Spirit of Smokie - Celebrating the Music of Smokie

Smokie is a British pop-rock band that ranked among the most popular groups of the 70s and 80s, with hits like "If You Think You Know How to Love Me", "I'll Meet You at Midnight", "Lay Back in the Arms of Someone", "Wild Angels", "Oh Carol", "Mexican Girl" and many more storming the charts.

With 15 Top-20 hits in total - including "Living Next Door to Alice", which sold over 30 million copies worldwide and sat at number 1 in Germany for 9 weeks - they made music history. The original line-up consisted of Chris Norman (vocals, guitar), Terry Uttley (bass and vocals), Alan Silson (guitar and vocals) and Pete Spencer (drums and vocals). Playing the classic beat format of two guitars, bass and drums, they stood out for their superb vocal harmonies and the distinctive raspy voice of lead singer Chris Norman.

Anyone who thinks of Smokie as soft, forgettable balladeers is mistaken: there was always plenty of rock'n'roll in these guys, who thrilled audiences with emotional, driving guitar work alongside their vocal performances. After Chris Norman left to pursue a solo career, the band found a worthy successor in 1986 in Alan Barton, whose rough-edged voice came remarkably close to Norman's. As lead singer, Barton ushered in a new era for Smokie and shaped the band's identity across six studio albums.

In 1995, however, tragedy struck: the band's tour bus left the road. Terry Uttley and Alan Silson escaped with minor injuries, but lead singer Alan Barton died from his severe wounds. After his death, Smokie fell largely silent.

Today, none other than Dean Barton - Alan Barton's son - takes the stage, carrying the same unmistakable, raw yet soulful voice as his father.