The Greek band Imiskoumpria paid tribute to singer Giorgos Mazonakis during their 30th-anniversary concert in Thessaloniki on Friday, September 11, pausing the show to say their own goodbye to him.
Band member Mithridatis addressed the crowd directly, sharing a few words about Mazonakis and highlighting the affection he had received from audiences, before inviting fans to bid him farewell together.
Mithridatis said that regardless of repertoire or musical genre, certain performers are, for some people, mysterious, strange, somewhat otherworldly and a little unconventional, even while working inside the mainstream music industry. He said such performers stand out for a reason, and that it is a good thing to watch an artist do exactly what they want.
What Mithridatis said about Mazonakis
According to Mithridatis, Mazonakis was exactly this kind of person. He said that, for some reason, Mazonakis had earned this universal love and universal affection, whether or not someone actually listened to his music or considered it their own taste. He said what Mazonakis had was unique.
After finishing his tribute, Mithridatis called out Mazonakis's name several times. Each time, the crowd answered back with the words "ena keno," meaning "a void," the title of one of the singer's songs.
Imiskoumpria's 30-year anniversary tour
Imiskoumpria are a long-running Greek group known for comic and satirical songs that blend popular Greek musical styles with parody lyrics. The Thessaloniki concert was part of a run of shows marking three decades since the band's formation.
Giorgos Mazonakis's career
Giorgos Mazonakis was one of Greece's best-known pop-laiko singers, with a career spanning decades and a string of hit songs performed at major venues around the country, including "Ena Keno," the track referenced during the Thessaloniki tribute.
