Like many I’ve been a fan since first seeing the Rebel in 1973. Still am in 2025. Definitely the best years of our lives with Steve Harley. RIP and thank you for the legacy
This is what my friend said at Phil Lynotts grave, when we made our pilgrim's journey there. From that day on, I always keep saying it to the greatest who passed away. The best thing to say... I connect myself: "Thank you for the great time you gave us with your music!" My tears are running... R.I.P . Steve
RIP Steve. The first pop star I liked before he was famous, after seeing Cockney Rebel open for Nazareth at Bristol Locarno in 1973. The next Bowie I said. Not far wrong. Saw him many times over the next few years. Always compelling. Always holding the room in his hand. My first taste of some literary pretension. The start of an education. Thank you.
Destiny allowed me to see Steve Harley and the Cockney Rebell here in Hannover in 1990 at the Congress Center live and for free! One of the best decisions in my life to go there. R.I.P. Steve
Even his latter day albums were wonderful...he never lost his beautiful voice. Quality of Mercy is a must buy, if u can get it. Too many people think he was a One Song wonder. Far from it .R.I.P. Steve , a lovely guy too.
A supergreat recording! I am a huge Paul Weller fan. He is the godfather of New Wave music. If Paul is the godfather, Steve Harley is the founder (Unintentional I believe). One of the greatest of all time is gone. It came for me surprisingly. I wouldn't have been the same person without your music. R.I.P. Steve, we will always love you!
Just loved Cockney rebel , my first musical love .Started in 74 when I was 15 here I am almost 50 years later still listening still loving .Thank you Steve make me smile will see me on my final journey
It should make you smile. It's the best years of your life. But yeah, I know what you mean. If you needed "Poignant" described lyically, this is the answer.
I saw Steve Harley perform this great song live last Saturday in Warrington. 22/7/17. This was the stand out song for me in a fantastic show. as with this video, he invited the audience to sing along. i sang like a nutter and had a brilliant night. At 58 years old I`m so lucky to see real talent like Steve Harley still performing.
I took my wife along to see Cockney Rebel in 1976, In Plymouth. Still one of the best live gigs I’ve ever been to. I still have albums. Also in my car (cds). Best years of our lives, beautiful track.
I have to listen to this live version sparingly because as a depressive, melancholy is my default state. This beautiful song empties me of every positive emotion, yet the void left is not filled by my fears of an incontinent old-age and lonely death but a comfortable numbness before a few, just a few, tears of self-pity. Apart from that life's good! 😊 days!
Epic, I really believe he was a game changer when he appeared on the scene all those years ago, a Cockney version of the great geordie bard, Alan Hull.
True - and shameful - story coming up. This was one of the first songs I learned to play on guitar. Anyone who knows a bit of guitar knows it is incredibly basic - which makes it even more awesome. Dylan was a master of it, I think I learned his entire 1961-1976 catalogue in a week on 5 or 6 chords. Anyways ... several years later, I was in Zimbabwe. One night around a campfire, with a few locals, lots of beer and a guitar, I finally got enough Dutch in me to take a turn when the guitar was passed round. I remember doing a couple of Dylan songs, then I did this one ... nobody had heard it before. To my eternal shame... I told everyone I wrote it myself. I had to write the lyrics and chords out for a couple of the lads there, they made me sign it and told me one day I would be famous if I wrote more songs like this. This, of course, was in the wonderful pre-interweb era, when you couldn't type a few lines into google and get called out for being a bullshitter. So... if you're ever in Zimbabwe, hanging around Victoria Falls, and you hear a busker tell you he learned this song off Steve Harley himself ... just smile and walk on. (I actually recounted this story to Steve around 1996 / 97 after a gig, I think he called me a cunt ... with that Harley smile on his chops !)
The best thing about this fantastic artist is that he is still out there doing the circuit so get out of your armchairs get yourself some tickets have a beer or Bacardi and cheer him on.London, Islington, come on jostle with me in the stalls in November for an acoustic trio
Es berührt mich sehr, dass Steve verstorben ist. "Face to Face" hat mich seit dem Erscheinen begleitet. Während mancher Krise habe ich die Lautstärke nach oben geregelt und bei den ersten Takten von "Here comes the sun" ging auch bei mir psychisch die Sonne auf. Danke für deine Hilfe, Steve. R.I.P.
A really evocative song. Saw Steve Harley play at a beer festival in South Wales in 1991, and again, about a year later, at the Greenbelt Festival (where the audience were not entirely cooperative, much to my annoyance). Also saw him do an acoustic gig in Cambridge with Nick Pinn later in the '90s. Anyway, he's a brilliant songwriter and a solid, utterly professional performer. Hope to catch him again some day.
