I've realised that there are only a few musical performers active today(?) that keep me interested in attending live gigs:

I am unlikely to see/hear either Bryan Ferry or Roxy Music again now, but I thank them from my soul, for their contribution to the (left) field and to my enjoyment over five decades (I will still be listening).

Besides Roxy, and those that hopefully or maybe I will be seeing and hearing again, I would totally lose interest (only in attending live gigs, I should add, never in listening to their music, et al), without the following;

Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel / The Acoustic Band or Quartet

Sweet (the current line up and especially, Andy Scott, from 1970 - present)

Split Enz / The Finn Brothers

Suede

Pink

Soft Cell

Sparks

Kate Bush

X

Addendum: I'd add Gabrielle, in my view the best British soul-pop singer and A-ha, my close contemporaries, (A-ha) whom I've never seen/heard live, but they've 'grown' to me, with their career...

Addendum 2: We saw/heard Gary Numan, in 1997 and Shed Seven, in 1998. The former is currently experiencing something of a renaissance, the latter may have the potential to experience something similar (in my view their recent Heritage Chart singles are melodious and 'hungry'). I'd add both to this list (my dozen acts that would still keep me interested in attending live gigs). X

Addendum 3: (14 March 2024) I'll have to make this one a Baker's Dozen too (like my initial post in the 'Lay Me Down', General Discussion thread):

www.steveharley.com/forum/6-general-disc...me-down.html?start=6

I'm going to add Martin Fry/ABC. After all, whilst Sasha (I know she won't mind me saying this) loves him, I like him and some of his work too. Evidence follows in this link (like the A-ha 'boys', Soft Cell, Kate Bush, Gary Numan and Neil Finn, he's a close contemporary of mine):

www.steveharley.com/forum/4-suggestions/...iful-suggestion.html

Sasha has just booked for Cheltenham Town Hall for November 2024 for us both, and the format of his show is very similar to Steve's/Barry's show (rescheduled for May 2025!!!) Unlike I've got for Steve and Barry, we're just outside the 'Meet & Greet' section, but still pretty close to the front. So at the moment for me, I've got Martin in November and (all being well - stay strong Steve X), Steve and Barry the following May.

We'd also considered Paul Weller at Oxford this year, but we were too slow. He sold out within hours! I respect him and listen to him a lot, but I've always preferred his work with the Jam (1977-1982). BW to all...

07/06/25: Last night saw/heard: Sophie Ellis-Bextor (New Theatre). Her easy listening/dance popular music is good - though not really edgy enough for my taste i.e. Cockney Rebel/ Roxy Music/ Split Enz/ et al - Kate Bush/ Sia/ Neneh Cherry/ Lola Young et al, in the female acts - Sasha follows Sophie a bit - she booked it for us and she liked that kitchen podcast she started during lockdown, and got into her from there.

I liked her song 'Young Blood' (as she herself explained, this is a love song - inspired by a conversation she had with her mother - about three albums in for her, I think she said). Her voice really came through on that track. I noticed at the beginning the sound was too much the band and not enough the voice - but they redressed this about the third track in - it seemed to me, with a better balance...She was almost sold out. I enjoyed it, anyway. X

'Reply'

'Discovering' (Eric) Cantona last night, with his excellent pianist and cello player, has reminded me that, in music, there are always surprises, around the corner, that (also) could easily keep me interested in hearing live performances.

'The Friends We Lost' is the song that has done this, for me. I always knew he was creative, as well as a football player, as an actor (I am thinking of his own solid performance in my favourite historical film, 'Elizabeth' (c.1998) with Blanchett, Burke, Rush, Eccleston, Attenborough, Craig et al.)

Maybe I'll never lose total interest in live performance, whilst I am healthy enough to lose myself in it and enjoy? It's a question, I think, of interest, feeling and something new...or old and loved...

postscript: The last track I downloaded to my stick was by the American band, The National. I saw and heard them on Jools Holland and I loved their track, 'Space Invader' (particularly LIVE, when the guitar parts really abounded with energy). That's the kind of feeling that I'm trying to convey. Guitar, Cello, voice, lyrics, MELODY, whatever...

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10/03/2025 (about Saturday Night) - We saw and heard - 'Bowie by Candlelight' at Oxford Town Hall - the very venue where, back in 1972, Mick Rock took the iconic photo of Bowie kneeling in front of Mick Ronson with face close to the guitar - you know the one - and the band that were performing were, DAVID LIVE.

I hadn't realised that they've been around for a couple of decades - I think that is what their lead singer, CHARLIE FOWLER, said in a separate YouTube interview (just under an hour in length with an interviewer from New York). Anyway, Sasha and I met Charlie briefly after the show (he's charming and looks fantastic for his age).

Charlie's vocal was incredibly strong. In my view, there can't be a better tribute to David Bowie out there. Oxford loved them. I think the early Cockney Rebel took some influence from Bowie and The Spiders From Mars (we know that Steve held 'Ronno' in high regard from some of his actions, I think, in 2015?) I also think besides Steve's Dylan, T.S. Eliot and folk influences, in my view at least, early Cockney Rebel also took a little influence, from the 'For Your Pleasure' period Roxy Music.

