LONDON ā Steve Harley, a British musician whose glam-rock band Cockney Rebel had an enduring hit with the song āMake Me Smile (Come Up and See Me),ā has died. He was 73.
Harleyās family said Sunday that he had āpassed away peacefully at home, with his family by his side.ā Harley said late last year he was being treated for āa nasty cancer.ā
Recommended Videos
Born in London in 1951, Harley spent almost four years of his childhood hospitalized after contracting polio, periods during which he began reading and writing poetry. He worked as a trainee accountant and as journalist on local newspapers, and began his performing career at London folk clubs.
He formed Cockney Rebel, which released a debut album, āThe Human Menagerie,ā in 1973 before foundering over creative differences. With a new lineup and rebranded as Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, the band released the 1975 album āThe Best Years of Our Lives,ā which contained Harleyās biggest hit.
With its barbed lyrics ā aimed at Harleyās former bandmates -- and infectiously catchy chorus, the Alan Parsons-produced āMake Me Smileā topped the U.K. singles chart. It went on to be covered scores of times and was used on countless soundtracks, including in the 1997 film āThe Full Montyā and in ads for Carlsberg beer, department store Marks and Spencer and Viagra.
Harley also sang the title song of Andrew Lloyd Webberās musical āThe Phantom of the Operaā alongside Sarah Brightman when it was released as a single in 1986. He was originally cast in the title role for the stage musical, but was replaced by Michael Crawford.
Ultravox frontman Midge Ure, who produced Harleyās 1982 track āI Canāt Even Touch You,ā called him a ātrue āworking musician.āā
āHe toured until he could tour no more, playing his songs for fans old and new,ā Ure wrote on social media. āMy thoughts go out to Dorothy and his family at this very sad time. Our songs live on longer than we ever can.ā
Harley is survived by his wife Dorothy, children Kerr and Greta and four grandchildren. The family said in a statement that they knew he would be ādesperately missed by people all over the world.ā