Band 1

It all started back in the early 70’s when 3 school friends at St. Bedes Grammar School in Bradford, West Yorkshire, decided to form a band. They were namely Terry Uttley, Alan Silson and Chris Norman. The band was called “The Yen” Which shortly afterwards changed to “The Sphynx”. A couple more name changes from “Elizabethans” and a week’s work at Butlins, then the result of a Radio One competition changed them to “Kindness”. Later in 1973 found them backing Peter Noone as his “Hermits”.
Then one night they met a guy called Bill Hurley who later after much pestering introduced them to the songwriting team Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman who eventually signed the guys in 1974. They in turn got them a deal on the RAK record label with Mickey Most. Another name change to Smokey and things were beginning to happen.

They released their first single Pass it Around, but unfortunately created a bit of a stir with it as it was banned by Radio One because of its controversially themed lyrics supposedly referring to drugs.
In 1975 they released the single If You Think You Know How to Love Me and this was the one to get them the success they deserved. The song went to number 3 in the UK charts and sold millions worldwide. The two singles that followed “Don’t Play Your Rock and Roll To Me” and “Something’s Been Making Me Blue” had the same sweet smell of success and the band now called Smokie and consisting of Terry, Chris, Alan and Pete Spencer on drums toured all four corners of the globe collecting countless musical accolades and awards everywhere they went for the next 5 years.
Then suddenly it all ended, they decided to take a break and pursue separate solo ventures. Chris went to begin a solo career, Terry played with other bands and Pete returned to songwriting. Then 4 years later in 1986 the band got back together again and began touring successfully in Europe. This was sadly short-lived as Chris decided to leave the band and continue with his solo career leaving the rest of guys unsure what to do and indeed whether to continue at all.

It was Chris himself who provided the answer. His friend Alan Barton was introduced and finally at a jam session at Terry’s house he joined the band as their new lead singer. Other band changes and the line-up were now Alan Barton, Terry Uttley, Alan Silson, Martin Bullard and Steve Pinnell. The band had major success and toured continuously and once again returned to home soil for a UK tour, the first for 10 years. They had many more hit albums and constant success in Europe and in 1994 released their ultimate album “Celebration” containing all their old and new hits including “Can’t Cry Hard Enough”.
Sadly in 1995 on their way to Düsseldorf Airport there was a terrible accident. The tour bus they were travelling on veered off the road