Steve Harley, lead singer of rock band Cockney Rebel, dies

Steve Harley, best known as the lead singer of the rock band Cockney Rebel, has died at the age of 73, his family said.

The British singer-songwriter is undergoing treatment for cancer.

“We are saddened to announce that our great husband and father passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side,” his family said in a statement on his Facebook page.

“The birdsong of his beloved woodlands were singing to him. His home was filled with the voices and laughter of his four grandchildren.

“Stephen, Steve, Dad, Glenda, Steve Harley. Whoever you knew him as, his heart just radiated the core elements. Passion, kindness, generosity. And so much more, abundance.”

Halle’s family said they knew the singer would be “extremely missed by people around the world.”

Cockney Rebel’s best-known hits include “Make Me Smile” and “Here Comes The Sun”, which reached number one in the UK charts in 1975.

Earlier this year, Halle was forced to say he would not be able to attend any concerts in 2024 due to ill health.

He previously canceled shows scheduled for this spring and fall.

In a Facebook post in December, when he announced he had cancer, he said canceling the show was “heartbreaking” and gave an update on his treatment.

He also thanked fans for their support and “emotional messages”, adding: “It means more than I can describe.”

Scottish musician Midge Ure hailed Harley as “a true ‘working musician'” during a tribute this afternoon.

Ure, who produced Harley’s 1982 single “I Can’t Even Touch You,” said in a social media post: “Steve Harley is a true ‘professional musician.’

“He toured until he could no longer tour, playing his songs to fans old and new.

“My sympathies go out to Dorothy and his family at this very sad time. Our songs live on longer than ever.”

Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Mike Batt, who has collaborated with Harley on several songs, described Harley as a “dear friend” and a “lovely person.”

The duo collaborated on songs including 1983’s “Ballerina” (“Prima Donna”) and collaborated with Yes frontman Jon Anderson on the 1988 charity single “Whatever You Believe”.

“Oh no! My dear friend Steve Harley passed away,” Bart posted on X.

“I found out about it on Twitter. I just wrote about him in my autobiography yesterday.

“What a talent. What a character. What a lovely man. My condolences to Dorothy and everyone. Rest in peace, man.”

Born in southeast London in 1951, he contracted polio as a child and spent nearly four years in hospital.

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At 17, he joined the Daily Express as a trainee accountant and later worked as a reporter for a number of regional newspapers, including the East London Advertiser.

Cockney Rebel was formed in London in the early 1970s when Harley performed in London’s folk clubs for several years.

After undergoing several line-up changes, the band released its debut studio album, The Human Menagerie, in 1973, followed by The Psychomodo in 1994, which reached number eight in the UK charts.

The band reformed and changed their name to Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, and released a series of albums under this name, including 1975’s The Best Years Of Our Lives, which peaked at number four.

Their biggest hit, “Make Me Smile,” has sold around 1.5 million copies, according to official charts, and has been covered more than 120 times, including by Robbie Willams and Duran Duran, and appeared in films such as “The Full Monty.”

Harley also enjoyed a solo career from 1977 and wrote for other artists, including his friend Sir Rod Stewart.

He hosted the BBC Radio 2 program Sounds of the 70s for several years until 2008, when it was removed from the station’s schedule.