Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel — The Complete Touring Years 1972

The Man, The Rebel

Concert at the Kings Festival, 2014. Photo: Mark Kent, CC BY-SA 2.0

Stephen Malcolm Ronald Nice (27 February 1951 – 17 March 2024), known as Steve Harley, was an English singer-songwriter and frontman of the rock group Cockney Rebel. A former journalist who survived childhood polio, Harley channelled a poet's sensibility and a showman's swagger into one of glam rock's most compelling live acts.

From open-mic nights at London folk clubs in 1971 to a debut at The Roundhouse in white face paint, from the explosive mid-70s peak through a decade in the wilderness, a triumphant 1989 comeback, and decades of relentless touring across the UK and Europe, Harley never stopped performing. His final concerts came in 2023 before cancer forced the cancellation of remaining dates. He died peacefully at home in Suffolk on 17 March 2024, aged 73.

UK Hit Albums

No. 1 Single

100+

Covers of Come Up And See Me

Years on Stage

100+

Gigs in '98

Glastonbury Sets

Documented Concerts by Year (1972–2023)

'72

'73

20+

'74

113

'75

'76

'77

'78

—

'79

'80

'81

'82

—

'83

'84

—

'85

'86

'87

—

'88

—

'89

'90

'91

'92

'93

'94

'95

'96

'97

'98

100+

'99

50+

'00

11+

'01

'02

'03

'04

'05

'06

'07

'08

'09

'10

'11

'12

'13

'14

'15

'16

'17

'18

'19

'20

'21

'22

'23

Combined totals from setlist.fm (solo + Cockney Rebel credits). Many gigs, especially from the 1990s and 2000s, were not formally documented; actual totals were significantly higher.

1972 — 1973

The Birth of Cockney Rebel

White face paint, clown costumes, electric violin — five gigs was all it took to land a three-album deal with EMI.

Origins: Folk Clubs to The Roundhouse

In 1971, Harley was playing open-mic nights at London folk clubs — Les Cousins, Bunjies, The Troubadour — and singing with the folk band Odin, where he met violinist Jean-Paul Crocker. By early 1972 they had formed Cockney Rebel, named after an autobiographical poem Harley wrote at school. The band adopted stage names ("Master Mascara," "Simply Lorraine," "Queen Sagittarius") and performed in white face makeup and clown costumes.

Steve Harley

Vocals

Jean-Paul Crocker

Electric Violin, Mandolin

Milton Reame-James

Keyboards

Paul Jeffreys

Bass

Stuart Elliott

Drums

23 July 1972
The Roundhouse
Chalk Farm, London
The very first Cockney Rebel gig. An "Implosion" underground event, supporting The Jeff Beck Group. White face paint, clown costumes, electric violin — nothing like it had been seen before.
UKFirst Ever Gig

17 November 1972

The Greyhound

Fulham, London

16 & 23 December 1972

Kings Cross Cinema

London

31 December 1972

Pheasantry Club

London

New Year's Eve. After just five gigs, Mickie Most discovered them at The Speakeasy Club and offered a publishing deal with RAK. EMI followed with a three-album recording contract.

February – March 1973

The Speakeasy & Marquee Club

London

Multiple showcase gigs at London's key industry venues. The Speakeasy residency-style appearances helped secure the EMI deal.

31 March 1973

Ewell Technical College

Surrey

Supporting MAN.

31 August 1973
Debut Single: "Sebastian"
EMI Records
Did not chart in the UK but became a massive European hit — No. 1 in Belgium, No. 2 in the Netherlands, No. 30 in West Germany. A cult classic that would become a live staple for the next fifty years.
Milestone

September – December 1973

UK University & Club Circuit

Sheffield, Leicester, Bristol, Manchester, Nottingham + more

20+ shows across UK universities and clubs. Crowds growing rapidly on the back of the "Sebastian" buzz.

November 1973
Debut Album: The Human Menagerie
Recorded at Air Studios, London — Engineered by Geoff Emerick
Did not chart in the UK, but received glowing reviews and became a cult favourite. The album would later be recognised as one of the great lost glam-era records.
Album

25 November 1973

The Roundhouse

Chalk Farm, London

Return to where it all began, this time with Nektar and Elephants Memory.

21 December 1973

Paradiso

Amsterdam, Netherlands

First known European concert. "Sebastian" was already a hit on the continent.

EuropeEuropean Debut

1974

Breakthrough & The Split

113 gigs, 40,000 miles, two Top 10 singles, Old Grey Whistle Test, Top of the Pops — then the original band tore itself apart.

