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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZCOCKNEY REBELUK pop band formed '73 by Steve Harley (b Steven Nice, 27 Feb. '51, London) Top ten success with derivative 'Judy Teen', 'Mr Soft' '74; band split up, re-formed with new members, came back '75 with joyous no. 1 'Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)' (strongly reminiscent of Bob Dylan's 'Absolutely Sweet Marie', '66), now billed as 'Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel'. Former journalist's large ego and smaller talent had led to feuding with pop music press; now it escalated, and Cockney Rebel were given constant critical drubbing, caught between prevalent glam rock and desire to be seen as serious; albums were patchy, though The Psychomodo '75, Best Years Of Our Lives '76 had good points. Staccato version of Beatles' 'Here Comes The Sun' made top ten '76. Other LPs: Human Menagerie '74, Loves A Rebel and Timeless Flight '76, two-disc Face To Face '77. With the rise of punk the group split, embarrassed by Harley, who settled in USA for a while, made solo LPs Hobo With A Grin '78, The Candidate '79. Duran Duran covered 'Make Me Smile' on flip of UK no. 1 'The Reflex', '84; Harley came back with a band '85, skirted charts with catchy 'Irresistible'; the high point remained '75. Harley sang on single from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom Of The Opera '86, appeared in a musical based on Christopher Marlowe. He was still at it with new album Poetic Justice '96 on Transatlantic. |