Throughout the mid-70's during the Cockney Rebel glory years I'm sure Steve 'played' the music press to a certain degree. Any publicity is good publicity and magazines like the NME who normally favour new and exciting bands turned against Steve and the boys. A bit of resentment perhaps?? They wanted to be the ones to announce this brash new band onto the music scene not Steve Harley himself!! The music and the huge popularity of Cockney Rebel spoke for itself. Sure there were the short term fans who only hung around for Judy Teen and Make Me Smile but 40 years later the true fans remain and the old guy's not doing too bad for himself.