Smokie comes home to Roodepoort

Everybody has heard their music, whether from their parents, at a braai or on a classics compilation album. On Thursday morning 3 October some Roodepoorters had the opportunity to meet them.

In yet another Marshall Music classic meet-and-greet session, Smokie played live in the store, doing some interviews, answering questions from fans and signing their signatures on items.

The band, now returning to South African audiences for a ninth time, gained popularity with their first hit, If you think you know how to love me, and became really famous with Living Next Door to Alice. According to some older Roodepoort fans, the original Living Next Door to Alice album was banned in South Africa during the apartheid regime.

At Marshall Music in Allen’s Nek the band said, “Whenever we come to South Africa, it feels like we’re coming home”. Although from the UK, Smokie finds their South African audience one of the best worldwide. After being interviewed by Morning Live journalists, Smokie impressed the crowd with a pleasant acoustic version of If you think you know how to love me.

The band was very friendly to its fans and answered one young boy’s question of what it feels like to be a rock star with, “We don’t know, we’ve never been rockstars!”

“Being in the music industry looks glamorous but let me tell you, it is a lot of work, and it’s not easy at all,” said Smokie frontman Mike Craft.

Drummer Steve Pinnell said, “It also comes with its perks.

“Like, for example, big musical instrument shops such as this one offer you their items at half price after you’ve performed,” lead guitarist Mick McConnell joked.

Marshall Music in Allen’s Nek part owner Vanessa Maher said earlier that the store is “extremely honoured to have them here”.

Vanessa explained that the purpose of their visit is to “share some stories, meet the fans and inspire young musicians”.

The band agreed that fans can expect “lots and lots of fun” at their upcoming gigs in Johannesburg, “and if you aren’t having fun, at least a little, we have people ready to escort you out,” they laughed.

Residents can catch Smokie at their two Johannesburg performances as part of their Take a Minute world tour at Carnival City on 4 and 5 October. Some tickets are still available from Computicket.

We caught the performance on video! View it here.

See galleries of the Smokie session at Marshall music here:

Smokie at Marshall Music, Roodepoort (1)

Smokie at Marshall Music, Roodepoort (2)

Smokie at Marshall Music, Roodepoort (3)