Teapacks

Teapacks (טיפקס)
Teapacks in Eurovision 2007
Background information
Also known as	HaHotzaa LePoel (1988-1990) Tipex (1990-1995)
Origin	Sderot, Israel
Genres	Rock, Pop, Mizrahi
Years active	1988-2009; 2013-present
Labels	Hed-Arzi, Helicon, Anana
Website	http://www.facebook.com/teapacks
Members	Kobi Oz Ram Yosifov Gal Peremen Tamir Yemini Shahar Yampolsky Noam Chen Adam Mader Sefi Asfuri-Hirsch Danielle Krief
Past members	Einav Cohen Yoav Nagar Avinoam Marton Dani Aberjel Moti Yosef Noam Yankelevich Meir Amar

Teapacks (also known as Tipex) (Hebrew: טיפקס‎‎) is an Israeli band that formed in 1988 as HaHotzaa La'Poal (Hebrew: ההוצאה לפועל‎‎, The Execution) in the southern Israeli city of Sderot. Originally the band was named after the correction fluid Tipp-Ex, but in 1995 the transliteration was changed so as not to infringe on the well-known brand, while keeping the pronunciation and spelling in Hebrew the same.

Each member of the band has a diverse background, and as a whole the band has Tunisian, Moroccan, Bulgarian, Romanian, Syrian, Polish, Russian, and Yemenite heritage. Teapacks gained popularity by bringing forward traditional Israeli-oriental music combined with light humorous hints. The band leader, Kobi Oz, is well known within Israel for his eccentric looks and style. The band has released eight albums plus a greatest hits collection, which collectively have sold over 300,000 copies. Teapacks has been chosen “Band of the Year” numerous times by Israeli radio stations.

HaHotzaa LaPoal began in 1988 when vocalist/keyboardist Kobi Oz and bassist Gal Peremen met at a kibbutz in southern Israel. They began playing songs written by Oz and were soon joined by guitarist Einav Cohen and drummer Tamir Yemini. The group held their first concert at Kibbutz Dorot in 1988. In 1989, Yemini and Cohen left HaHotzaa LaPoal and were replaced by Yoav Nagar and Ram Yosifov. In late 1989, the group changed their name to Tipex. They performed the songs "Lispor kvasim" and "Im yipol gorale" at a festival in February 1990.

In September that year, the band, comprising Oz, Peremen, Cohen and Nagar, recorded two songs, "Haavel" (The Injustice) and "Boi elai" (Come Here). At the end of that year, Yosifov returned to Tipex, replacing Cohen. To this day, Oz, Peremen and Yosifov remain the sole constant members of the band since 1991 and are often identified with the band. In 1991, Nagar left the group and was replaced by Avinoam Marton. This lineup released their debut album Shvil klipot hagarinim in September 1992, featuring the hit single "Harabi Joe Capara" (Rabbi Joe Capara). They were midway through recording the followup, Haacharon baasiron hatachton (The Last of the Lower Class), when Yemini returned to the band, replacing Marton. The album was released in November 1993 featuring the hits "Betoch niyar eiton" (Rolled Up in a Newspaper), "Zmanim ktanim" (Small Times) and "Anana" (Cloud).