I never owned any SH vinyl back in the 70's only two 45rpm's, so how come I know all these vids loaded by Greyman, my friends who must had better taste than me, must have left an impression somewhere in my mind. Now in my more mature years I realised what I missed out on, never to late to catch up, off to the shop to get some CD,s ps greyman, Kenny was good for teenagers back in the 70's, infact I have Fancy Pants on 45rpm, german issue with picture cover.
I went to see him when they played here in Stockholm in 1989. I remember him saying "where have you been all these 13 years?" Then he got a little bit angry with me and my friends up front because, knowing all lyrics by heart we , of course, wanted the pay our tribute to him and Stuart by singing very loud and sometimes even before Steve got to the words hehe :-)
November 2018 Friday 02 November 2018 - Butlins Skegness Resort - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Butlins - Skegness Monday 12 November 2018 - Mt.Rainier Hall Shibuya Pleasure Pleasure - Acoustic Trio - Mt.Rainier Hall Shibuya Pleasure Pleasure - Tokyo Tuesday 13 November 2018 - Takadanobaba Super Live Theatre Area - Acoustic Trio - Takadanobaba Super Live Theatre Area, Tokyo Thursday 22 November 2018 - P3 - Purmerend - P3 Friday 23 November 2018 - Vorstin - Hilversum - Vorstin Saturday 24 November 2018 - Gebr DeNobel - Leiden - Gebr. de Nobel Sunday 25 November 2018 - Bosuil, Weert - Muziekcentrum De Bosuil December 2018 Sunday 02 December 2018 - The Great British Folk Festival, Butlins Skegness Resort - Acoustic Trio - Butlins - Skegness Wednesday 19 December 2018 - De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill Hill On Sea - De La Warr Pavilion Thursday 20 December 2018 - Open, Norwich - Open Friday 21 December 2018 - Nell's Jazz and Blues, London - Nells Jazz & Blues Saturday 22 December 2018 - Engine Rooms, Southampton - Engine Rooms
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Like many I’ve been a fan since first seeing the Rebel in 1973. Still am in 2025. Definitely the best years of our lives with Steve Harley. RIP and thank you for the legacy
R.I.P. Steve Harley Thank you so much for the music.
This is what my friend said at Phil Lynotts grave, when we made our pilgrim's journey there. From that day on, I always keep saying it to the greatest who passed away. The best thing to say...
I connect myself: "Thank you for the great time you gave us with your music!" My tears are running...
R.I.P . Steve
R.i.p Mr Harley and thank you for the best years of our lives.
Yes!
RIP Steve. The first pop star I liked before he was famous, after seeing Cockney Rebel open for Nazareth at Bristol Locarno in 1973. The next Bowie I said. Not far wrong. Saw him many times over the next few years. Always compelling. Always holding the room in his hand. My first taste of some literary pretension. The start of an education. Thank you.
Destiny allowed me to see Steve Harley and the Cockney Rebell here in Hannover in 1990 at the Congress Center live and for free! One of the best decisions in my life to go there.
R.I.P. Steve
Thank you for all the great music, hobo with a grin.
Beautiful song..brings tears, smiles and laughter..rip lovely man❤
Thanks Steve for the best years of my life.
Me too!
R.I.P. Steve and thank you.
Even his latter day albums were wonderful...he never lost his beautiful voice. Quality of Mercy is a must buy, if u can get it. Too many people think he was a One Song wonder. Far from it
.R.I.P. Steve , a lovely guy too.
I absolutely agree, he's got tons of great numbers.
Glad we all agree. Soooooo underrated.
So sad Steve may have died but his music never will a great singer/songwriter lucky to have seen him live in the 70s R I P Steve.
Thank you for your brilliant music. Was a big part of my life. RIP
Been a fan of the man since I first heard Sebastian, but the best years is my all time favourite, and as has already been said a poetic genius.
I think he was only about 22 or 23 when he wrote this - priceless! Some of thebest lyrics ever.
Wonderful Song - deserves a million likes !
You are so right! A nd when you compare, which bullshit gets more than a million likes...
R.I.P. Steve
A supergreat recording!
I am a huge Paul Weller fan. He is the godfather of New Wave music. If Paul is the godfather, Steve Harley is the founder (Unintentional I believe).
One of the greatest of all time is gone. It came for me surprisingly.
I wouldn't have been the same person without your music. R.I.P. Steve, we will always love you!
A real performer, if you can perform like this alone, you are true performer
Just loved Cockney rebel , my first musical love .Started in 74 when I was 15 here I am almost 50 years later still listening still loving .Thank you Steve make me smile will see me on my final journey
Man, this songs making me cry
It should make you smile. It's the best years of your life. But yeah, I know what you mean. If you needed "Poignant" described lyically, this is the answer.