The Year That Changed Everything

January – December 1974

"Judy Teen" hit No. 5 in March. The Psychomodo reached No. 8 in the album charts. "Mr. Soft" followed at No. 8. Cockney Rebel were the most exciting live act in Britain — but internal tensions over songwriting credits led to a devastating split in July. Within weeks, Harley had assembled a new band and was back on stage.

113 gigs

40,000 miles

2 Top 10 singles

1 Top 10 album

22 January 1974
BBC Radio 1 "In Concert"
The Hippodrome, Golders Green, London
Recorded for BBC Radio 1's prestigious In Concert series. First broadcast 26 January.
UKBBC

10 February 1974
Old Grey Whistle Test
BBC Television Theatre, London
First major TV appearance. Performed "Hideaway" and "My Only Vice." The performance made the nation sit up and take notice.
UKTV Debut

March 1974

Spring UK Tour

Oxford, Hereford, Bristol, Plymouth, Swindon, Liverpool, Sheffield, Scarborough + more

"Judy Teen" released 11 March — climbed to No. 5 in the UK charts.

23 May 1974
Top of the Pops
BBC Television Centre, London
First Top of the Pops appearance, performing "Judy Teen."
UKTOTP

May – July 1974

Major UK Tour (with Be Bop Deluxe)

Leicester, Aylesbury, Leeds, Newcastle, York, Chelmsford, Birmingham, Cambridge, Southend + 30 more

Approximately 40 dates across Britain. Be Bop Deluxe as support. The Psychomodo released 2 June (UK No. 8). Highlight: Victoria Palace Theatre, London (23 June).

3 June 1974
Pinkpop Festival
Geleen, Netherlands
Alongside Captain Beefheart, Status Quo, Rory Gallagher, and Steeleye Span. "Sebastian" was already a continental smash.
EuropeFestival

22 July 1974
Hard Rock
Manchester, England
The final show of the original Cockney Rebel. Crocker, Reame-James, and Jeffreys quit over songwriting credits. Harley reportedly announced the split from the stage. Only Stuart Elliott remained.
UKOriginal Lineup—Final Show

25 August 1974
Reading Festival
Little John's Farm, Reading, England
Just five weeks after the split, Harley debuted the new "Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel" — with Jim Cregan on guitar. He stole the show. The comeback had begun before the dust had settled.
UKNew Band Debut

October – November 1974

UK & European Dates

Copenhagen, Southampton, London (Rainbow Theatre), Lancaster, Germany (Offenbach, Düsseldorf, Ludwigshafen, Stuttgart)

The new lineup hit the road immediately. German dates in late October–November. "Mr. Soft" was a No. 8 hit. Sessions for The Best Years of Our Lives were already underway with Alan Parsons producing.

UKEurope

1975

The Year of Number One

"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" hit the top spot in February, and Cockney Rebel rode the wave with an extensive UK and international tour.

The Best Years Tour

With The Best Years of Our Lives (produced by Alan Parsons) as the centrepiece, Harley and his reconfigured Cockney Rebel were the hottest live ticket in Britain. The tour expanded to the United States in the autumn, supporting The Kinks.

Steve Harley

Vocals, Guitar

Jim Cregan

Lead Guitar

Duncan Mackay

Keyboards

George Ford

Bass

Stuart Elliott

Drums

21 March 1975
Capitol Theatre
Cardiff, Wales
Early date on the spring UK tour supporting the Best Years album.
UK

14 April 1975
Hammersmith Odeon
London, England
A triumphant London show during the chart peak of "Make Me Smile." One of the landmark gigs of Harley's career.
UKLandmark

Spring – Summer 1975

UK & European Tour

Multiple cities across the UK and Europe

Extensive touring on the back of the No. 1 single. Civic halls, theatres, and university campuses across Britain.

UKEurope

28 November 1975
Beacon Theatre
New York, NY, USA
US debut at the legendary Beacon Theatre, supporting The Kinks on American dates.
USAUS Debut

10 December 1975

The Bottom Line

New York, NY, USA

Intimate club gig at the famous Greenwich Village venue.

USA

1976 — 1977

Timeless Flight & The Last Stand

Two albums in 1976, a surprise Top 10 Beatles cover — then one final show before the silence.

1976: A Prolific Year

Timeless Flight reached the UK Top 20. A cover of "Here Comes the Sun" became a surprise Top 10 hit, and Love's a Prima Donna followed with an eight-date UK tour in December. 23 documented concerts.

