The Rebels (also known as The Rockin' Rebels) were a surf music band from Buffalo, New York, known for their instrumental "Wild Weekend."
"Wild Weekend" was written by high school students Russ Hallett (vocals), Aldo Brozzetti (guitar), and Jack Sinchaski (drums), known as the Russ Hallett Trio. WKBW disc jockey Tom Shannon, who needed a theme song for his show at the time, contacted the group who were recording at Phil Todaro's studio to do the piece. It was released on Shannon's Marlee Records label in 1960 but had only regional success.
Two years later the track was re-issued on Swan Records (Swan 4125) and reached No. 8 on the national charts. To avoid confusion with Duane Eddy and his Rebels, the Rebels became the Rockin' Rebels. Swan pressings can be found with either name; the British Stateside pressings had "Rockin'". The band's 1963 LP uses the name "The Rockin' Rebels".
While the instrumental is the best known version, the song actually does have words:
"Tommy Shannon Show / KB Radio / Great times, news and weather / This is the place where things get better / On the...... Tom Shannon Show / KB radio..."
Or, in later versions:
"Tommy Shannon Show / Oldies 104 Radio / Good times, great music and weather / So glad we could get together / On the...... Tom Shannon Show / Tommy Shannon Show / Right here on your radio..."
The song was later covered by NRBQ with different lyrics.
Famous quotes containing the word rebels:
“He that rebels against reason is a real rebel, but he that in defence of reason rebels against tyranny has a better title to “Defender of the Faith,” than George the Third.”
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809)