A giant who never got his due.
What a tune. RIP Sebastian.
He performed every song like it was the first time. He would have made a great actor.
Steve Harley, such an under-rated songwriter. A true poet x
I saw Steve Harley perform this great song live last Saturday in Warrington. 22/7/17. This was the stand out song for me in a fantastic show. as with this video, he invited the audience to sing along. i sang like a nutter and had a brilliant night. At 58 years old I`m so lucky to see real talent like Steve Harley still performing.
Nice one! Wish I was there too....enjoy your memories ;)
Good night Steve, rock in peace.
Hugely, hugely, underrated rock star....
Genius.
I took my wife along to see Cockney Rebel in 1976, In Plymouth. Still one of the best live gigs I’ve ever been to. I still have albums. Also in my car (cds). Best years of our lives, beautiful track.
I was at that gig, ABC cinema, Make me smile brought the house down.
I spent 35 years in the British Army, man and boy. This is the theme tune.
RIP mr Harley. I first saw you on the old grey whistle test. It was then I followed your music and still do. Your songs will be with me forever.
As much as I loved it, I didn't get this song when I was 15. I get it now.
I was lucky to saw him live in Switzerland around mid 90's. I grow up with his music
since early 70's
Absolutely brilliant - a wonderful lyricist way ahead of his time.
I have to listen to this live version sparingly because as a depressive, melancholy is my default state. This beautiful song empties me of every positive emotion, yet the void left is not filled by my fears of an incontinent old-age and lonely death but a comfortable numbness before a few, just a few, tears of self-pity.
Apart from that life's good!
😊 days!
Gordon Comstock ohhhh, oh but it's magic. I have to agree. Beautifully melancholic, on repeat
Go watch them live completely life affirming.
Epic, I really believe he was a game changer when he appeared on the scene all those years ago, a Cockney version of the great geordie bard, Alan Hull.
It's been a difficult day listening to his songs 😢, but what a beautiful version of this lyrical masterpiece.
My god this song is gorgeous. I mean, I knew that, but this is an especially good performance of it.
More than a musician, very special, timeless music.
Beautiful song
Oh my Lord, thank all the demigods for this man
Steve rip my friend thanks for the brilliant memories legend
All i can say is thank you - 1-2-3-4!!!!!
best years of my life, definitely the seventies.
Thanks Steve, just thanks for everything you ever recorded or wrote, Maestro.
True - and shameful - story coming up.
This was one of the first songs I learned to play on guitar. Anyone who knows a bit of guitar knows it is incredibly basic - which makes it even more awesome. Dylan was a master of it, I think I learned his entire 1961-1976 catalogue in a week on 5 or 6 chords.
Anyways ... several years later, I was in Zimbabwe. One night around a campfire, with a few locals, lots of beer and a guitar, I finally got enough Dutch in me to take a turn when the guitar was passed round. I remember doing a couple of Dylan songs, then I did this one ... nobody had heard it before.
To my eternal shame... I told everyone I wrote it myself. I had to write the lyrics and chords out for a couple of the lads there, they made me sign it and told me one day I would be famous if I wrote more songs like this.
This, of course, was in the wonderful pre-interweb era, when you couldn't type a few lines into google and get called out for being a bullshitter.
So... if you're ever in Zimbabwe, hanging around Victoria Falls, and you hear a busker tell you he learned this song off Steve Harley himself ... just smile and walk on.
(I actually recounted this story to Steve around 1996 / 97 after a gig, I think he called me a cunt ... with that Harley smile on his chops !)
😂 brilliant
Holy Rebel !!!!!! Playing this LP on my Birthday as 66 old ! Having played it regularly since releleased !
His Music Never Gets old.
The best Years of our life.... Yes... the best years
Love and beauty pours from Steve Harleys mouth and guitar. Insanely beautiful.
I've been lucky to see Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel twice now... totally brilliant performance... really.
The best thing about this fantastic artist is that he is still out there doing the circuit so get out of your armchairs get yourself some tickets have a beer or Bacardi and cheer him on.London, Islington, come on jostle with me in the stalls in November for an acoustic trio
Just bought tickets for Warrington Ian. july 17. :-)
🖒
Wonderful song sung by the best
I absolutely LOVE this song, and have for-almost-ever! I used to think it was "Fresh faced timber seals laughing at me"
😅
So sad that Steve crossed the Rainbow Bridge today. Great memories of many fab gigs
First saw Steve Harley with Cockney Rebel at Reading 1974, and still a fan, try to see him every couple of years.
harley ..... best memories of my lyfe ...
