Steve Harley (born Steven Nice on 27 February 27 in south London, died on 17th March 2024 at the age of 73)) began his musical career as a soloist in the legendary Beckenham Arts Lab founded by David Bowie. Here, he was busking (with John Crocker) and performing his own songs, some of which were later recorded by him and the band. The original Cockney Rebel was formed when Steve hooked up with his former folk partner, John Crocker (fiddle / mandolin / guitar) in 1972. They auditioned drummer Stuart Elliott, bassist Paul Jeffreys, and keyboardist Milton Reame-James. They were signed to EMI after playing just five gigs, one of the band's first gigs being at The Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, London, on 23 July 1972 supporting The Jeff Beck Group . Their first single "Sebastian", a soaring rock epic, was an immediate success in Europe, though failed to score in the UK singles chart. Their first album, The Human Menagerie, was released in 1973 to critical acclaim, and is still felt by many fans to be their best.
Harley managed to irritate a significant segment of the music press with his self-aggrandisement, even as the music itself was getting rave reviews and gaining a wide audience. It was becoming clear that Harley regarded the band as little more than accompaniment to his own agenda, and already there were signs that things would not last, despite having a big hit with their second single, "Judy Teen". There then followed the album The Psychomodo, an adventurous and ambitious production which showed that there was real talent in the group. A second single from the album, "Mr. Soft", was also a big hit. The band was voted the 'Most Outstanding New Act' of 1974. By this time the problems within the band had already reached a head, and all the musicians, with the exception of Stuart Elliott, quit at the end of a highly successful UK tour. Harley's next appearance on Top of the Pops was supported by session musicians drafted in for the show.
From then on, the band was a band in name only, being more or less a Steve Harley solo project. In 1974, a further album, The Best Years Of Our Lives was made, produced by Beatles recording engineer, Alan Parsons. This included the track "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)" which would go on to be a UK Number One single and the band's biggest selling hit. In a television interview recorded in 2002, Harley described how the lyrics are vindictively directed at the former band members, whom he felt had abandoned him - a fact which eludes a majority of listeners who enjoy the apparently happy chorus.
After 1975, Harley struggled to match the success of "Make Me Smile" and faded from fame, and Cockney Rebel eventually disbanded in 1977.
In 1998 Harley began to use the Cockney Rebel name again. The 2005 album "Quality of Mercy" (which included the singles "A Friend for Life" and "The Last Goodbye") was the first album since the 1970s to be released with the Cockney Rebel name
In 2010, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel began touring again setting concert dates for England, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. This was done following the release of the new studio album Stranger Comes to Town. On 24 November 2012 the band including the Orchestra of the Swan and a choir performed the band's first two albums The Human Menagerie and The Psychomodo in their entirety for the first time. A live double-CD and DVD was released in October 2013 of this performance, titled Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir).
Current members
Steve Harley - vocals, guitars (1972–1977, 1998–present)
Stuart Elliott - drums (1972–1977, 1998–present)
Lincoln Anderson - bass (2001–present)
Robbie Gladwell - guitar, vocals (1998-present)
Former members
John Crocker - violin, mandolin, guitar (1972–1974)
Paul Jeffreys - bass (1972–1974; died on 21 December 1988 in the Lockerbie air disaster)
Nick Jones - guitar (1972)
Pete Newnham - guitar (1972)
Milton Reame-James - keyboards (1972–1974)
Jim Cregan - guitar (1975–1977)
George Ford - bass (1975–1977)
Duncan Mackay - keyboards (1975–1977)
Jo Partridge - guitars (1976–1977)
UK Discography
Singles
* "Sebastian" - 1973
* "Judy Teen" - 1974 - Number 5
* "Mr. Soft" - 1974 - Number 8
* "Big Big Deal" - 1974
* "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)" - 1975 - Number 1
* "Mr. Raffles (Man It Was Mean)" - 1975 - Number 13
* "Black Or White" - 1975
* "White White Dove" - 1976
* "Here Comes The Sun" - 1976 - Number 10
* "(I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna" - 1976 - Number 41
* "The Best Years Of Our Lives" (live) - 1977
* "Freedom's Prisoner" - 1979 - Number 58
* "Ballerina (Prima Donna)" - 1983 - Number 51
* "The Phantom Of The Opera" - 1986 - Number 7
* "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)" - re-issue - 1992 - Number 46
* "Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me)" - 2nd re-issue - 1995 - Number 33
*"The Last Goodbye" - 2006 - UK # 186
Albums:
Cockney Rebel:
* The Human Menagerie - 1973
* The Psychomodo - 1974 - Number 8
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel:
* The Best Years Of Our Lives - 1975 - Number 4
* Timeless Flight - 1976 - Number 18
* Love's A Prima Donna - 1976 - Number 28
* Face To Face - A Live Recording - 1977 - Number 40
* The Quality of Mercy - 2005
* Birmingham (Live with Orchestra & Choir) - 2013 UK Independent Chart # 36
Mr. Raffles
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lent you must've known that it was Easter
There for a while, in your smile, I could see Mexico blood say
"This is true I was a Teaser"
There were a thousand! Man it has being exchanged for Pesetas
Man! It was hard not to laugh out loud
I couldn't believe the size of the crowd
You must have fooled them into coming
They would have hanged us if they knew
I think I know for certain
Inside you sniggered so hearty, you only came for the party
Man, it was mean, it was mean, Man, it was mean
Remember the time, what a time, we had down in Barcelona after you'd been slaying babies
There, for a time, I was fooled by your disguises, but I never thought of smashing rules
You wore the yellow bandana and gave out Heavenly Manna
Then in Amsterdam you were perfect fun
You never let on you had a gun and then you shot that Spanish Dancer
The speed at which we ran for a mile or two, they would have crucified us if they knew
I think I know for certain
Inside you sniggered so hearty, we only killed for the party
Man, it was mean, it was mean, Man, it was mean
Man, show me something I've never seen, you're only real in your
Dream Machine
And all your games are a little drastic
Just throw me out if I get obscene but that's the way that I've always been
I think I know for certain
Inside you sniggered so hearty, we're only living a party
The lyrics to Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel's song Mr Raffles tell a story about a man, Mr. Raffles, who is a charming and mysterious figure that engages in mischievous and sometimes criminal activities for his own amusement. The singer recalls various instances where he and Raffles were together, and Raffles led them on wild adventures, often involving deception, disguises, and dangerous situations. The singer is aware that Raffles is not a good influence, but he is drawn to him and the excitement he brings.
