Fronted by singer, songwriter, and guitarist Steve Harley, Cockney Rebel first
came to the pop forefront in 1972 when they were signed by EMI Records. Yet
Harley himself - a former journalist with a flair for self-publicity - had
already made a small mark as a solo artist on the folk scene as a regular at
famous London club Les Cousins. Fiddle and mandolin player John Crocker
(formerly with Trees) decided to develop their line-up and style, adding drummer
Stuart Elliott, bass player Paul Jeffreys and guitarist Nick Jones (soon
replaced by Pete Newnham) and the unusual sound of a ...