Steve Harley, frontman of rock group Cockney Rebel, has died
Steve Harley, best known for being the frontman of the rock group Cockney Rebel, has died at the age of 73.
The English singer and songwriter, best known for the 1970s hit Make Me Smile, was receiving treatment for cancer.
“We are devastated to announce that our wonderful husband, father and grandfather, has passed away peacefully at home, with his family by his side,” his wife, Dorothy, and children, Kerr and Greta said in a statement.
Pic: PA
“The birdsong from his woodland that he loved so much was singing for him. His home has been filled with the sounds and laughter of his four beloved grandchildren.
“Stephen. Steve. Dad. Grandar. Steve Harley. Whoever you know him as, his heart exuded only core elements. Passion, kindness, generosity, and much more, in abundance.
“Steve took enormous comfort from all of his fans’ well wishes during his battle, and we know he would want to thank you all deeply for your love and support throughout his career, and during his battle to the end.”
Harley’s family said they knew the singer would be “desperately missed by countless friends, family and devoted fans all over the world”.
Along with Make Me Smile, which went to number one in the UK charts in 1975, Cockney Rebel’s hits include Here Comes The Sun, Mr Raffles (Man, It Was Mean), Love’s A Prima Donna and Judy Teen.
Earlier this year, Harley was forced to say he could not commit to any concerts in 2024 due to ill health.
He had previously cancelled shows scheduled for spring and autumn of this year.
In a Facebook post in December, when announcing his cancer diagnosis, he said cancelling the shows were “heartbreaking” and gave an update on his treatment.
Steve Harley in 1974. Pic: David Stevens/ANL/Shutterstock
He also thanked fans for their support and “touching messages”, adding: “It means more than I can tell.”
Scottish musician Midge Ure hailed Harley as a “true ‘working musician'” in a tribute this afternoon.
Ure, who produced Harley’s 1982 track I Can’t Even Touch You, said in a social media post: “Steve Harley was a true ‘working musician’.
“He toured until he could tour no more, playing his songs for fans old and new.
“My thoughts go out to Dorothy and his family at this very sad time. Our songs live on longer than we ever can.”
Steve Harley in 2016 during a recording of a charity single for the Jo Cox Foundation. Pic: PA
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly also said she “loved his music” and recalled watching the band as a teenager as she paid tribute.
Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Mike Batt, who worked with Harley on several songs, described the musician as a “dear pal” and “lovely guy”.
The pair worked together on tracks including Ballerina (Prima Donna) released in 1983 and were joined by Yes lead singer Jon Anderson for the 1988 charity single Whatever You Believe.
“Oh no! My dear pal, Steve Harley has died,” Batt posted on X.
“I just found out on Twitter. I was just writing about him yesterday in my autobiography.
“What a talent. What a character. What a lovely guy. My condolences to Dorothy and all. RIP, mate.”
Born in southeast London in 1951, he spent almost four years in hospital as a child after contracting polio.
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He joined the Daily Express as a trainee accountant aged 17 before working as a journalist for several regional newspapers including the East London Advertiser.
Cockney Rebel began in the early 1970s in London after Harley spent several years performing at folk clubs in the city.
The band – after undergoing several line-up changes – released their debut studio album, The Human Menagerie, in 1973 and followed it up with 1994’s The Psychomodo which went to number eight in the UK charts.
Steve Harley (centre) and Cockney Rebel in 1975. Pic: PA
The band regrouped and changed its name to Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel and it was under this moniker they released a string of albums 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 and has been covered more than 120 times, including by Robbie Williams and Duran Duran, according to the Official Charts, as well as being featured in films including The Full Monty.
Harley also enjoyed a solo career from 1977 onwards and wrote for other artists, including his friend Sir Rod Stewart.
He went on to present the BBC Radio 2 show Sounds Of The 70s from 1999 to 2008.
Helen Thomas, Head of BBC Radio 2, said: “All of us at Radio 2 are saddened to hear of the passing of former Sounds of the 70s presenter, Steve Harley. We send our condolences to his family and our presenters are paying tribute to him on air.”
Angelina Jolie says although she appreciates being an artist, she would prefer for her legacy to be “a good mother” and to be known for her “belief in equality and human rights”.
The Oscar-winning actress stars as Maria Callas in the new Pablo Larrain film about the opera singer’s life.
Pic: StudioCanal
She has called Maria “the hardest” and “most challenging” role she has had in her career and put months of preparation into immersing herself into the world of opera.
