Among all the self-infatuated stars of the early 70’s, Steve Harley stood out at overrating himself and demeaning others. Even before he ever launched a single record on the discerning public he prophesied that he and his band, Cockney Rebel, would push Davie Bowie, Marc Bolan and all the other shining stars of the day off their pedestals. He was vain, loudmouthed, and brilliant!
The stage, and indeed the world were not big enough for him or his ego. That could not work in the back-biting and vain world of music and while Bowie, Bolan and others survived the cultural deluge of the late 70’s Steve Harley got lost and mired in rows, financial and otherwise, with the musicians he worked with and faded from the public view and ended up being forgotten by all but a few who continue to treasure the brilliance of Psychomodo, Make Me Smile, Sebastian, Love’s a Prima Dona and many more gems from the band’s first four albums.
With the demise of Cockney Rebel in 1976 after the release of the ground-breaking four albums Steve Harley never really returned to the lime-light and although he did do some recordings (most famously for Phantom of the Opera) he remained very much on the outside border of the music business. In a way, he was already lost to the world since 1976 but it is still tragic to see another great star of the trade hit the dirt and pass on to the great gig in the sky. I, for one, will miss that loud, charismatic, bragging bastard.
Ah nice thoughts there Paul, I’ll always associate Steve Harley with Hamburg, Kellinghusenstrasse, or maybe even the flat before that …