coming together in 1975
and working as a backing band for the late, great Nicky Thomas -
one of Jamaica's all time greats who had achieved national chart
success with songs such as "Living In The Land Of The Common
People". Nicky Thomas was the inspiration from which MISTY
developed.
By 1978 MISTY IN ROOTS began to develop their own orthodox roots
reggae sound. Their powerful lyrics inspired by the economic
decline, a growing awareness of their African culture and a
spiritual awakening inspired tracks as "GHETTO OF THE CITY",
"SODOM & GOMORRA" AND
"MANKIND" all off which can be found
on the band's first album 'LIVE AT THE COUNTER EUROVISION'.
During the period 1977/78 the political situation in the U.K.
was a breaking point. Black consciousness was at its peak and
racism roamed the streets of London. Unemployment was affecting
both black and white youths and through this depression a new
musical alliance was born, young white youths totally fed up
with the status quo turned to playing punk music whilst at the
same time identifying strongly with the British reggae acts as
MISTY IN ROOTS, STEEL PULSE and ASWAD. With the coming of the
‘Rock against Racism’ movement the musical fight-back had begun
and for the first time black and white musicians were playing
together on the same platform bringing about a totally new
concept in musical awareness.
MISTY IN ROOTS one of the most powerful live reggae acts to have
come out of London and noted for their powerful roots reggae
sound and uncompromising lyrical vibrations, became the major
force in Rock Against Racism, playing more concerts than any
other band in the movement. This opened up a whole new audience
for the band who quickly developed a very strong cross over
audience, playing with acts such as Tom Robinson, The Ruts and
Elvis Costello.
Despite MISTY'S huge success as a live act the band did not
release their first album until 1979. The album LIVE AT THE
COUNTER EUROVISION, which was recorded live in Belgium during
the band's 1978 tour, is today still proclaimed by many critics
as the best live reggae album of all time. MISTY followed LIVE
AT THE COUNTER EUROVISION with a string of limited edition
singles such as "OH WICKED MAN", "RICH MAN’, SALVATION", "HOW
LONG JAH" and "SEE THEM AH COME".
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The band’s second album WISE AND
FOOLISH released in 1982 took on more mellow, jazzy and soulful
tone.
By 1982 MISTY IN ROOTS was a force to be reckoned with but
because of their determination to remain independent the band
took a major step into Africa spending nine months in Zimbabwe
and Zambia. The period spent in Africa had a major impact on the
development of MISTY’S following two
albums EARTH and MUSI O TUNYA, both of which were directly
inspired by the band’s experiences in Africa.
EARTH released in 1983 was moving
musical documentation of the devastation caused to mother Earth
by mankind because of greed, cruelty and ignorance. The album
consist of classic tracks as "FOLLOW FASHION", "EARTH", "POOR
AND NEEDY", "OWN THEM CONTROL THEM" and "SERVANT TO JAH".
MUSI O TUNYA released in 1985 was a reflection of the band’s
love for Africa. MUSI O TUNYA (THE SMOKE THAT THUNDERS) is a
beautiful place where Zimbabwe and Zambia meet and the great
Zambezi river gives up all its might to form one of the most
beautiful sights of Southern Africa. The falls MUSI O TUNYA are
known in English as Victoria Falls.
During 1987 MISTY IN ROOTS took their first trip to West Africa,
the spiritual home of their ancestors, it was indeed a pleasant
experience to set foot in the region after four hundred years in
exile.
1989 saw the beginning of a friendship between MISTY IN ROOTS
and KAZ RECORDS which resulted in the release of the album
FORWARD which saw MISTY reach the heights once again.
2002 saw the release of 'ROOTS CONTROLLER",
the first new album to surface in over a dozen years. On
this album, the band stays true to their roots, with selections
like "TRUE RASTA", "COVER UP", "HOW LONG" and "DANCEHALL
BABYLON", along with more than a half-dozen previously released
songs that are no longer available.
As we reflect
on the works of MISTY IN ROOTS
its easy to see how immense the
combined talents of this cooperative group
are, producing uplifting righteous music for all to hear.
And how right they were staying with their roots and not
following trends such as dancehall music, which has withered
away with the new growth of 1990s uprightful conscious roots
music - right back where MISTY IN ROOTS were coming from
over twenty five
years ago.
Misty In Roots Links:
The Music Of
Misty In Roots -
Track List |
