In my view, something about 'The Human Menagerie of Cockney Rebel' (1973) should 'lead' the Welcome Mat (anyone who has the vinyl LP and gatefold cover will know that that is the correct album title). I've said previously that this is one of the two (at least) concept albums - this is representing a, for the time, lifestyle. The clothes, the images, the personas, the music - with violin for guitar.
Coventry Dave mentioned the 'suits'. In particular, for me, the bowler hat (I asked my mother-in-law, a former milliner, to make me one), which was worn in the presence of Harley, in Cheltenham, on the evening of 19 December 2022. I also had on a coloured waistcoat I had bought in about 1994 - when they were mainstream male fashion for a short time (actually about 1991-1994) and on the back of it I had a coloured reproduction of the album cover itself - that image alone got me to 'buy into' the presentation (though I did so in 1975, later than some fans - I knew of Judy Teen and Mr Soft beforehand, of course). I didn't own an album until the start of '75 (only singles).
Leon K's post of about three months ago (not far from this, also in the Welcome Mat) also got me thinking about the name, or you might say, the brand, of COCKNEY REBEL. We know that Steve, around the summer of 2023 (or that was when it was announced) had sold the whole back catalogue (song rights), but did the contract include the name?
I have some knowledge of 'contract' from my twenty plus years as a Major Projects QS (I was involved with the Jubilee Line at London Bridge - in my peak) and for about half of that, as a former MCIArb, but I don't know much about 'copyright'. I do know that the latter tends to apply to whole or substantial parts of works e.g. books, plays, films, songs etc. Dorothy, Steve's widow, would be one of the very few that would know the essence of the bargain that Steve had made.
Comparing the names of my two favourite bands from youth, Roxy Music and Cockney Rebel, whilst Roxy were clever in implying a whole genre of their own, Rebel could extend, yes, into a lifestyle, involving fashion maybe (although Steve made that comment of him dressing or presenting more like a Geography Teacher, ha)?
This last Bank Holiday, for the first time in my (male) life, I bought a pair of women's jeans - for the cut - a la Bowie during the Hunky Dory period. You know I'm fond of the mid seventies for parallels and Oxford Bags. It transpires I can get into a size 14! Because they are long I've today just bought a pair (second pair this year) of Doc Marten (sandals with very thick Air Ware soles - my earlier pair Elvis might have favoured, or maybe not as they are kind of Lilac!) This reminds me of Steve's nail varnish on the cover of that seminal first album, the pinkish trousers and the eye shadow! The shoes also pushed masculine boundaries but they were great, weren't they?!
Going back to the thing about 'Cockney Rebel' the name, this got slightly relegated, possibly, when Steve continued with the second 'incarnation' of the band. This, intentionally or otherwise, in one way or by degree, 'separated' him from the other members of the band.
Stuart Elliott was also a founder of the band - together with Steve - and he was also still in some of the late performances - so glad I saw and heard him play, two years after we exchanged emails (gigs with the full band).
Did Harley ever say whether he came up with the name or was it Elliott, Crocker, Reame-James or Jeffreys, or was it collective (Roxy discussed their name - starting with the names of old cinemas - so it's conceivable that the original band members discussed it)?
Anyway, Steve has left a huge void in gigs I'd like to go to, though the body of recorded work is ever present - and this is one good reason to remain...
X
The Who's That Girl thread has also reminded me about another point I think I know (but please check I'm right before relying on this - in any way) but titles ALONE (in the absence of any other intellectual work) are not subject to copyright - though they can still be caught by other sources of (English) law (possibly other jurisdictions too) - for example, if there was such a company as Who's That Girl Limited, which also was trademarked then that would be caught twice (also Who's That Girl, without the 'Limited', might be trademarked, phew! Whilst I recognised I found law interesting - Kerr Nice - Dorothy and Steve's son - took it much further - I'm glad I only went into the quasi-legal adjudication/arbitration. X
www.steveharley.com/forum/5-forum-questi...who-s-that-girl.html