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Koza Mostra feat. Agathon Iakovidis

The group Koza Mostra has got together with the popular rebetiko singer Agathon Iakovidis to perform the song Alcohol Is Free.

Ilias Kozas: Lead Singer

As the lead singer of the band Cabaret Balkan, one of the best Greek Balkan Bands, in their most creative period. Kozas had a restless mind with many significant collaborations, and he sought a more personal way of expressing himself. He realised his goal by forming the band Koza Mostra, which became one of the most famous Balkan, ska bands in Greece.


Agathon Iakovidis: Lead Singer

Agathon Iakovidis is devoted to rebetiko music, loyally serving it since 1973, refusing to sing any other –even more popular- styles. He is a keen collector of vinyl records of rare rebetiko recordings. In 1977,  Iakovidis created the Rebetiko band of Thessaloniki and he released two records. In 1981 he moved to Athens, where he worked with famous musicians such as: Kostas Papadopoulos, George Koros, Vassilis Soukas, Lazaros Koulaxidis, Nikos Filippidis, Nikos Chatzopoulos and many others. He has toured all around Greece, Europe and USA.

Christos Kalaitzopoulos: Accordion

Born on February 22nd, in Ptolemaida, Northern Greece. He started studying accordion with Aleksandar Tchuev. He has twice won the first prize in the Greek Accordionists competition and once the second prize at Star Ways, Kragujevac. Co-founder of the group “Los Mujeros” he participated at a very young age in several gigs such as Schoolwave 07, 08, 09. Worth mentioning are his appearances in Rockwave 2008 supporting Manu Chao and Patti Smith and in Ojos de Brujo and Tonino Carotone concerts. 


Vassilis Nalbantis: Trumbet

Vassilis Nalbantis was born in Kozani. He had the opportunity to play and record as a full member or guest artist, with bands and orchestras from almost every music gender: A funk-reggae band called Orchestra Sonora, the Balkan-swing band Melios Balkana Mama, pop-RnB band Elements, surf band Meanwhile in Mexico, reggae band Global Vibe, electronica-dub trip-hop band Auditors Domination, and the Balkan-ska-punk band Koza Mostra.


Alex Archontis: Drums

Alex Archontis was born in Thessaloniki, on May 23rd, 1984. In 2005, he joined Cayetano’s live band and performed all over Greece. Succeeding the tour with Cayetano, he joined the band Emigre as a session musician and he participated in the recordings of three albums. Finally, in September 2011 he met with Ilias Kozas and joined the newly formed band Koza Mostra. 


Stelios Siomos: Guitar

Stelios Siomos was born in Thessaloniki, on December 16th, 1980. He discovered his passion for music at a very young age and he formed his first band James Down playing soul, funk music and participating in local gigs. Further down the road he joined Koza Mostra where he performs as a musician.

Music video

Live performance

Lyrics of Alcohol Is Free

Μας βρήκε η τρικυμία μέσα στην Εγνατία
Μποφόρια μας τραβάνε στα ανοιχτά
Σα λάθος να'ναι η ρότα, ποιος παίζει με τα φώτα;
Κι η πλώρη μας τραβάει για Γρεβενά

Σε μια θάλασσα ουίσκι
Ναυαγοί και ποιος μας βρίσκει
Και ζαλίζεται τρεκλίζει, όλ'η γη

Με κεφάλι σουρωτήρι
Και τ'αμάξι τρεχαντήρι
Ποιος του έβαλε πηδάλιο και πανί;

Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol is free (x3)
Alcohol is free, alcohol is free

Κύμα και λυσσομανάει
Κι η γοργόνα να ρωτάει
Μα ο Αλέκος τα'χει πιει, καλή κυρά

Μεσοπέλαγα φανάρι
Ρε μας πήρανε χαμπάρι
Ποιος το πήγε το σπιτάκι μου μακριά, μακριά

Μας βρήκε η τρικυμία, μέσα στην Εγνατία
Μποφόρια μας τραβάνε στ'ανοιχτά
Σα λάθος να'ναι η ρότα, ποιος παίζει με τα φώτα
Κι η πλώρη μας τραβάει για Γρεβενά

Δε μας ‘φταίγαν τα ουϊσκάκια
Μπόμπα ήταν τα παγάκια
Και το σκάφος έχει ρόδες, τελικά

Αλκοτέστ και τροχονόμος
Δεν είναι για μας τρόμος
Κατηφόρα μες στη θάλασσα, αρχινά

Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol is free (x3)
Alcohol is free, alcohol is free
Caught in a sea storm on Egnatia street,
Gales are drifting us far from the shore,
Our route might be wrong,
Lights are blinking on and off,
The ship is heading towards Grevena.

In an endless sea of good old whiskey
Castaways are we, not to be found,
The earth is dizzy, it staggers away
Holes in the head and a car that goes round
Who gave it sail and wheel?

Alcohol is free…

Waves are huge, the winds keep on blowing
And the mermaid keeps on asking,
Good woman, Alex had one too many.
Amidst the sea a traffic light,
Perhaps they got whiff of us,
Who put such distance between my house and me?

Chorus (twice)

Caught in a sea storm on Egnatia street
Gales are drifting us too far from the shore
Our route might be wrong
Lights are blinking on and off
The ship is headed towards Grevena.

It’s not the fault of good old whiskey
The ice cubes were spiked
And the ship seems to run on four round wheels!
An alcohol test and a traffic cop
Is of no terror for us
A downhill within the sea begins.

Alcohol is free…
Pris dans une tourmente sur la route Egnatia,
Des vents violents nous entrainent loin du rivage,
Peut-être faisons-nous fausse route,
Des lumières clignotent
Le bateau se dirige vers Grevena.

Dans une mer infinie d’un bon vieux whisky
Nous sommes des naufragés, introuvables,
La terre prise de vertige, titube
La tête vide et une voiture qui file
D’où viennent sa voile et son gouvernail ?

Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol is free (x3)
Alcohol is free, alcohol is free

Les vagues sont immenses, les vents soufflent toujours
Et la sirène demande
Mais Alex est ivre, jolie dame
Au milieu de la mer un feu de signalisation
Peut-être nous ont-ils repérés
Qui a déplacé ma maison si loin, si loin?

Chœur (deux fois)

Pris dans une tourmente sur la route Egnatia,
Des vents violents nous entrainent loin du rivage,
Peut-être faisons-nous fausse route,
Des lumières clignotent
Le bateau se dirige vers Grevena.

Le bon vieux whisky n’y est pour rien
Les glaçons étaient dénaturés
Et le bateau semble avancer sur des roues!
Un alcootest et un flic
Nous ne devrions pas être sur la route
La descente dans la mer commence.

Alcohol, alcohol, alcohol is free