UK single release: Rebel Rebel

David Bowie’s single ‘Rebel Rebel’ was released in the UK on 15 February 1974, with the Hunky Dory song ‘Queen Bitch’ on the b-side.

I always thought the single sounded like it was the Spiders playing, even though it was done after we had all left Bowie.

The single contained a slightly different mix of ‘Rebel Rebel’ from that on Diamond Dogs, and was edited to 4:22 from 4:31. Subsequent singles compilations featured the album mix. The original single mix was eventually reissued on 2016’s Re:Call 2, part of the Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976) box set.

‘Rebel Rebel’ peaked at number five on the UK charts. It reached number two in Ireland, seven in Finland, and number nine in Norway. It was also a top 20 hit in the Netherlands and France.

The album Diamond Dogs was released on 31 May, where the opening riff of ‘Rebel Rebel’ segued perfectly from the maelstrom of guitars that ended ‘Sweet Thing (Reprise)’.