Cockney Rebel

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel is a British pop group led by singer Steve Harley. The band became known in the early 1970s with hits like Sebastian, Judy Toeand Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me).

Harley had worked for some time with John Crocker as a street musician for the band Cockney Rebel they founded in 1972. As a drummer was Stuart Elliott attracted, as bassist Paul Jeffreys and as keyboardist Milton Reame-James. After just five performances they came under contract to EMI, and with the songSebastian they had success in a number of European countries. As debut album came in 1973 The Human Menagerie from, according to many fans their best album.

It soon became clear that Harley saw the band as his backing band, and that the band would be short-lived as a result. However, the band released a few hit singles, including Judy Teen and Mr. Soft. In 1974 the band was voted "Most Outstanding New Act", but at the end of a successful tour of that year, all band members on Elliott after discharge. Harley would then with session musicians performances for pop programmes such as Top of the Pops. From that moment the band would exist in name only, and it concerned a solo project by Steve Harley.

The album, The Best Years of Our Lives from 1974 was produced by Alan Parsons, whose hit single Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) .

After 1974 it all went a bit less with Harley, on a few small projects in 1979 and early 80 's after it was quiet around the singer. In the late 1980s he would again with the old Cockney Rebel-repertoire on stage. In the 90 's he would release two solo albums, after which another album in 2005 under the name Cockney Rebel: The Quality of Mercy. He calls his current touring band Cockney Rebel Mark III, although Elliott sit there no original members of the group. ==Radio 2 Top 2000[ Edit] ==