24 July 2025
By Publisher Ray Cramen
A Dream Move: From London to the Caribbean
Sir George Martin—often hailed as the “fifth Beatle”—co‑founded Associated Independent Recordings (AIR) in London in 1969. By the mid‑1970s he dreamed bigger—originally planning a floating studio, he instead settled on Montserrat after falling in love with the island during a vacation in 1977. He purchased Olveston House and built AIR Studios Montserrat, which opened in July 1979 as a luxurious residential studio retreat in paradise.
The Golden Decade (1979–1989)
Perched among mango and coconut groves on a hilltop in Salem, Montserrat, AIR offered world-class gear—a 46-channel Neve console, dual MCI 24-track recorders, Ampex ATR‑102 masters, JBL and Tannoy monitors—just like in London, but with sunshine and isolation for uninterrupted creativity .
Over ten years, more than 70 albums were recorded there. Notable ones included:
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Synchronicity and Ghost in the Machine → The Police
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Brothers in Arms → Dire Straits
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Too Low for Zero → Elton John
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Steel Wheels → The Rolling Stones
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Volcano → Jimmy Buffett (named for the island’s dormant volcano)
Other artists: Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Black Sabbath, Duran Duran, Lou Reed, Ultravox… you name it .
Catastrophe & Closure
In September 1989, Hurricane Hugo ravaged Montserrat, damaging 90% of buildings—including the studio—and effectively ending its era. Although the facility was not operationally ruined, the industry had shifted and labels no longer wanted artists remote‐recording overseas. Martin officially closed AIR Montserrat shortly thereafter .
Then came the even more devastating Soufrière Hills volcanic eruptions (1995–97), which buried the capital Plymouth, displaced two-thirds of residents, and turned AIR into a derelict ruin .
Martin’s Legacy & Continued Support
Sir George Martin didn’t divorce Montserrat—he raised funds for recovery. In 1997 he organized Music for Montserrat, a Royal Albert Hall concert featuring stars who had recorded at AIR: Paul McCartney, Mark Knopfler, Elton John, Sting, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Midge Ure, Jimmy Buffett, and more. The event raised £1.5 million for hurricane and volcano victims. He also released 500 limited-edition lithographs of his Yesterday score, signed with McCartney, raising US$1.4 million—used to build the Montserrat Cultural Centre in Little Bay, opening in 2007 .
Martin remained trustee of the Montserrat Foundation, supporting arts placements (e.g. with the Guildhall School) and music education up to his passing in 2016 at age 90.
Why It Matters
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Cultural & musical milestone: AIR Montserrat is seen as a defining chapter in 1980s recording history.
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Pop‑culture magnet: The studio’s isolation, tropical vibe and world‑class tech made it a creative oasis.
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Tragedy & resilience: Its abrupt end underscores the island’s vulnerability, but Martin’s philanthropy helped rebuild community spirit and infrastructure.