10 December 1976
Apollo Theatre
Glasgow, Scotland
Part of the eight-date December UK tour promoting Love's a Prima Donna.
UK

12 December 1976

Newcastle City Hall

Newcastle upon Tyne, England

12 February 1977
Rainbow Theatre
London, England
The only documented gig of 1977. Cockney Rebel was disbanded in July. In early 1978, Harley flew to Los Angeles to record his solo debut, staying for most of the year. The band would not tour again for over a decade.
UKFinal Show

1978 — 1988

The Wilderness Years

Solo albums, The Phantom of the Opera, guest appearances — and long stretches of silence on the live circuit.

Reinvention & Retreat

After disbanding Cockney Rebel, Harley released two solo albums — Hobo with a Grin (1978) and The Candidate (1979) — neither of which charted significantly. Occasional live appearances punctuated long absences from the stage.

May 1979
Kate Bush — Tour of Life
London, England
Harley's first stage appearance in over two years — joining Kate Bush during her legendary Tour of Life.
UKGuest

1980 – 1981

Hammersmith Odeon & Christmas UK Tour

Various, England

10 documented concerts. Vocals on Rick Wakeman's 1984 at Hammersmith. A Christmas tour with Jim Cregan and Stuart Elliott.

July 1983

One-off London Concert

London, England

"Ballerina (Prima Donna)" single release, produced by Mike Batt. Reached No. 51.

January 1986
"The Phantom of the Opera" — Single Release
UK
Mike Batt recommended Harley to Andrew Lloyd Webber for the original single with Sarah Brightman. Produced by Batt, it reached No. 7 in the UK.
Milestone

"The time away from touring allowed me to write, to think, to live a little. But the stage always calls you back."— Steve Harley

1989

Come Back, All Is Forgiven

After five years away from the stage, Harley assembled a new Cockney Rebel and returned with a vengeance — a 64-date UK and European tour.

The Come Back, All Is Forgiven Tour

March – Autumn 1989

A short UK tour in March with Jim Cregan and Stuart Elliott. The overwhelming response led to a much larger 64-date tour. Concert footage was filmed at Brighton and Northampton for VHS release.

64+ dates

UK & Europe

VHS filmed

March 1989

Short UK Tour (Opening Leg)

Various UK Venues

First Cockney Rebel concerts since the one-off Camden Palace show in December 1984. Jim Cregan, Duncan Mackay, and Stuart Elliott returned.

UKComeback

17 June 1989
Dome Theatre
Brighton, England
Professionally filmed for the Come Back, All Is Forgiven VHS.
UKFilmed

28 June 1989
Derngate Theatre
Northampton, England
Second venue filmed for the concert video. VHS released October 1989.
UKFilmed

1990 — 1997

The Touring Machine

A new permanent lineup, Night of the Proms, new albums, and a relentless schedule across Europe.

The 1990s Lineup

Debuting at Doncaster Dome on 5 June 1990, this tight, versatile unit would carry Harley through the decade.

Steve Harley

Vocals, Guitar

Robbie Gladwell

Lead Guitar

Ian Nice

Keyboards

Nick Pynn

Violin, Guitar

Billy Dyer

Bass

Paul Francis

Drums

5 June 1990
Doncaster Dome
Doncaster, England
Debut of the definitive 1990s Cockney Rebel lineup.
UKNew Lineup

25–26 October 1991
Night of the Proms
Sportpaleis, Merksem (Antwerp), Belgium
Debut at the prestigious Night of the Proms. Performed "Sebastian" and "Make Me Smile" with full orchestra.
EuropeProms

27 October 1991

Night of the Proms

Ahoy, Rotterdam, Netherlands

First Night of the Proms held in the Netherlands.

Europe

1992

UK & European Tour

Various

EMI released Make Me Smile — The Best of. Re-issue of "Make Me Smile" reached No. 46.

UKEurope

1993 – 1995

Continued Touring

UK & Europe

Solo album Yes You Can (1993). Live at the BBC compilation (1995).

UKEurope

1996 – 1997

Poetic Justice Tour & Beyond

UK & Europe

Critically acclaimed Poetic Justice album tour (1996). Groundwork laid for the acoustic reinvention.

UKEurope

1998 — 2000

Stripped to the Bare Bones

Over 100 gigs in 1998 alone. An acoustic revelation that proved the songs could stand on their own.

