The Smoke


The Smoke was an English pop group from York. They consisted of Mick Rowley , Mal Luker , John "Zeke" Lund and Geoff Gill .
The band originally performed around Yorkshire as "The Moonshots", changing their name to "The Shots" when they moved to London. There were two bands playing R & B and other cover versions, one was called Tony Adams and the Viceroys, who included John 'Zeke' Lund on bass; Mal Luker on guitar and Geoff Gill on drums. The other band was The Moonshots, who included Mick Rowley on lead vocals and Phil Peacock on guitar. The band then came together as The Shots and made a single for Columbia - "Keep A Hold Of What You've Got" which flopped. At some point Peacock left the band, who then changed their name to The Smoke.
The Smoke's biggest hit was "My Friend Jack" ; the BBC banned airplay of the song over its alleged drug references. Later singles released under the band name often had variations on the remaining trio of Lund, Luker and Gill, performing along with session musicians to pad out the sound. All failed to sell in any numbers.
Guitarist Lund later became a sound engineer for Boney M., who recorded a cover version of "My Friend Jack".

Discography

Albums

;as The Shots
;as The Smoke