Brilliant! love this song and love Steve Harley's excellent voice.
what a legend
when is the best year of your life,,,,,,listning to this song , yes, but beeing older you cant choose,,,,,
every time when steve performs in holland i go to his concerts
Soooo niceeeee
SONG of our lives....thanks Steve Harley and co.,
all i can say is.....awesome....
love the beautiful male voice in "phantom of opera" and came to know about this legend...God bless
Can't describe this with words...
Impossible to describe this performance and song. And it`s Steve Harleys genious that comes to life.
Es berührt mich sehr, dass Steve verstorben ist. "Face to Face" hat mich seit dem Erscheinen begleitet. Während mancher Krise habe ich die Lautstärke nach oben geregelt und bei den ersten Takten von "Here comes the sun" ging auch bei mir psychisch die Sonne auf. Danke für deine Hilfe, Steve. R.I.P.
an absolutely stunning version of this great song.
Nice to hear Ste e's guitar which was usually lost in the mix.
Classic. What else to say? so under rated on a global scale
loved it the first time..... still do... sure takes me back to less complicated times!
He was amazing saw him.live in Manchester and his band were awesome as well
check out the version on the live face to face album,a fine performance too!
Jo McCormack is listening to this in Heaven. Thanks Steve Harley for some exceptional lyrics.
stunning performance.
pure genius
A really evocative song. Saw Steve Harley play at a beer festival in South Wales in 1991, and again, about a year later, at the Greenbelt Festival (where the audience were not entirely cooperative, much to my annoyance). Also saw him do an acoustic gig in Cambridge with Nick Pinn later in the '90s. Anyway, he's a brilliant songwriter and a solid, utterly professional performer. Hope to catch him again some day.
one of the best, long life
Absolutely fantastic!
that is brilliant,on this nostalgic new years day.
saw x2 in Manchester circa 74, sgnature was , oh dear look what they've done to the blues , blues , blues................
excellent the best years of our lives
Thankyou and bless you darling.xxxxxxx
I never owned any SH vinyl back in the 70's only two 45rpm's, so how come I know all these vids loaded by Greyman, my friends who must had better taste than me, must have left an impression somewhere in my mind. Now in my more mature years I realised what I missed out on, never to late to catch up, off to the shop to get some CD,s
ps greyman, Kenny was good for teenagers back in the 70's, infact I have Fancy Pants on 45rpm, german issue with picture cover.
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Danke für den Song ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Danke
Brilliant
I went to see him when they played here in Stockholm in 1989. I remember him saying "where have you been all these 13 years?" Then he got a little bit angry with me and my friends up front because, knowing all lyrics by heart we , of course, wanted the pay our tribute to him and Stuart by singing very loud and sometimes even before Steve got to the words hehe :-)
Songs don't have age.
Legend
love
Is there someone out there who have the lyrics for this fantastic song, my LP was lost some years ago
Rest in Peace Tasis Pavgelos
nicely nice
thanks for the 17/7
@fanoftheclyde24 What a great song.
Steve Harley Iove you.
Yes
STEVE HARLEY WAS THE REAL MCOY
"IS" the real McCoy
wundervoll
❤
Best Years of my Life"
It's May 28, 2018: anyone know if he's still performing? and where in the uk or america?
November 2018
Friday 02 November 2018 - Butlins Skegness Resort - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel - Butlins - Skegness
Monday 12 November 2018 - Mt.Rainier Hall Shibuya Pleasure Pleasure - Acoustic Trio - Mt.Rainier Hall Shibuya Pleasure Pleasure - Tokyo
Tuesday 13 November 2018 - Takadanobaba Super Live Theatre Area - Acoustic Trio - Takadanobaba Super Live Theatre Area, Tokyo
Thursday 22 November 2018 - P3 - Purmerend - P3
Friday 23 November 2018 - Vorstin - Hilversum - Vorstin
Saturday 24 November 2018 - Gebr DeNobel - Leiden - Gebr. de Nobel
Sunday 25 November 2018 - Bosuil, Weert - Muziekcentrum De Bosuil
December 2018
Sunday 02 December 2018 - The Great British Folk Festival, Butlins Skegness Resort - Acoustic Trio - Butlins - Skegness
Wednesday 19 December 2018 - De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill Hill On Sea - De La Warr Pavilion
Thursday 20 December 2018 - Open, Norwich - Open
Friday 21 December 2018 - Nell's Jazz and Blues, London - Nells Jazz & Blues
Saturday 22 December 2018 - Engine Rooms, Southampton - Engine Rooms
the best , nearly, I Always the liked the good English.....