Stripped to the Bare Bones Tour

1998 — 2000

A radical departure: just Steve Harley on acoustic guitar and harmonica, with Nick Pynn on violin, acoustic guitar, dulcimer, and mandocello. Around 90 songs were rehearsed. Over 100 dates in 1998, including 54 UK concerts. The compilation More Than Somewhat charted at No. 82.

100+ dates in '98

54 UK shows

90 songs rehearsed

2 performers

March 1998
Jazz Café
London, England
The residency that produced the live album Stripped to the Bare Bones (released April 1999).
UKRecorded

1999 – 2000

"Stripped Again" Acoustic Tours

UK & Europe

Continuation with Robbie Gladwell replacing Nick Pynn. The format had proven itself: these songs needed nothing more than a guitar and a voice.

UKEurope

2001 — 2009

Acoustic & Pure, Quality of Mercy

Acoustic duos, festival appearances, Jim Cregan's return, and a new studio album under the Cockney Rebel name for the first time in 29 years.

2001

"Back with the Band" Tour

First full-band tour in four years. Cockney Rebel returned to the road.

Autumn 2002
Acoustic Tour with Jim Cregan
Reading, Chelsea, Cheltenham, Bolton, Sheffield, Newcastle, Worthing + 20 more
Cregan toured with Harley for the first time since 1976 (having left to join Rod Stewart). Extensive UK acoustic run. Produced the Acoustic and Pure: Live album (2003).
UKReunion

June 2004
Isle of Wight Festival
Isle of Wight, England
Full performance released on DVD in 2005 as Live at the Isle of Wight Festival.
UKFestival

2004

GuilFest & UK Festivals

Guildford, Various UK

Five-piece acoustic line-up featuring Lascelles (percussion), Gladwell (guitar), Wickens (violin), Anderson (double bass).

2005 – 2006

Quality of Mercy Tour

UK, Netherlands, Belgium

The Quality of Mercy (2005) — first album under the Cockney Rebel name in 29 years. European shows featured unique rearrangements never played in England.

UKEurope

2007 – 2009

Quieter Period

UK & Europe

Reduced touring. Recording sessions at Leeders Farm, Norfolk in September–October 2009 for the Stranger Comes to Town album.

2010 — 2019

Stranger Comes to Town & Best Years Reunion

A new studio album, festival triumphs, and the reunion of the original Best Years lineup for a 40th anniversary tour.

Late May – June 2010
Stranger Comes to Town Tour
UK, Ireland, Isle of Wight, Glastonbury
Stranger Comes to Town released 3 May 2010 (UK No. 187, Indie No. 20). Tour included the Isle of Wight Festival, Glastonbury, and a run of UK and Irish dates. European leg in October (Norway, Denmark).
UKEuropeFestival

30 May 2010

Buxton Opera House

Buxton, England

2011 – 2012

Continued UK & European Touring

Various

15 documented shows in 2011, 6 in 2012. Regular circuit of theatres, arts venues, and festivals.

UKEurope

2013

Isle of Wight Festival & UK Dates

Return to the Isle of Wight Festival. Performed "No Bleeding Hearts" among other songs. 10 documented shows.

UKFestival

31 May 2014

Concert at the Kings Festival

England

10 documented shows across the year, including the Kings Festival performance captured in the Wikimedia Commons photos on this page.

2 November 2015
Bridgewater Hall — "Best Years" 40th Anniversary Tour
Manchester, England
Reunited the surviving original Best Years lineup: Jim Cregan (guitar), Stuart Elliott (drums), and Duncan Mackay (keyboards), for the first time since 1976. Joined by Barry Wickens and the Wagner twins.
UKReunion

2016 – 2017

UK & European Tours

Various

Both acoustic solo and full Cockney Rebel shows. 8 documented in 2016, 12 in 2017.

UKEurope

2018 – 2019

Peak Late-Career Touring

UK & Europe

14 documented shows in 2018, 24 in 2019 — the busiest year since the late 1990s. Mix of acoustic trio and full-band formats.

UKEurope

2020 — 2023

Uncovered & the Final Curtain

A covers album, COVID silence, a triumphant return — then the curtain falls.

21 February 2020

"Uncovered" Album & Tour Launch

Uncovered released — a covers album featuring interpretations of songs by peers and contemporaries. The tour launched the same day. Band: Barry Wickens (viola/violin), Oli Hayhurst (double bass), Tom Hooper (percussion), Martin Simpson (guitar).

March 2020

Two Acoustic Shows with Jim Cregan

Final pre-COVID performances. Just two shows before the pandemic shut everything down.

September 2020

Two Socially-Distanced Shows

Acoustic trio format. The only live music of the pandemic year.

