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On this day, 11 July 1981, British roots reggae band Misty and the Roots played Cardiff’s Sophia Gardens.
Formed in Southall, London, in the mid 1970s. Their first album was 1979's Live at the Counter Eurovision, a record full of Rastafarian songs. It was championed by BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel, helping to bring roots reggae to a white audience.
Following their debut, Misty In Roots released four studio albums through the 1980s. The band had two BBC Radio 1 "In Concert" appearances in 1983 and 1985. They were invited to play in Zimbabwe in 1982 in recognition of their support for the independence movement, and were the first reggae band to tour South Africa, Poland, and Russia.
In 1979 Clarence Baker, a member of the collective, was severely beaten and injured by the SPG during a protest in Southall against a National Front march.
The punk band The Ruts, who were partners of and had their debut single released by the People Unite co-operative, honoured him in their song "Jah War" which was released as a single and on their album The Crack the same year.
In 1981 the band released their third album Wise and Foolish
