I never liked those Chinn-Chapman, Mickey Most produced bands at all. There was Suzy Quatro, Smokie, New World and probably a couple of others whom I have forgotten.
A few years back I bumped into Alan and Terry (guitarist and bassist of Smokie) in my local Irish Pub in Cologne. Smokie were very big over here and they were still making albums and doing revival tours. They were likeable blokes and I have every reason to believe, very good musicians. They explained how they had worked very hard for years - barely able to feed their families - when the record deal came along. Alan told me that when he got back to Bradford he would invariably ring up a few mates and set about playing a couple of blues gigs. It's not exactly what you associate with the Smokie image! I am sure all those guys were probably good players and nice blokes under it all and I am as saddened by the death of Les Gray as I would be by any other decent bloke.