August 2021
Post-COVID Return
UK & Europe
Live shows resume. New full-band lineup: Harley, Wickens, Lascelles, Gladwell, Elliott, and Harada. First time this configuration toured together. 15 documented shows across the year.
UKEuropeReturn

2022

Full Touring Schedule

UK & Europe

14 documented shows. Both Cockney Rebel full-band and acoustic solo formats. Back to a normal schedule at last.

UKEurope

2023
"50 Years a Rebel" Tour
UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark
21 documented shows celebrating 50 years of Cockney Rebel. Venues included Pizza Express Live (London), TivoliVredenburg (Utrecht), Het Depot (Leuven), Patronaat (Haarlem), and Fuglsøcentret (Denmark).
UKEuropeAnniversary

25 April 2023
Het Depot
Leuven, Belgium
One of the final documented Cockney Rebel performances.
Europe

November 2023
Remaining Dates Cancelled
—
Harley announced he had cancer: "I'm fighting a nasty cancer." All remaining UK and European dates for November–December 2023, and all of 2024, were cancelled. He died peacefully at home in Suffolk on 17 March 2024, aged 73.
Cancelled

"He passed away peacefully at home, with his family by his side. The birdsong from his woodland that he loved so much was singing for him." — Dorothy, Kerr & Greta Harley, March 2024

Albums & Key Releases

The recorded output that fuelled the live shows, 1973–2020.

The Human Menagerie

1973 — Cockney Rebel

Debut album. Recorded at Air Studios with engineer Geoff Emerick. A cult classic of the glam era.

The Psychomodo

1974 — Cockney Rebel

Co-produced with Alan Parsons. Contains "Judy Teen" and "Mr. Soft."

UK No. 8

The Best Years of Our Lives

1975 — Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

Produced by Alan Parsons. Contains "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)."

UK No. 4

Timeless Flight

1976 — Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

Expansive, progressive sound.

UK Top 20

Love's a Prima Donna

1976 — Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

Featured the surprise Top 10 cover of "Here Comes the Sun."

UK No. 28

Hobo with a Grin

1978 — Steve Harley

First solo album. Singles "Roll the Dice" and "Someone's Coming."

The Candidate

1979 — Steve Harley

Second solo album. A commercial disappointment.

The Phantom of the Opera

1986 — Sarah Brightman & Steve Harley

Original single recording of Lloyd Webber's title song.

UK No. 7

Yes You Can

1992/93 — Steve Harley

Solo album released in Europe (1992) and UK (1993).

Poetic Justice

1996 — Steve Harley

Critically acclaimed studio album.

Stripped to the Bare Bones

1999 — Steve Harley (Live)

Acoustic live album recorded at the Jazz Café, London.

Acoustic and Pure: Live

2003 — Steve Harley

Live acoustic album from the 2002 tour with Jim Cregan.

The Quality of Mercy

2005 — Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

First album under the Cockney Rebel name in 29 years.

Live at the Isle of Wight Festival

2005 — DVD

Full concert film from the June 2004 Isle of Wight Festival.

Stranger Comes to Town

2010 — Steve Harley

Fifth solo studio album. Recorded at Leeders Farm, Norfolk.

UK No. 187 / Indie No. 20

Uncovered

2020 — Steve Harley

Covers album. Interpretations of songs by peers and contemporaries. Featured Martin Simpson on guitar.

The Complete Touring Years ofSteve Harley

The Man, The Rebel

Documented Concerts by Year (1972–2023)

The Birth of Cockney Rebel

Origins: Folk Clubs to The Roundhouse

Breakthrough & The Split

The Year That Changed Everything

The Year of Number One

The Best Years Tour

Timeless Flight & The Last Stand

1976: A Prolific Year

The Wilderness Years

Reinvention & Retreat

Come Back, All Is Forgiven

The Come Back, All Is Forgiven Tour

The Touring Machine

The 1990s Lineup

Stripped to the Bare Bones

Stripped to the Bare Bones Tour

Acoustic & Pure, Quality of Mercy

Stranger Comes to Town & Best Years Reunion

Uncovered & the Final Curtain

Albums & Key Releases

The Human Menagerie

The Psychomodo

The Best Years of Our Lives

Timeless Flight

Love's a Prima Donna

Hobo with a Grin

The Candidate

The Phantom of the Opera

Yes You Can

Poetic Justice

Stripped to the Bare Bones

Acoustic and Pure: Live

The Quality of Mercy

Live at the Isle of Wight Festival

Stranger Comes to Town

Uncovered