Steve Harley death: Cockney Rebel singer dies aged 73

Steve Harley, leader of the British rock band Cockney Rebel, has died at the age of 73.

His best-known song was Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me), which reached number one on the charts in 1975.

The musician was still on tour until recently, but canceled dates to receive cancer treatment.

His family said Harley had “passed away peacefully at home”, adding: “We know he will be desperately missed by people around the world.”

Born in London, Harley lived on the Essex-Suffolk border with his wife Dorothy, with whom he had two children, Kerr and Greta. His family was at his side when he died.

“Whoever you met, his heart exuded only core elements. Passion, kindness, generosity. And so much more, in abundance,” Dorothy, Kerr and Greta wrote in a statement.

“The songs of the birds in his forest, which he loved so much, sang to him. His house has been filled with the sounds and laughter of his four grandchildren.”

Tributes have been paid to Harley from across the music industry. Singer-songwriter Mike Batt, who worked with Harley on many songs, described him as a “dear friend” and a “lovely guy.”

“What a talent. What a character,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “My deepest condolences to Dorothy and everyone. RIP, friend.”

The duo worked together on songs such as Ballerina (Prima Donna) released in 1983 and the 1988 charity single Which You Believe, on which they were joined by Yes lead singer Jon Anderson.

Ultravox frontman Midge Ure, who produced Harley’s 1982 song I Can’t Even Touch You, said he was a “true ‘working musician'”.

“He toured until he couldn’t anymore, playing his songs for fans new and old,” Ure wrote on social media. “Our songs last longer than us.”

Harley was born in south London in 1951 and formed Cockney Rebel in the early 1970s.

The original band consisted of Harley, Jean-Paul Crocker, drummer Stuart Elliott, bassist Paul Jeffreys and guitarist Nick Jones.

Their debut studio album, The Human Menagerie, was released in 1973. Other hits include Here Comes The Sun, which was released in 1976.

Harley also presented Sounds of the 70s on BBC Radio 2 between 1999 and 2008.

Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said everyone at the station was “saddened” to hear the news. “We send our condolences to her family and our hosts pay tribute to her on air,” she said.

In December, Harley wrote on her official website that she was “fighting a nasty cancer” for which she was receiving treatment.

He said the first half of 2023 had been “magical” as he was able to tour Europe with his band members, adding: “Out there on the road, that’s where I come to life.”

But the second half had been “heartbreaking” as the band were forced to cancel live show dates following their diagnosis.

“It’s exhausting and exhausting. But the fight continues,” he wrote. “And luckily the damn intruder doesn’t affect the voice. I sing and play most nights.”