Steve Harley has died aged 73 (Picture: Rex)
Singer Steve Harley, frontman of the iconic glam rock band Cockney Rebel, has died aged 73, after a short cancer battle.
The voice behind hits like Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) had to pull out of touring earlier this year after receiving his diagnosis.
On February 13, the musician’s team shared a post which read: ‘Due to on-going treatment for cancer, Steve cannot commit to any concerts in 2024.
‘Steve is hoping next year will be altogether different. He appreciates all your kind words and good wishes. Team SH.’
The group gained popularity in the 1970s for their bold glam rock sounds, with Harley co-founding alongside Jean-Paul Crocker, drummer Stuart Elliott, bassist Paul Jeffreys and guitarist Nick Jones.
Along with 1974’s Make Me Smile, which remains incredibly popular, the band saw success with Judy Teen, Psychomodo, and Mr Soft.
He fronted glam rock band Steve Harley and the Cockney Rebels (Picture: Rex Features)
They shot up the charts with Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Harley also performed solo during the 80s, releasing music on his own before the band regrouped in 1990 and has toured off and on since.
Outside of his time with the legendary London group, Harley spent time on BBC Radio 2 and presented Sounds of the 70s between 1999 and 2008.
He was described as ‘larger than life’ by fans, who flocked to social media to express their condolences.
Musician Jim Bob shared a picture of the album Face to Face on X and wrote: ‘I loved Steve Harley. This album in particular changed my life.’
During his years in the spotlight, Harley was known to have a larger-than-life personality and once said in an interview with The Independent: ‘I never meant to be arrogant; just honest.’
Just last month, he had paid tribute to Steve Wright and said the DJ’s death had ‘shattered’ him, having known each other since the 60s.
It is still one of the most-played songs on UK radio (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Harley only stepped back from touring last month (Picture: Shutterstock)
The tribute read: ‘Little Steve’s mum, Joan, was my mum Joyce’s good friend in New Cross Gate, London, SE14, in the fifties and sixties. Steve was in my brother Nigel’s class at Edmund Waller Primary School.
‘Joan had a job, and so Steve would walk home after school with Nigel and Joyce and have tea at our flat in Fairlawn Mansions. Many of you have heard about this; it came up several times during chats he and I had on BBC Radio 2.’
‘Steve Wright was the consummate broadcast professional. There wasn’t a star on this earth who refused the chance to share an interview with him on his In The Afternoon show.
‘Steve managed to be both the guy down-the-street, and a pro working on a higher plane at one and the same time. He made it all seem so easy.’
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