Jolie, who recently reached a divorce settlement with actor Brad Pitt, told Sky News: “To be very candid, it was the therapy I didn’t realise I needed. I had no idea how much I was holding in and not letting out.
“So, the challenge wasn’t the technical [side of opera], it was an emotional experience to find my voice, to be in my body, to express. You have to give every single part of yourself.”
The biopic combines the voice of the Maleficent actress with recordings of Maria Callas.
Jolie believes it “would be a crime to not have [Callas’] voice through this because, in many ways, she is very present in this film”.
Who was Maria Callas?
Born in New York in 1923, Maria Callas was the daughter of Greek immigrants who moved back to Athens at the age of 13 with her mother and sister.
After enrolling at the Athens Conservatory, she made her professional debut at 17 and went on to become one of the most famous faces of opera, travelling around the world and performing at Covent Garden in London, The Met in New York and La Scala in Milan.
Callas’s final operatic performance took place at Covent Garden in 1965 when she was 41 but she continued to work conducting master classes at Juilliard School, doing concert tours and starring in the 1969 film Medea.
Written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, Maria focuses on the artist’s final years in the 1970s when she moved to Paris and disappeared from public view.
She died on 16 September 1977 at the age of 53.
Pic: StudioCanal
Jolie on changing motivations as an actor
Maria follows the life of an artist fully consumed by the art she creates and even remarks that “happiness never developed a beautiful melody”.
Reflecting on her own life in the spotlight, Jolie said she noticed her own career motivations change over the years.
“There’s this kind of study of being human that we do when we create, and we communicate with an audience because our work is not in isolation – it’s a connection.
“I think when I was younger, I had different questions about being human and different feelings and now as I’ve gotten older, I understand some things and now I have different questions.
“It’s a matter of life, right? And so maybe that’s interesting that this now is a character really contemplating death and really contemplating the toll of certain things in life that I, of course, couldn’t have understood in my 20s”.
Jolie at the New York Film Festival in September with three of her children (L-R) Pax, Zahara and Maddox. Pic: AP
A family affair
Two of Jolie’s children, Maddox and Pax, took on production assistant roles during the filming of Maria and witnessed their mother perform opera for the first time in public.
She says the film allowed them to create new experiences together and for her children to see her approach to playing a difficult role.
“Everyone in my home, we all give each other space to be who we are and we’re all different.
“I’m the mom, but I’m also an artist and a person and so my family has been very kind and gives me their understanding. They make fun of me, and they support me and just as you’d hope it would be.”
She adds: “When you play somebody who is dealing with so much pain, it’s very important to come home to some kindness.”
Maria is in cinemas now.
Tom Holland’s dad has confirmed his son’s engagement to Zendaya – revealing how the 28-year-old meticulously planned the proposal.
Zendaya, also 28, sparked engagement rumours when she attended last Sunday’s Golden Globes wearing a sparkling diamond on her ring finger.
Neither star has publicly addressed the rumours but Tom’s comedian father, Dominic Holland, has now confirmed the pair are set to wed.
He wrote in a post on his Patreon account: “Tom, as you know by now was very incredibly well prepared. He had purchased a ring.
“He had spoken with her father and gained permission to propose to his daughter.”
“Tom had everything planned out… When, where, how, what to say, what to wear,” he added.
Zendaya arrived at the Golden Globes with a noticeable piece of new jewellery. Pic: Invision/AP
Dominic also noted that while most men worry about being able to afford an engagement ring, he suspects his actor son was “more concerned with the stone, its size and clarity, its housing, which jeweller”.
Tom and Zendaya met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016, when they played the titular hero and his love interest MJ, respectively. Their romance was confirmed in 2021.
In his post, Tom’s father admitted fears over whether being in the spotlight could put a strain on the couple’s relationship.
He wrote: “I do fret that their combined stardom will amplify their spotlight and the commensurate demands on them and yet they continually confound me by handling everything with aplomb.”
“And even though show business is a messy place for relationships and particularly so for famous couples as they crash and burn in public and are too numerous to mention […] yet somehow right at the same time, I am completely confident they will make a successful union.”
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Zendaya rose to fame after landing a role in Disney sitcom Shake It Up, and became a household name after starring in Euphoria.
Holland – who has starred in three Spider-Man films opposite his now-fiancée – made his stage debut in Billy Elliot the Musical in 2008.
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