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
Roll The Dice
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel the sensation
I got all of my heart on you,
A wondrous temptation, too
Chorus: Roll the dice and it sounds like thunder
Hit the bottom and you feel no pain
Roll the dice and it sounds like thunder
Ain't it the truth, it's a fools game.
When feeling my way around, your friendly intentions
I find I believe in magic now, a wondrous inventions, too
So many co-incidences keep me coming for more, of the same
Ain't it the truth, we call it a fools game
Ain't it the truth, we call on the game
Ain't it the truth
So many co-incidences get me coming for more, of the same
The song "Roll The Dice" by Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel is a song that seems to celebrate the thrill and rush of taking a risk or a gamble. It's about the feeling of playing a game where the outcome is uncertain, but the excitement of winning makes the risk worth it. The lyrics of the song describe this feeling, with lines like "Roll me the lucky one, I feel the sensation," and "Roll the dice and it sounds like thunder."
The singer speaks of having "all of my heart" in the game, indicating that the stakes are high and that the outcome matters deeply to them. The repeated references to "co-incidences" suggest that there may be a belief in fate or destiny at play, as though the outcome of the game is pre-determined in some way. Overall, the song seems to celebrate the idea of embracing risk and uncertainty, and finding joy in the thrill of not knowing what will happen.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Ain't it the truth, it's a fools game," which could be interpreted both positively and negatively. On the one hand, it acknowledges that there is an inherent risk in gambling or taking risks, and that one might end up losing everything. On the other hand, it suggests that the thrill of the game is worth the risk, and that even losing can be exhilarating. In any case, the song seems to revel in the idea of embracing risk and living life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Roll me the lucky one,
Give me a chance to be lucky
I feel the sensation
I feel excited
I got all of my heart on you,
I have given you my all
A wondrous temptation, too
You are very tempting
Many co-incidences keep me coming for more, of the same
There have been a lot of coincidences that make me want to keep doing the same thing
Roll the dice and it sounds like thunder
Taking a chance can be exciting and exhilarating
Hit the bottom and you feel no pain
Even if things go wrong, the excitement can mask any negative feelings
Ain't it the truth, it's a fools game.
This is a risky game to play
When feeling my way around, your friendly intentions
As I try to figure out your true intentions
I find I believe in magic now, a wondrous inventions, too
I have become hopeful and optimistic
Ain't it the truth, we call it a fools game
This is a risky game that people still play
Ain't it the truth, we call on the game
This is a game that people keep playing, even though they know the risks
So many co-incidences get me coming for more, of the same
There have been a lot of coincidences that make me want to keep doing the same thing
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY S. SCOTT, OMAR GERRYL CREDLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind