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Smokie in Russia

Smokie did a mammoth tour of Russia and the Ukraine in February and March 2003.
During the 24 day tour they played 15 gigs, travelled over 20,000 miles, made dozens of
flights, too many train journeys to remember and met 1,000s of people!
Here are some scenes from that memorable tour. Words are by Martin Bullard.
 
The Winter Gardens Church in St Petersburgh Vladivostok City Square
The Winter Gardens A Church in St. Petersburgh Vladivostok City Square

I never imagined that I would one day walk on the frozen Sea of Japan, just as I never thought that my knowledge of the Earth's geography would be greatly enhanced by being part of Smokie. The simple fact is that Smokie's audiences are scattered around the globe and it adds to our valuable experiences to be able to reach many of the areas where we have made an impact with our music.
Mike Craft drills for fish on the frozen sea This guy's caught one! Mike catches his in the fish market
Mike drills for fish on the frozen sea This guy seems to have caught one... So has Mike - in the fish market!

Russia has undoubtedly changed since our last major tour in 1991. The economic changes, although not all for everyone's benefit, are clear to see in dazzling new shopping centres and this year's models of Mercedes stretching for miles. My main criterion for measuring technological change is "Can I receive a phone call from my family whilst staying in this newly refurbished hotel?" If the answer is "Yes" I am satisfied that technology has moved forward, but if urgent messages are forced to pass through a monolingual receptionist who either slams the phone down or puts the call through to the room of one of my colleagues who is less happy to converse at 7.00 a.m. then I feel a certain disappointment, not least of all because calls on the mobile are charged at £3 a minute from Russia.
Hotel in Kiev Hotel Ukraine, Moscow Mick phones home
The hotel in Kiev The Ukraine Hotel in Moscow Mick phones home

One aspect of Russia, as well as the Ukraine, remains the same, which is the audience's reaction to Smokie. They are as wildly enthusiastic as they ever were and also slightly surprised that we actually came to their countries. We are reliably informed that there are regular promises of concerts accompanied by feverish ticket sales for shows which never take place. This is a sad state of affairs and does the whole industry no good. However, we have now played to a large section of these two countries and are now making plans for our return visit. It's great to know that we will always receive a warm welcome from the staff of MacDonalds in Moscow, as well as a comfy seating area from which we may place our order instead of having to stand in the queue gazing upwards at the menu while a staff member waits patiently to see whether we wanted large or medium fries.
Smokie show poster Macdonalds in Moscow Hotel staff with the band
"Smokie" concert poster MacDonalds in Moscow The staff meet the band

It's the people who make the lasting impressions on us, and my lasting impression is of a nation of warmhearted people who love a party. They are tailor made for Smokie. It is quite apparent that, after 29 years they are finally getting the joke. Smokie are not serious, we are having fun. The humour is evident in the press conferences where smiles are a common sight now. This contrasts with the very serious faces and deep questions which used to be asked in previous years. Because Smokie's lyrics passed the very stiff "vetting" process in the 1970's our music has been given the OK to pass down through generations in Russia, just as they are passed on to the younger generation in Western Europe, Scandinavia, Ireland, South Africa, the Far East and Australia. This means that we now have a whole new generation worldwide of Smokie fans who will continue to support us as long as we continue to play.
Partying in the Chicago Biker Bar Press conference, Yaroslavl Interview in St Petersburgh
Inside the Biker's Club The press conference, Yaroslavl An interview in St. Petersburgh

It's a pleasure to be able to say that wherever we play we are always asked to return. When you consider that this happens to us 120 times a year each year and has been doing so for a very long time now it is not difficult to see that we really require a year with more than 365 days in it just to satisfy demand.
Band outside the Winter Gardens Interview in Rostov Filming in St Petersburgh
The band outside the Winter Gardens An interview in Rostov Filming in St. Petersburgh

Touring is a very tiring business and, having completed 157 flights last year just getting to and from work, we have a right to feel a little travel weary. Russia has to count as being the hardest country to tour because it is so vast. But that is how we cover such immense areas. Without the long flights we would never have seen Vladivostok, without the arduous 31-hour journey we would not have ventured from Khabarovsk to Ufa in time to thrill another waiting audience, and without the 15-hour train journeys in spartan train carriages with no restaurant facilites we would have merely left a crowd disappointed and still wondering what it would be like to see their favourite band playing live. We came, we saw and we gave them all a night to remember. From the Coliseum in Naberezhnye Chelny, which was celebrating its opening night, to the sumptious new Palace of Sports in Yaroslavl we created a mood and an atmosphere which will be remembered for years to come. We were also rewarded with some of the finest entertainment we have ever seen in the form of a cabaret which was performed in our honour in a restaurant in Yaroslavl, where a 25-strong cast put on a breathtaking extravaganza on a dance floor on which we ourselves would have had difficulty had it been offered as a stage. Hospitality is top priority both in Russia and the Ukraine and we have sampled the best, including a memorable night at The Chicago Bikers' Club in Donetsk, Ukraine, where we spent many happy hours drinking, shooting, tenpin bowling and generally hanging out with a very amicable crowd in a relaxed and friendly environment.
Limo fatigue Waiting for the train in Vladivostok Boarding a submarine
Three tired men travel in a limo... ...and on a train... ...and a submarine???
The cockpit of a Russian aircraft Outside the Bikers Bar Terry in the submarine
In the cockpit of a Russian plane Outside the Biker Bar Terry in the submarine

In St Petersburg we witnessed the major renovations which precede the 300th anniversary celebrations in May and June this year. Sadly we will not be there to help them celebrate this key event, but maybe we can create a sympathetic effect with Guinness or Tuborg.
Martin in Naberezhnye Mike checks the tour schedule Steve & Terry with som Killer vodka
Martin by the sea in Naberezhnye Mike checks the tour schedule Steve & Terry have found the vodka


To all the people in Russia and the Ukraine who saw Smokie play may I say a hearty "thank you" for showing your appreciation. I would gladly travel twice as far just to experience such a reaction. I love your good manners and your generosity and I believe that you show a very good example to others who may have lost the ability to demonstrate warmth and affection.

I look forward to seeing you again

Martin Bullard
  

Mike makes a speech With the Russian Army Shooting practice
Mike makes a speech With the Russian army The band get some shooting practice
Three statues!! Mick & Martin examine a Kamaz engine Steve enjoys a meal
Jason ,Paddy and ?!?! Mick & Martin examine a Kamaz engine Steve enjoys a meal