They are not afraid of the Corona, are not tired yet of long tours, support the Barracit and are not really excited about the political plunder in Israel • A moment before taking the stage again in Israel, Ami Friedman met members of the Smoky band for an open conversation on a high floor

• Members of the Smokey Band in Israel

  Photo:

  Israel today

The British Smokey Band, formed in 1964, has undergone quite a few structural changes over the years, the most notable of which was the departure of Chris Norman, the composer, in the mid-1980s. But despite all the changes, the lineup continues to perform all over the world. Only in recent weeks have they appeared in Australia, Norway and now in Israel (tonight, Tuesday, at the Tel Aviv Cultural Hall; tomorrow, Wednesday, at the Haifa Convention Center).

Reporter: Ami Friedman // Photographer: Gil Kramer

The hit that brought them their initial success was "If You Think You Know How To Love Me" from 1975, but by far their best-known song, and the one that brought them back to consciousness in the 1990s (when they added one provocative line) was the cabaret Theirs for "Leaving Next Door to Alice". The same they promise to perform in their performances this week in the country, but there was once that the song was not performed. It wasn't a whim of the vehicle that hit its biggest hit - even at the expense of satisfying its core fan base. They told "Israel today" about the time it happened, and much more.

Terry Otlay and Martin Ballard, band members, landed in Israel for the fifth time and this was a great opportunity to talk to them about the plague that is raging and not worrying about them ("There is panic right now, but that is not going to stop us from flying), their opinion of the third elections in Israel in less than a week ("We understand a thing or two in an unconventional political climate"), more than 40 years of touring and the secret to staying active after almost so many years.

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