Inner Circle stays strong on European Tour

No Inner Circle show is complete without the Grammy winners’ performing ‘Bad Boys’ or ‘Sweat’, pop anthems that have rocked arenas for over 30 years. They are still staples of the band’s set, as seen on their current European tour.

Inner Circle launched their ‘Stay Strong Jamaica Tour’ in late July in Sweden. To date, they have played in Denmark, Portugal, Bulgaria and are currently in the United Kingdom for two shows.

Bernard “Touter” Harvey, the six-piece unit’s keyboardist since 1974, reports that fans have given them the thumbs-up wherever they perform.

“The tour has been well-received so far. The audiences have been very supportive and welcoming. Even in festival situations we were pleasantly impressed with their response,” he said. “Sofia, Bulgaria was a blast last night (July 28). We did an additional half-hour encore. Speaking with a NOVA TV presenter today, she said, ‘we’ve never experienced anything like this’.”

Inner Circle was formed by brothers Roger (guitar) and Ian (bass) Lewis in Kingston, Jamaica in 1968. The siblings are still at the helm of the band, which is based in South Florida.

Lead singer Trevor “Skatta” Bonnick, drummer Lancelot Hall, and lead guitarist Benji Baez complete the current lineup. They hit the road four months after ‘Bad Boys’ was certified platinum for sales of over one million units by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Initially released in 1987, the song is synonymous with the successful movie franchise of the same name, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. ‘Bad Boys’ has been used in each of the four movies.

“‘Sweat’ and ‘Bad Boys’ are songs that have taken their place as icons of pop music. We find it amazing that a new generation of fans has discovered them as their own,” said Harvey.

The Inner Circle playlist is not limited to those jams which are from ‘Bad Boys’, which won the Best Reggae Album Grammy Award in 1994. Each show has a segment dedicated to the classic roots songs they recorded during the 1970s with Jacob Miller, the charismatic singer who died at age 27 in an auto accident in March, 1980 in Kingston.

A lot of things have changed since the band first toured Europe in the late 1970s. Harvey says adjusting to modern trends is what keeps Inner Circle active nearly 60 years after it formed.

“Touring is being organised and professional and having the little details taken care of before playing the first note. One should also be able to accommodate changing situations,” he noted. “Also, having a team that works well together and with others makes life on the road easier. Inner Circle has been fortunate in most areas.”

(Photo contributed)