The original lineup of the band consisted of Rod Firestone (vocals), Buzz Clic (guitar), Donny Damage (bass), Stix Pelton (drums) and Pete Sake (keyboards).
The Rebels moved to Los Angeles in 1978, minus Pelton (who was replaced on drums by Mike Hammer) and Sake (keyboards were deemed unnecessary for the band's change to a heavier sound), and gained considerable fame on the Sunset Strip.
Following some personnel changes (Damage and Hammer left to form the Hammer Damage Band, replaced by Johnny Bethesda and Brandon Matheson, respectively), the Rebels signed a deal with Capitol Records, helped in no small way by Doug Fieger, lead singer of the Knack (who were also signed to Capitol) and a self-professed fan of the band.
The album track "(I Wanna) Pierce My Brain" was included on the soundtrack for the 2003 skateboarding video game Tony Hawk's Underground.
Although Damage left the band following the first reunion shows, he was quickly replaced by Bob Clic (Buzz's brother and member of the Lewd) who plays on Pierce My Brain.