Before Jimmy Buffett built Margaritaville, he holed up on a Caribbean island with Elton John, Sting, and Stevie Wonder at a volcano-side studio run by “The Fifth Beatle” George Martin.
This is a time capsule of genius, excess, and the storm that ended it all.
And if you love Buffett, check out The 10 Best Jimmy Buffett Documentaries (Ranked) from my colleague Rob Kelly.
Trailer for “Under the Volcano”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- George Martin (the Beatles producer) built a high-end recording studio on Montserrat in 1979. And it took off. But in 1989, Hurricane Hugo obliterated it. Then the Soufrière Hills volcano erupted, burying the remains.
- Jimmy Buffett named his 1979 album “Volcano” after the island’s dormant volcano. This was nine years before it would erupt and force permanent evacuation of the area.
- At AIR Studios Montserrat, the staff jammed with rock legends. One story includes the cook and housekeeper laying down grooves with the session players.
Watch “Under the Volcano”
You can stream “Under the Volcano” on Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 95/100 (Users); 94/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Directed by Gracie Otto, this film blends archival footage with present-day interviews of musicians, engineers, and locals who lived through the heyday and the disaster. Otto doesn’t just tell the story of a studio—she paints the rise and fall of an entire cultural paradise.
Release Date: August 17, 2021
My Review of “Under the Volcano”
The Setup
This 2021 documentary tells the story of AIR Montserrat—the tropical brainchild of Beatles producer George Martin. It was one of the most prolific recording spots of the ’80s, hosting artists like The Police, Dire Straits, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Duran Duran, and Jimmy Buffett.
The film captures the island’s blend of paradise and professionalism: world-class musicians laid down hits while cooling off in the pool or hitting the local bar. That collision of world-changing music and laid-back island energy couldn’t last forever. Hurricane Hugo crushed the studio in 1989, and the volcano eventually buried the entire site in ash and lava.
More Highlights from the Doc
- “Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits was recorded here. It would go on to sell 30+ million copies and be the first album ever fully recorded digitally for CD release.
- The Police’s “Synchronicity” (with hits like “Every Breath You Take”) was tracked here during a period where the band was fracturing. The doc captures that tension.
- Stevie Wonder visited and recorded on the island post-Songs in the Key of Life era. George Martin called his sessions “spiritual experiences.”
- Elton John recorded several songs here and said AIR Montserrat gave him the most stress-free sessions of his life.
- Local islanders recall how the presence of stars transformed everyday life—some even appear in backing vocals or percussion lines on records.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- The pool outside the studio is half-filled with rainwater. It was once the scene of photoshoots with Duran Duran and after-hours parties with The Police.
- After the studio was abandoned, AIR Montserrat stood for years like a bomb site. There was rusted gear still inside, original acoustics intact, until the volcano finished what the hurricane started.
- George Martin had originally come to Montserrat to unwind after the Beatles breakup. He created AIR Studios, which gave him a new mission and arguably his second golden age.
Wrap Up:
If you love music docs, this one’s pure gold. You’ll walk away amazed that a forgotten Caribbean island helped shape the sound of the ’80s. Fun fact, I’ve been there on a sailboat! Plus, Montserrat is my teammate Rob Kelly’s all-time favorite vacation destination!
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc