The Rebellers came from the Houston, Texas metro area, recording James Manlove’s original song “The New Generation” for Orbit Records 1114 in the summer of 1967.
Members included:
James Manlove – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
John Manlove – keyboards and vocals
Jeff Gray – bass guitar and vocals
David Rodriguez – drums
The flip, “The Common People” was written as “Love of the Common People” by the prolific songwriting team, John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins.
Early versions of the Cicadelic compilation Three O’Clock Merrian Webster Time included “The New Generation” mistakenly attributed to the Nomads but with the correct writing credit. This has led some website to include James Manlove as a member of the Nomads, which I believe is incorrect.
The November 19, 1967 Houston Post nowsounds calendar ran a photo of the Rebellers.
From a photo in the 1968 Milby High School Yearbook, the Rebellers played Milby High School’s Valentines Varieties show that year.
According to his Discogs profile, David Rodriguez was a member of the group, but a commentator on youtube listed the drummer as “Pete”.
Gig list compiled from the Houston Post nowsounds calendar and other news items:
September 20, 1966: there’s a notice of the Rebellers at a benefit with Jack Jones, Garry Mann, the Bachelors and Tommy Graham at the Gulfgate Cellar Club, but that may be a little early for this band, whose frequent gig listings start in May, 1967.
Friday, May 19, 1967: at Insight Au Go Go, 12826 Beaumont Highway 90
Friday, May 26 and Saturday May 27, 1967: at Lions Club Hall, Friendswood, Highway 518
Saturday, June 3, 1967: at Grand Prix, Bay City
Tuesday, June 13, 1967: at Conroe Ballroom, Gladstell West off 45
Friday, June 16, 1967: at the Dungeon in Spring
Saturday, June 17, 1967: at Sea Isle Teen Dance in Galveston
Tuesday, June 20, 1967: at Love Street Light Circus
Wednesday, June 21, 1967: at Hullabaloo
Tuesday, June 27, 1967: at Conroe Ball Room
Saturday, July 1, 1967: at Insight Au Go Go
Saturday, July 15, 1967: at Sea Isle Teen Club, Galveston
Saturday, July 22, 1967: at Buddy McGregor Saturday Show, Foley’s Town Hall
Wednesday, July 26, 1967: at Fun Corral, 9801 Airline
Saturday, July 29, 1967: with the Entire Thing at Sea Isle, Galveston
Friday, August 18, 1967: at the Vault, Pasadena
Saturday, August 19, 1967: at Deer Park Civic Center
Wednesday, August 23, 1967: at Carousel Skating Rink, 9190 Old Katy Road
Thursday, August 24, 1967: at KNUZ back-to-school festival at Sharpstown Center
Friday, August 25, 1967: at Teen Hall, Bryan TX
Saturday, August 26, 1967: at Ken Grant Show, Sharpstown Shopping Center 2 PM, and Insight Au Go Go, Beaumont Highway
Friday, October 6, 1967: at Teen Hall, Bryan
Friday, October 20, 1967: at Lodge Pokrok, 15th and Beall
Saturday, November 4, 1967: at Lions Club, Pearland
Saturday, November 11, 1967: at Kerwin High School, Galveston
Friday, November 17, 1967: with Lemon Fog, Soul Searchers, Duke & the Kingsmen, and the Inquisitions at San Jacinto High School Soul Spectacular
Saturday, November 18, 1967: with Audio Manifesto at Mount Carmel High
Wednesday, November 22, 1967: at Brenham Hanger Club
Friday, December 15, 1967: at the Vault, Pasadena
Saturday, December 2, 1967: at Taylor Hall, Pasadena
Saturday, December 23, 1967: at Nottingham Forest Country Club
Friday, January 12, 1968: at Lodge Pokrok
Saturday, January 27, 1968: at Milby High School
Saturday, February 10, 1968: at Love Street Light Circus
February ?, 1968: Milby High School’s Valentines Varieties show
Friday, March 22, 1968: at the Vault, Pasadena
Friday, April 19, 1968: at Teen Hall, Dickinson
Saturday, May 4, 1968: with Ninth Street Bridge, Lemon Fog, Apollos at Taylor Hall, Pasadena
Saturday, June 8, 1968: Jamaica Beach, Galveston
Friday, June 21, 1968: at Lodge Pokrok
Saturday, June 29, 1968: at Sea Isle, Galveston
Saturday, July 20, 1968: at DERA Hall, Orange
Friday, August 2, 1968: at the New Vault, Pasadena