By Miv Evans
There’s a morbid fascination in watching media figures, particularly musicians, spiral perilously out of control. First comes the drug-fueled ascension. Next is the booze-soaked peak. Last is a crash into the psychological equivalent of a brick wall. Throw in a hedonistic 70s backdrop and this documentary has it all. There are serious continuity flaws and dirty-laundry’s strangely absent, but the music is a worthy distraction and the story keeps rolling.
THE STORY
Jimmy Buffet stepped into the music world by joining a community of artists in Key West. He began gigging in bars where he met his first band member, Roger Bartlett. They performed as an acoustic duo before being joined by the rest of the line-up. Buffet was a prolific songwriter and together, he and his band gave birth to the unique Gulf and Western Sound.
This individualism garnered exposure and record deals began to land, as did the band’s access to private jets. Impresario George Martin used his to fly them to the island of Montserrat where a state-of-the-art recording studio was at their disposal. From 1973 to 1979, the First Coral Reefers released an album a year and their creativity, drinking capacity and drug abuse reached its peak.
THE TOURS
Jimmy Buffet died in 2023 at the age of 76. He’s survived by the remaining band members and it’s their interviews that shape the narrative of this film. They recount their touring years with immense affection and their anecdotes are worthy of inclusion in any Wild Rocker scrapbook.
Michael Utley, the keyboard player, recalls the time they went on tour with The Eagles. The fact that the media were claiming the Reefers were stealing the show seems to have slipped Utley’s mind. But what he does remember are the ‘party’ rooms. Utley recounts with glee that The Eagles party room was always empty because everyone wanted to be in the Reefers room, including The Eagles.
THE SONGSTRESS
Although Deborah McColl was the only female to go on tour with the guys, she has zero interest in discussing anything as banal as feminism. She’s far too busy bragging that ‘Fingers’ Taylor and her little old self were the only ones who could drink everyone in any party room under the table. And to her credit, considering the competition, that is one heck of an achievement.
Despite the years of over-indulgence, her memory’s working well and she happily recalls how she had to admit herself into ER every time she came off tour. This lady couldn’t be more comfortable in her own skin and is a refreshing experience.
BREAKING UP
It was Buffet alone who instigated the eventual break-up of the band but, inexplicably, the nitty-gritty of the team’s finale gets skipped. There’s a fleeting mention that Buffet’s visits to the party rooms were suddenly just a couple of hours, if at all. This was obviously a step, or maybe the beginning, of his journey to sobriety, but what incited that journey is never revealed.
The narrators make it clear that Buffet was one of the good guys, so the decision to abandon his buddies would have been hard. But, again, it’s a pivot that gets side-stepped and the audience is left to wonder why, when the band hit a collective brick wall, their front man wasn’t by their side.
THEM MARGARITAS
It will come as no surprise that Buffet wrote ‘Margaritaville’ after drinking a copious number of cocktails. The song became a phenomenal hit, spawned a new music genre and ultimately gave this documentary an ending unlike any other. Instead of being relieved to end up in one piece, Buffet was thrilled to end up in an empire.
As redemption goes, turning a song into a multi-million $ brand beats out rehab any day.
Narrated by Jeff Bridges
Written & Directed by John H Cunningham
Film Website
Occupational Hazard Film | Jimmy Buffett Coral Reefer Band Documentary
Trailer
2026 SBIFF Trailer – OCCUPATIONAL HAZARD: THE FIRST CORAL REEFERS
RELEASE
Premier Key West (Labor weekend)
Limited theatrical September 4
Streaming October 2026
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