The Smoke was a quintessential English psychedelic pop band whose tenure originally spanned the heyday of the Swinging Sixties. They emerged in 1965 under the name The Shots but gained fame after transforming into The Smoke in 1966. The group was led by the enigmatic vocalist Mick Rowley, with guitarists Mal Luker and John "Zeke" Lund, bassist Ray Randall, and drummer Geoff Gill completing the lineup.

The band is most celebrated for their 1967 single "My Friend Jack," a song that has since become iconic for its euphemistic references to drug use, and its subsequent ban from BBC radio only fueled its notoriety and intrigue within the psychedelic rock scene. Despite a relatively short-lived period of mainstream visibility, The Smoke managed to leave an indelible mark with their melodic craftsmanship and psychedelic charm. Albums such as "It's Smoke Time" reflect their innovative approach to the pop and psychedelic genres. Although they never achieved the lasting commercial success of some contemporaries, later releases such as "My Friend Jack Eats Sugar Lumps - An Anthology" have allowed new generations to rediscover their musical ingenuity, while the single "Bone Sucking Sauce" attests to the lasting influence of their distinctive sound.

Genres

Classic Garage Rock

Freakbeat

Latest Release

My Friend Jack Eats Sugar Lumps - An Anthology

The Smoke

Album - 57 Tracks - Released April 27, 2015