🔘 Rebel Rebel – Single: Feb. 1974

David Bowie’s glam‑era farewell single, backed with a Ziggy‑era classic.

🔘 – Overview

Released on February 14, 1974, Rebel Rebel marked David Bowie’s final major glam‑rock statement before the theatrical darkness of Diamond Dogs. Issued in the UK as a 7-inch single on RCA Victor (LPBO 5009), the track is built around one of Bowie’s most iconic riffs — a swaggering, Stones‑esque hook that became a defining anthem of the era.

Backed with “Queen Bitch”, the single arrived during Bowie’s transition away from the Ziggy persona, yet still carried the flamboyance and attitude of his early‑70s work. The song became one of Bowie’s most‑covered compositions and is widely regarded as a proto‑punk milestone.

Two versions were recorded: the UK single mix and a shorter US mix featuring additional backing vocals, percussion, and arrangement changes.

🔘 – Track List

UK 7" Single — RCA Victor LPBO 5009 — 1974

A Rebel Rebel — 4:22

B Queen Bitch — 3:14

🔘 – Variants

Single Stereo, US Pressing — RCA Victor – LPB05009 — 7", 45 RPM UK — 1974

Single Stereo, US Pressing — RCA Victor – LPB05009 — 7", 45 RPM UK — 1974

Single Promo — RCA – LPBO 5009 — 7", 45 RPM UK — 1974

Single Stereo, French Pressing, Solid Centre — RCA Victor – LPBO 5009 — 7", 45 RPM UK — 1974

🔘 – Chart Performance

UK — Peak No. 5 · 7 Weeks on Chart (1974)

(Official Singles Chart)

Pos 06

February 23, 1974

Pos 05 ↑

March 2, 1974

Pos 05 ←

March 9, 1974

Pos 13 ↓

March 16, 1974

Pos 16 ↓

March 23, 1974

Pos 36 ↓

March 30, 1974

Pos 47 ↓

April 6, 1974

🔘 – Context & Notes

• Written and produced by David Bowie

• Released as the lead single from Diamond Dogs

• Trademark Owner: RCA Corporation

• Record Companies: GEM, Mainman

• Published by Mainman and Chrysalis

• ℗ RCA Ltd. / RCA Records

• Released in a generic RCA Victor sleeve

• US single mix differs from UK version (shorter, added vocals/percussion)

• Widely regarded as Bowie’s farewell to glam rock

• One of Bowie’s most‑covered songs

🔘 – Visual Archive

David Bowie’s Rebel Rebel (1974), issued on RCA Victor as Label:

Country: Germany

Catalogue: 74-16 398

🔘 – Related Material

• Explore the tags below for connected posts and themes

🔘 – Discography

Diamond Dogs — 1974

Rebel Rebel — 1974

Rock ’n’ Roll Suicide — 1973

🔘 – Mini‑Timeline

✦ Feb 14, 1974 — Rebel Rebel released in the UK

✦ Spring 1974 — US single issued with alternate mix

✦ May 1974 — Diamond Dogs album released

✦ 2016 — Song remastered for Who Can I Be Now? box set

🔘 – Glam Flashback

Rebel Rebel is Bowie at the crossroads — one foot still in glitter, the other stepping into the dystopian theatre of Diamond Dogs. The riff struts, the attitude sneers, and the whole track feels like a final, glorious spark from the glam era he helped define. It’s a goodbye and a provocation all at once.

🔘 – Closing Notes

A defining Bowie single, Rebel Rebel stands as both a glam‑rock anthem and a proto‑punk blueprint, capturing the moment Bowie shed one skin and prepared to unveil another.

🔘 – Sources & Copyright

Primary reference sources: Discogs, Official Charts Company, RCA Records, Wikipedia.

All original text and images remain the copyright of their respective publishers and creators.

Presented for historical, educational, and archival purposes.

🔘

#ReleaseChronicle #DavidBowie #RebelRebel #GlamRock #DiamondDogs #1974