Rebel

Album: Rebel (1976)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In a June 1976 interview with New Musical Express, a youthful John Miles explained how this song came about. The title track of the Rebel album wasn't written until about two weeks before they went into the studio, which was three months after everybody had got into "the James Dean thing."

    Most of his songs started from the title; "Rebel" was originally to be released as a single, but "Highfly" was released instead, and "I just had to do something for Top Of The Pops." The something concerned was what might be called the Rebel look, which is based on the iconic James Dean pose from the film Giant.

    Dean starred in three feature films, but East Of Eden was the only one he lived to see. The 24-year-old died following a car crash in California on September 30, 1955. Rebel Without A Cause was released October 27, and Giant in November the following year. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Rickie Lee Jones

Rickie Lee JonesSongwriter Interviews

Rickie Lee Jones on songwriting, social media, and how she's handling Trump.

Sarah Brightman

Sarah BrightmanSongwriter Interviews

One of the most popular classical vocalists in the land is lining up a trip to space, which is the inspiration for many of her songs.

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley of The Righteous BrothersSongwriter Interviews

Medley looks back on "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" - his huge hits from the '60s that were later revived in movies.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.