Anyway, thinking back to DAVID LIVE and Charlie in particular, I think any tribute taking on Cockney Rebel, would hone in on the 1973 to 1976 period. David Live split the show into the Ziggy/Spiders period (predominantly) and the 80's/90's Bowie. Besides the quality of the vocals, the drumming, both guitarists and the keyboards man, what really made this work was Charlie's image (he changed for the second part of the show), his heart and effort and his age...he's old enough to have been a young fan right at the beginning. The whole thing left a considerable impression on us. Fantastic...

30/03:
I've just been viewing/listening to a YouTube cover of Make Me Smile... by Sarah Collins (apparently posted about 4 days ago). Not sure what I make of it, other than initially, quite slick. I do however (this isn't specifically relevant) love the Collins name and several individuals who are carrying or have carried it. Some have made a significant contribution to learning and culture, for instance.

Returning to a point I made after seeing/hearing David Live (this month), I suppose any Cockney Rebel tribute could split a show into (the predominate) 1973-1976 period and after the interval could, similarly pluck from the 80's/90's, maybe including 'The Coast Of Amalfi' (2005).

'I Can't Even Touch You' and 'I Can Be Anyone' (1982) could be included, as could (maybe) 'The Phantom Of The Opera (1986), 'Star For A Week (Dino) from 1992, and 'All In A Life's Work' (1996). 1978 could also be included, 'Amerika The Brave' and of course, 'Riding The Waves (for Virgina Woolf'), are two tracks I'm fond of - the former is quite funky (as arranged on the LP, 'Hobo With A Grin').

Any musical director could emphasise the electronica or at least keyboards heavy, on the 1982 tracks - after all, they were produced by Midge Ure. Oh, I've just reminded myself that I saw Ultravox live, at The Opera House, Blackpool, in 1982 (pretty good).

I agree with Steve and Midge that it was surprising they were not hits, but I also feel the same about 'Star For A Week (Dino)' - Harley at this point of comeback, revealed that (in my view), the hunger was still there (to reprise the success of the 1974-1976 inclusive period), sixteen years later. X

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IMAGINE...maybe fanciful...(04/06/25)

I've changed my view from 30 March 2025 (above) on the ideal set list. Firstly, the tribute should be to Cockney Rebel rather than Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel. No one can replace Steve. Steve also created Cockney Rebel the popular group (and he was the lead within).

If the vocalist of the tribute, was a fan from 1973 (European breakthrough - Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, in particular) or 1974 (UK breakthrough), then a wig could be worn like Steve's own hair was in the promo for 'Judy Teen' (assuming that the 60 years old plus individual's folliculus and persona, required it - though the individual might be younger). You've watched and heard it, haven't you?

I now also think that the set list shouldn't include any of the solo work.

The name of the tribute would need to be good. To ensure the idea and band didn't embarrass itself - through lack of interest - there would need to be a new vehicle to present it (yes, online, but a slightly different approach from the popular media platforms)...keep imagining...(you can hear the Cockney Rebel and Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel songs as you are imagining - which means obviously that any tribute worth its salt would have to contain quality musicians and performers with style).

What would be the greatest impact (for me, at least), would be the following set list:

1. Chameleon
2. Sweet Dreams - a version as close to the album recording as possible i.e. rather than the live version on the Face to Face album (which was a slower, more funky tempo. For me, whilst I liked the F to F version - I thought the original Psychomodo version better, simply more exciting and melodious. Even better than The Psychomodo version, is the 1:47 live version - from Live at The BBC, 1974)!
3. Mirror Freak
4. My Only Vice (keep the juxtaposition of 3. and 4. in this set, the same as on The Human Menagerie Of Cockney Rebel).

5. Singular Band (funky and very catchy)
6. The Mad, Mad Moonlight (I love the Cregan guitar solo)
7. Seeking A Love (reintroduce the 'theatre', like the opening Chameleon)
8. GI Valentine (again keep juxtaposition of the 'Loves...' album')
9. Mr Raffles

10. Cavaliers
11. Judy Teen
12. (Love) Compared With You
13. Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me) - break with tradition and play the biggest hit before the end - why not?

14. Lay Me Down
15. Sebastian
16. (I Believe) Love's A Prima Donna
17. Carry Me Again (great structure - I love the chord change just before the chorus - real tension but the right change, catchy, the multi-faceted layered lyrics - possibly includes reference to more than one person - each important. I never heard Steve / Cockney Rebel perform it live - it didn't make the 15 tracks on Face To Face, either).

Encore
18. Death Trip
19. Muriel the Actor (very uplifting, fun, a little coarse, but quintessential Cockney Rebel)
20. What Ruthy Said (tribute to Steve - his comment when he identified this as the more obvious single from the debut album and a great pop song)

I've come to the conclusion that all three of my posts under this thread are honest for me and equally a valid expression of feeling, but I've also realised that a (hit) song and an individual artist's approach including 'look' and presentation, are the underlying driver of this (whatever age I am).

Jim Cregan talks about the multi-value of penning one's own songs...

www.steveharley.com/forum/4-suggestions/...t-perhaps.html#13263

Steve Harley knows, as well as anyone, the potential value of (even) just one song, let alone, a nice 'handful' of hits...

www.steveharley.com/latest-news/1072-ste...ssets-the-times.html

Good evening, Jem
YES, hard to find band to listen to.
I'd like to see the SPARKS nd Kate Bush. .