Inner Circle

Inner Circle are a Jamaican reggae band formed in Kingston in 1968, best known internationally as The Bad Boys of Reggae. Founded by brothers Ian and Roger Lewis, the band first gained recognition in the early 1970s backing artists such as The Chosen Few and Eric Donaldson. After early lineup changes that eventually led some members to form Third World, Inner Circle solidified their sound and released their debut album Dread Reggae Hits (1973). Their breakthrough came with the recruitment of singer Jacob Miller, whose powerful vocals helped propel the band to massive popularity in Jamaica and abroad during the late 1970s.

During the Jacob Miller era, Inner Circle released several acclaimed albums on Capitol and Island Records, including Reggae Thing, Ready for the World, Everything Is Great, and New Age Music. They scored UK hits such as “Everything Is Great” and gained wider exposure through their appearance in the film Rockers. At their peak, Inner Circle were among the most popular live acts in Jamaica. This successful period ended abruptly with Miller’s death in a car crash in 1980, after which the band disbanded and later relocated to Miami, where they established the Circle House recording studio.

Inner Circle reformed in 1986 and achieved major international success with the albums Black Roses, One Way, and Bad Boys. The title track “Bad Boys” became the theme song for the TV series COPS and later featured in the Bad Boys film franchise, while “Sweat (A La La La La Long)” became a global hit. The album Bad Boys earned the band a Grammy Award in 1993. Continuing to record and tour, Inner Circle collaborated with both veteran and younger reggae artists, launched campaigns to preserve traditional reggae, and remained active into the 21st century. In 2019, Ian and Roger Lewis, along with the late Jacob Miller, were awarded Jamaica’s Order of Distinction in recognition of their contribution to music.