With their explosive debut single “Bad Man”, Penny Rebels have burst onto the scene with a sound that’s both nostalgic and refreshingly bold. Channeling the grit of classic blues rock and the swagger of ‘90s riffs, the band delivers a raw, honest energy that’s impossible to ignore. As they gear up for a string of live shows across the UK, we caught up with the rising rockers to talk about their origins, the story behind “Bad Man”, and what fans can expect next.
- Tell us more about how Penny Rebels formed. Was there a defining moment when you realized this was the band you were meant to be in?
Some of us have a long history together—we’ve been in bands before, shared stages, and always had that musical chemistry. But, as it does, life pulled us in different directions. It wasn’t until after the pandemic, when everything slowed down, that we started reconnecting—just tossing around song ideas, sending voice notes and demos back and forth.
There wasn’t one big ‘aha’ moment, but more a gradual realisation that the music we were making had real weight to it. The songs started to take on a life of their own, and we found a sound that felt fresh, but totally us. From there, it just snowballed—we put in serious time refining everything, making sure each track hit the mark.
Now that the songs are finished, we genuinely feel like this is the band we were always meant to be in.
⇒ Check our thoughts on “Bad Man” here ⇐
- “Bad Man” feels like a powerful introduction to who you are as a band. What’s the story behind the song, and why did you choose it as your debut single?
‘Bad Man’ was the first song that really lit a fire under us. It had that magic—something about the riff, the groove, the swagger—it just clicked. It gave me that buzz, like this is it, this is the sound we’ve been chasing.
It’s got those bluesy undertones that run through a lot of our music, but it also has this fun, gritty energy we love playing with. When each band member brought in their parts, it just came to life in the studio. That made it an easy choice for our debut—it set the tone for who we are and what’s to come.
That said, it’s just the start. We’ve got more songs lined up and we’re excited to keep the momentum going with new releases not far behind.
- The guitar riff in “Bad Man” is incredibly catchy and instantly recognizable. Was that the starting point of the song, or did it come later in the writing process?
The riff actually started with a vibe in my head—a kind of stompy, gritty groove that made you pull that classic ‘stank face’—you know, like you’ve just smelt something awful but in the best way possible! It had to have attitude, something that made you feel like strutting down the street like you owned it.
That vibe sparked this image of a gang of tough characters on the move, which led to the chorus line that rides over the riff. From there, the whole song started to take shape.
And weirdly, I kept thinking about that scene in the film Storks—where the pigeon thinks he’s being super cool dancing to The Heavy, but he’s actually just flailing around like a maniac. That mix of swagger and comedy—that’s the spirit that shaped the rest of ‘Bad Man.’
- The backing harmonies really elevate the track. Can you tell us more about the arrangement process and how you crafted that layered sound?
Thanks! The harmonies definitely grew out of that whole ‘gangster strut’ vibe we had in mind for the track. We wanted something that felt bold and confident—like a crew backing up the lead character in the song.
So the idea of gang vocals and layered harmonies came naturally. It wasn’t about sounding polished and pretty—it was about adding attitude and swagger. That sense of a group, a presence, backing the lead just gave the whole track more weight and energy. Once we started building those layers, it really brought the song to life.
- The music video visually complements the track’s gritty and nostalgic vibe. How involved were you in the creative direction of the video?
We didn’t want our first video to be the typical ‘band playing in a warehouse looking intense’ kind of thing—but we also weren’t sold on a full-on story video either. So we tried a few ideas… shot a couple of different concepts…
At one point, we even toyed with the idea of doing an AI-generated video, or going fully animated… there was even a brief (and slightly serious) conversation about doing a sock puppet version. Maybe we’ll save that for the next one!
In the end, we handed everything over to a creative director who really understood the vibe—gritty, nostalgic, a bit tongue-in-cheek—and they totally nailed it. It feels like the right way to introduce Penny Rebels to the world.
- Could you share more about the themes in your lyrics? What topics inspire you guys to sing about?
For us, the music usually comes first—and that really sets the tone for everything else. Quite often, just listening to the groove or the feel of a track sparks something. Words start coming out almost instinctively. We’ve all got notes or half-formed lyrics tucked away, and sometimes those ideas suddenly find a home.
We’re not trying to be poets or preach any big messages. Our lyrics usually come from a feeling, a thought, or something we’ve experienced—sometimes real, sometimes exaggerated for fun. The main thing is: we want the songs to connect, but we’re not here to deliver lectures. If we’re enjoying it and it makes people move, sing along, or smile, that’s the win.
- Finally… As artists launching in a fast-paced, AI-dominated music era, what does authenticity mean to you—and how do you stay grounded in your sound?
Rock music has always been about soul, raw, human energy. AI can pump out pop tunes that sound polished to perfection, but honestly, a lot of that stuff could be written by a robot already.
People can listen to AI music if they want right now, but I don’t think many actually choose to. At least, not that we’ve seen yet! I can’t imagine a world where AI creates music that hits you in the soul the way Queen or AC/DC does or bends a note like Joe Bonamassa.
There’s something about real musicians playing real instruments, making mistakes, and putting their heart into it that just can’t be faked. Yet 🙂
