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
Sebastian
Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Generate me limply, can't seem to place your name, cherie
To rearrange all these thoughts in a moment is suicide
Come to a strange place, we'll talk over old times we never smile
Somebody called me Sebastian
Somebody called me Sebastian
Work out a rhyme, toss me the time, lay me, you're mine
Your Persian eyes sparkle; your lips, ruby blue, never speak a sound
And you, oh so gay, with Parisian demands, you can run-around
And your view of society screws up my mind like you'll never know
Lead me away, come inside, see my mind in kaleidoscope
Somebody called me Sebastian
Somebody called me Sebastian
Mangle my mind, love me sublime, do it in style,
So we all know, oh yeah!
You're not gonna run, babe, we only just begun, babe, to compromise
Slagged in a Bowery saloon, love's a story we'll serialize
Pale angel face; green eye-shadow, the glitter is outasight
No courtesan could begin to decipher your beam of light
Somebody called me Sebastian
Somebody called me Sebastian
Dance on my heart, laugh, swoop and dart, la-di-di-da,
Now we all know you, yeah!
The song "Sebastian" by Steve Harley is a mysterious and avant-garde piece with enigmatic lyrics that create a surreal atmosphere. The opening lines of the song convey a sense of hopelessness and exhaustion as the singer feels drained by the world around him. The reference to a burning candle suggests a sense of dying hope or a fading life force. The singer is unable to think straight and cannot recall the name of a person he longs for. The next lines reveal a dark aspect of the singer's state of mind. He considers rearranging his thoughts as "suicide," implying he might be grappling with mental health issues or depression.
The following lines shift the mood of the song as a person referred to as Sebastian enters the narrative. It is unclear who Sebastian is, but it is suggested that he might be a lover or a close friend. The chorus "Somebody called me Sebastian" is repeated multiple times, creating a strange and catchy musical motif. The lyrics merge reality and fantasy, as the singer feels Sebastian's presence and longs for some comfort and companionship. The song ends on a triumphant note, as the singer declares that "we all know you," suggesting that Sebastian, whoever he represents, is finally understood.
Line by Line Meaning
Radiate simply, the candle is burning, so low for me
I am feeling weak and helpless, the flame of hope in me is slowly dying.
Generate me limply, can't seem to place your name, cherie
I am not able to think clearly, cherie, and I cannot recall your name.
To rearrange all these thoughts in a moment is suicide
Trying to sort through my thoughts so suddenly feels like a suicide attempt.
Come to a strange place, we'll talk over old times we never smile
Let's go somewhere unfamiliar and reminisce about the past, but do it without any happiness or joy.
Somebody called me Sebastian
I am being referred to by Sebastian, probably a nickname.
Work out a rhyme, toss me the time, lay me, you're mine
Let's create a rhyme together and enjoy each other's company because you have swept me off my feet.
And we all know, oh yeah!
I am confident that people around are aware of our relationship status.
Your Persian eyes sparkle; your lips, ruby blue, never speak a sound
Your eyes show joy, and your lips are blushing with emotion, yet you stay quiet.
And you, oh so gay, with Parisian demands, you can run-around
You are flitting around like a butterfly, commanding everything like a Parisian, yet so cheerful.
And your view of society screws up my mind like you'll never know
Your perception of society is strange and confuses me deeply.
Lead me away, come inside, see my mind in kaleidoscope
Take me with you, and let me show you how my mind works like a kaleidoscope.
Mangle my mind, love me sublime, do it in style,
Let's get together and mix our thoughts, loving each other gracefully with stylishness.
So we all know, oh yeah!
A declaration to the world that we are in love and it is evident to everyone.
You're not gonna run, babe, we only just begun, babe, to compromise
Don't say you'll leave; we have just started, babe. Give us some time to figure things out.
Slagged in a Bowery saloon, love's a story we'll serialize
Love stories often happen in dive bars, which we will convert into a serializable story.
Pale angel face; green eye-shadow, the glitter is outasight
With your pale face and green eye-shadow, your beauty is outstanding and glitters brightly.
No courtesan could begin to decipher your beam of light
Nobody, even the most experienced courtesan, could comprehend or explain your charm.
Dance on my heart, laugh, swoop and dart, la-di-di-da,
Make me happy with your bewitching moves, laugh, and dance away without a care.
Now we all know you, yeah!
The world knows about you, and they acknowledge your magnificence.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVE HARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind