rebel yell Archives - Vinyl From The Vault

De Lux/Hanni El Khatib “Rebel Yell + Power Struggle”

sfilzen — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 19:21:48 +0000

De Lux/Hanni El Khatib “Rebel Yell + Power Struggle” 2019. Innovative Leisure records, limited edition 7″ split single and according to Discogs/Bandcamp it was “commissioned by the US bourbon brand Rebel Yell for a free limited edition 2019 Record Store Day release.” De Lux, who I was up until now not at all familiar with, is a post-disco duo from L.A. Hanni El Khatib (also from L.A. and a fantastic rock guitarist) I am definitely familiar with (we have had a few of his releases for a long time now and saw him perform probably about 10 years ago or so). “Rebel Yell” is a cover of the classic Billy Idol song from 1984, synthesized to the nth and whispery vocals, making it almost unrecognizable but still really fun. “Power Struggle” is glossily polished techno-disco, bleep-bloop’d with a hypnotically ass-shaking funk. It’s very fun and helpfully spells out S-T-R-U-G-G-L-E in the chorus.

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Billy Idol “Rebel Yell”

sfilzen — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 18:20:11 +0000

Billy Idol “Rebel Yell” released 40 years ago today, November 10th, 1983. Rebel Yell was Idol’s second solo release; its title (and title track “Rebel Yell”) were inspired by the brand of bourbon he consumed while partying with the Rolling Stones. While not really punk – it’s waaayyy too slick and polished, has a ton of pop and metal sensibilities and ended up going to #6 on the US album chart (#36 UK) – it was the first “punk” record I remember my parents being mildly horrified by (I was 12 years old). They were even more undone by his sometimes disturbing (for the early 80’s) videos and signature lip-curling sneer. I thought he was hot! (probably why they got a bit bent out of shape as it did turn out to be harbinger for my tastes in music and guys in my subsequent teenage years).

Idol released four singles from Rebel Yell: the title track (which reached #46 in the US, #6 in the UK), “Eyes Without a Face” (#4 US, #18 UK) which I still listen to quite a bit as it works well in yoga flow playlists, “Flesh for Fantasy” (#29 US, #54 UK – I’m pretty sure it was this song that did my parents in) and “Catch My Fall” (#50 US, #63 UK) and all of the videos were on heavy rotation on MTV. The other tracks on Rebel Yell are just OK but there is lots of very competent shredding via guitarist Steve Stevens. (Side note: this post is a rework of a blog I did on Rebel Yell back on its anniversary in 2017. I guess Wiki has edited its page entry on Stevens and sadly removed the punch line from this part of the bio: “Stevens has played for Michael Jackson, Ric Ocasek, Robert Palmer, and many others. Sometimes he smokes a cigarette while playing a song.”)

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Billy Idol “Rebel Yell”

sfilzen — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 18:32:30 +0000

Billy Idol “Rebel Yell” released on this date, November 10th, 1983. Its title (and title track “Rebel Yell”) inspired by the brand of bourbon consumed while partying with the Rolling Stones, Billy Idol’s second full-length solo LP was the first record I remember my parents being mildly horrified by (I was 12 years old), and even more so by his videos and signature lip-curling sneer. Idol released four singles from Rebel Yell: the title track (which reached #46 in the US, #6 in the UK), “Eyes Without a Face” (#4 US, #18 UK), “Flesh for Fantasy” (#29 US, #54 UK – I’m pretty sure it was this song that did my parents in) and “Catch My Fall” (#50 US, #63 UK) and all of the videos were on heavy rotation on MTV.

While Idol’s look was stereotypical punk, Rebel Yell is only vaguely punk in attitude but is very slick heavy metal/new wave pop in delivery, with the guitar playing prowess and writing contribution of Steve Stevens a heavy influence. (Steve Stevens Wiki entry made me laugh: after listing his various work with artists like Billy Idol, Michael Jackson, Robert Palmer, etc. etc., it says “Sometimes he smokes a cigarette while playing a song” like this is some hugely unique talent.)

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