STEVE 'Come Up and see me - Make me Smile' Harley, pictured, rolls into South Wales on Thursday November 15.

The original phoney cockney (eat your heart out Guy Ritchie) is back in Britain with a 40-date tour and new single, A Friend for Life, after an absence of five years.

The single was released in April 2001 and has yet to repeat the success the star enjoyed with classic songs, such as, Make Me Smile which he has released on the back of his current tour.

Steve has re-released the famous track, which has already been a hit for him three times, it has been covered 120 times and is one of the most played tracks on British radio of all time, in a desperate bid to revive the British pop scene.

"The mid-90s was a period of brilliant new music with several young bands creating something original. But at the turn of the millennium it all seems to have gone belly-up.

"Am I showing my age, or are the charts in their worst state ever?"

Just before the slide from 1999 to 2000, Steve performed 150 acoustic concerts across the globe and another 80 in 2000.

"I always have wonderful experiences on the acoustic, unplugged tours," said Steve. "That style gives a writer the chance to rediscover his own songs."

And Steve has more than his fair share of songs to choose from, having written every note on a staggering 11 albums, although, he'll only be remembered for the oft mentioned, quirky hit. Other hits you might remember include, More than Somewhat, Judy Teen, Mr Soft, Here Comes the Sun and Mr Raffles.

If you don't know the tunes you might recognise Steve's drawl from his presentation of Radio 2 music programme Sounds of the Seventies. Steve also paints, owns several thoroughbred racehorses and two kids. What a guy.

* Steve Harley plays The Coal Exchange, Cardiff Bay on Thursday, November 15. Dial (01787) 249152 for more information.