The Rebels Top-40 and soul band featuring Bob Sizemore (lead vocals), Rene ‘Ren’ Maxcy (trumpet), Rex Allen (sax, trumpet), Dave Rau (trombone), Kenny Scholl (guitar), Eric Neilson (guitar), Chris Chambers (bass), Tim McShane (piano), and David Wells (drums).
The group competed at the Ellicott City Armory Battle of the Bands on February 9, 1968 vs. the Vogue, Excursians, Hazy Shade, and Society’s Children. They took first place in a talent show at Mt. Hebron High School. Also played at the Elkridge Teen Center, and the Ellicott City Kiwanis Hall.
Dave Rau remembers that “in the original Rebels, the horn section was just me and Rennie. We didn’t learn our parts off a record. We made up our own. I remember playing the UAW Hall and I think it was the lead singer in the Premiers who said we were the best 2-piece horn section he ever heard.” He added “If you notice on one of those Pegg pics, a cord and small box attached to my belt. It is a Vox OctaVoice. I used it on my trombone which produced my sound into octaves. No other horn group ever used such a thing. Ran it through our Kustom P.A. I bought it from Bill’s Music House using credit. Nancy and Bill were excited about it because it was their first credit plan sale.”
Members had a brief stint with Deacon. The Rebels morphed into Pegg, then Flaggstaff, and members went on to Pine Street Station.
Allen went on to join the Tremolos, the Boat, and later joined Liberation Front. Maxcy, Rau, Scholl and Rau joined Deacon. Rau, Scholl and Wells later with Flaggstaff…
The band reunited in 2014
