Neal D. Bluesman asked the Supreme Being for a band name. 'Joking Smokers' was the answer. Neal said 'That's funny, but not REAL funny.' The Supreme Being said 'Spell it like a guys name, stupid...Joe King Smokers.' 'Now THAT'S funny' replied Neal. 'Of course it is, who do you think you're talking too!' With that divine decree Joe King Smokers was assembled.

A full metric ton of original material was culled down to 13 songs and relentlessly rehashed by Steve Janning from Someplace, Ohio on dominant guitar, Paul Bryant from Someplace Else, New York on bass, Mark Ritchie from Bardstown, Kentucky on drums & cymbals and Neal D. Bluesman (Neal Bernard) from Heeranthere, New England on guitar, harp and making this all up as he goes. Months of gigs tightened it all up and then.....

After 6 furious days in a studio in Raleigh, NC Joe King Smokers emerged with 'Smokin' Up the Joint', one cool CD with 13 songs and a backwards message from the devil himself. With unbridled enthusiam and optimism the Smokers went back on the stage. Booking themselves as an action packed night of 'Real live rock & roll, genuine blues, imitation reggae and SERIOUS comedy!' Joe King Smokers delivers explosively comical tales of true life adventures and piles of great music at every gig. Many, many shows over many, many months hasn't killed the dream...(or made us rich by any stretch).

Joe king Smokers are alive and kickin' it out on a regular basis. We are also busy readying our selves with new material for the follow up CD which is on the plan for 2002.