The song touches on themes of darkness, deception, and the dangers of living a hedonistic lifestyle. Raffles is portrayed as a devilish figure who enjoys toying with people's perceptions and expectations. The lyrics also suggest that Raffles and the singer have a close relationship and are partners in crime, but the singer is aware that it's all just a game to Raffles. The chorus highlights the idea that they are only interested in living life for the party and the thrill of the moment, even if it means hurting others in the process.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, it was mean to be seen in the robes you wore for Lent you must've known that it was Easter
You intentionally wore Lenten robes during Easter, knowing that it was inappropriate and offensive.
There for a while, in your smile, I could see Mexico blood say "This is true I was a Teaser"
For a moment, I could detect your insincerity in your smile. You were proud of your ability to deceive people and faking your emotions.
There were a thousand! Man it has being exchanged for Pesetas
There were a lot of people who paid to see you, and you made a lot of money from it.
Man! It was hard not to laugh out loud
Your actions were utterly ridiculous and hilarious, making it difficult for me to control my laughter.
I couldn't believe the size of the crowd
I was surprised at how many people were duped into coming to see you.
You must have fooled them into coming
You managed to deceive the crowd into attending your performance.
Wow! There were women and children, too
Even women and children were present in the audience, which shows the extent of your deception.
They would have hanged us if they knew
If the audience knew the truth, they would have punished us severely for our actions.
I think I know for certain
Inside you sniggered so hearty, you only came for the party
Man, it was mean, it was mean, Man, it was mean
I am positive that you only did this to have fun and to entertain yourself, regardless of the consequences or harm it may cause to others.
Remember the time, what a time, we had down in Barcelona after you'd been slaying babies
I recall the time we spent in Barcelona after you had committed terrible acts of violence.
There, for a time, I was fooled by your disguises, but I never thought of smashing rules
I was briefly fooled by your disguises, but I never considered breaking any rules or laws.
You wore the yellow bandana and gave out Heavenly Manna
Then in Amsterdam you were perfect fun
You never let on you had a gun and then you shot that Spanish Dancer
You wore a yellow bandana and pretended to be a religious figure before going to Amsterdam and being playful. You had a gun concealed all along and used it to kill a Spanish dancer without anyone suspecting.
The speed at which we ran for a mile or two, they would have crucified us if they knew
We had to flee quickly and swiftly to avoid being caught and punished by the authorities.
Inside you sniggered so hearty, we only killed for the party
Man, it was mean, it was mean, Man, it was mean
I am aware that you killed for fun and as part of your twisted idea of entertainment. What we did was cruel and malicious.
Man, show me something I've never seen, you're only real in your Dream Machine
I urge you to surprise me with something new and extraordinary. Your reality is fabricated by your fantasies and illusions.
And all your games are a little drastic
Just throw me out if I get obscene but that's the way that I've always been
Your actions and games are always extreme and intense. If I ever become too inappropriate, feel free to disregard me, but that's simply the way I act and behave.
I think I know for certain
Inside you sniggered so hearty, we're only living a party
I am certain that for you, life is nothing more than a party, and you are willing to do whatever it takes to keep it going, regardless of the harm you may cause.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVE HARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stephencummings2748
My favourite Cockney Rebel song. RIP Steve. 😢
@briancave3161
Rest in peace Steve 😔😔😔
@johansterk354
It's been a long time since I've shot a Spanish dancer ... RIP Steve Harley, another giant has slipped through the maze ...
@CliffMcAulay
A brilliant and creative writer/ performer. We were so lucky to hear this music as young teenagers. Thank you for uploading.
@derelictmanchester8745
He did punk vocal style, before punk arrived..👾👍
@ricardodorlando2705
Slaying babies = attractive to those younger
@Mooncat6
Distinctly British creativity. Bloody excellent.
@nigelbontoft537
Just nice what more can I say. What a fu**ING tune.
@dagnabbit6187
These English Artists . I am a Yank.. The muse blessed that island nation starting with the early 60s and lasting into the mid 80s when it cooled somewhat . Just a creativity flush , embarrassment of riches , that really hasn’t been paralleled or surpassed since . I mean this guy isn’t among the Superstars and listen to how good he is .
@tracik1277
Dag Nabbit The muse indeed blessed this language starting in the 60’s - the 1560’s.