Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

The Profile

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel are a British glam/art rock group formed by Steve Harley in London in 1972. Early albums The Human Menagerie (1973) and The Psychomodo (1974) established a violin-driven, theatrical style. The Best Years of Our Lives (1975) yielded the UK No.1 single Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me).

Review highlights: original lineup (Steve Harley, Milton Reame-James, Jean-Paul Crocker, Paul Avron Jeffreys, Stuart Elliott); violin-forward glam with progressive touches; key tracks from The Psychomodo include Mr Soft, Ritz, Cavaliers, and Tumbling Down; Tumbling Down is associated with the Velvet Goldmine soundtrack; Make Me Smile is widely used in commercials.

One review dives into The Psychomodo, praising Cockney Rebel’s glam/art-rock blend and violin-driven sound. It outlines the original lineup, highlights key tracks, and notes the shift to Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. The piece frames Tumbling Down’s Velvet Goldmine link and nods to Make Me Smile’s pop legacy. Overall tone: admiring and contextual.