Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones raise a glass to David Bowie with ‘Rebel Rebel’
The rowdy Boston octet deliver a lively cover of the glam classic on the 50th anniversary of its writing and recording
NOW PLAYING: Listen to ‘Rebel Rebel’ via Spotify
WATCH: THE OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
New music from Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones forthcoming via Code 213 Records
BOSTON, MA [March 10, 2023] – It’s a tale as old as time – or, actually, one that dates back exactly a half-century: A mother in a whirl; a torn dress; a face that’s a mess. At this point, you know the rest. So allow us to re-introduce it in a sparkling new way: Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones are set to honor the late, great David Bowie with a rousing rendition of the classic ‘70s rock and roll anthem “Rebel Rebel,” which officially hits the streams on Friday, March 10 via Code 213 Records.
The streaming release to all major platforms comes on the heels of a widespread radio response to Smitty’s re-launched “Rebel Rebel,” with a special premiere on The Rodney Bingenheimer Show on SiriusXM’s Underground Garage and the Number 1 spot on the global Radio Indie Alliance chart, with dozens of stations and shows around the world joining the party.
And the track arrives at a special time, as Smitt E. Smitty, the Detroit-born and Boston-based musician unleashes his version of “Rebel Rebel” exactly 50 years after it was first recorded by Bowie at Trident Studios in London, just before its February 1974 release as the lead single to iconic album Diamond Dogs. And there’s a personal tie, too, as Smitty’s first band, synth-pop cult mainstays Figures on a Beach, also recorded their debut album for Sire Records at Trident back in the ‘80s. So it’s all coming full-circle for Smitty, who has assembled The Fezztones as the raucous band fit and ready to shine a light back on one of the greatest songs of all time.
“I have wanted to cover this David Bowie song for quite some time,” Smitty says. “Long before he passed away in 2016. We did a version of ‘Panic in Detroit’ for our debut live performance at ONCE in Somerville. We did it again in Detroit at The Detroit All-Star Garage Rock Punk Revue III. The song killed. But I wanted to do a different Bowie song for our performance at the Jamaica Plain Music Festival in 2019. This version of ‘Rebel Rebel’ is ostensibly the version we played live for that event. It came off wonderfully. I knew then and there, I wanted to record it.”
Smitty quickly assembled his seven-person musical gang and hit New Alliance Audio in Somerville, recording with engineer and co-producer Alex Rodriguez. With The Fezztones recent singles, last year’s “Buzzkill Baby” and 2021’s “Tall Man Dreams,” starting to make waves for the genre-bending collective, the time was right to dust off the glam edges and raise a glass to “Rebel Rebel,” the first in a series of new music releases with the band’s new home of Code 213 Records, the brainchild of Dennis Chuning.
And to cover “Rebel Rebel,” Smitty took a simple approach that’s fairly fool-proof: WWDBD?
“The mindset I used for our ‘Rebel Rebel cover was... if this wasn’t a David Bowie song and David Bowie was going to do a cover of it, ‘What would David Bowie do?’ Basically, make the song your own,” Smitty notes. “Don’t do a carbon copy. Be original. Fresh. I feel confident we were able to do just that. I am very happy with the result.”
So far, the result is well-received. Instantly a fan-favorite in the Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones’ live set, the track’s early release to indie radio has provided a spark. Troy and Craig of Indiana-based rock and roll radio show The Garage D’Or raves: “It’s not often that a cover version of a classic is able to capture the magic of an original, but in this case, Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones do it with their cover of Bowie’s ‘Rebel Rebel’. While this song has been covered by everyone from Duran Duran to Springsteen, Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones bring a freshness, earnestness, and authenticity to the song. And we love that authenticity!”
For Smitty, he’s just happy people are feeling it. Because let’s face it, it’s no small task covering not only one of the most influential artists of all time, but also a song that’s instantly recognizable and certain to draw a reaction. And hey, sure, there’s some intimidation, but in the end, it’s all about the art being celebrated, either on stage, off the stream, or across the airwaves.
“When creating a musical treatment, especially a cover, I want to take the listener by surprise,” adds Smitty. “If you don’t know what the song is until it kicks in, all the better. I LOVE that! ‘Surprise!’ I live for that moment. This holds true for original songs too. I’ve always been very eclectic for this very reason. Change it up. Don’t be complacent. Keep everyone guessing.”
In the end, “Rebel Rebel” will always be “Rebel Rebel,” no matter who’s belting it out. It holds true then back in the turbulent ‘70s, and now in the re-roaring ‘20.
“I just hope listeners appreciate the ‘original’ approach we took in creating our cover – a heartfelt tribute to the late, great David Bowie,” Smitty concludes. “We have so much deep respect and love for David Bowie, because he was so extremely influential to our overall musical sensibilities. David Bowie’s overarching aesthetic to everything he ever did, or touched, is a guide, a beacon, to all of us. Now and forever.”
Hot tramp, Smitty loves you so.
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‘Rebel Rebel’ Production Credits :
“Rebel Rebel”written by David Bowie
Re-recorded by Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones at New Alliance Audio, Somerville, MA
Engineered and Co-produced by Alec Rodriguez and Smitt E. Smitty
Engineered by Alec Rodriguez
Released by Code 213 Records in February 2023
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Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones are:
Smitt E. Smitty: Vocals
Linda Bean Pardee: Backing vocals
JoEllen Saunders Yannis: Backing vocals
Linda Twiss Gioscia: Backing vocals
James Melanson: Guitar
Eddie Nowik: Guitar
Andrew Padua: Bass
Jonathan LaMaster: Violin and theremin
Michael Gioscia: Drums
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Immediate praise for Smitt E. Smitty’s ‘Rebel Rebel’:
“Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones are a force of nature! Buildings, as well as audiences, shake with delight during their shows! You can be what you want with the Fezz!”
_Dave THE Boogieman, Radio NewYork International
“It’s not often that a cover version of a classic is able to capture the magic of an original, but in this case, Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones do it with their cover of Bowie’s ‘Rebel Rebel’. While this song has been covered by everyone from Duran Duran to Springsteen, Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones bring a freshness, earnestness, and authenticity to the song. And we love that authenticity! You can tell, Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones really mean it, MAN! So check it out… whether you’ve torn your dress or your face is a mess, Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones bring it on home!”
_Troy and Craig, The Garage D’Or
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Smitt E. Smitty short bio:
Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones. Born and raised in Detroit. Moved to Boston in 1985. Smitty played in a great many Detroit bands including The Blind, Zero Ambience, L-Seven and Figures on a Beach. After moving to Boston, Figures on a Beach got signed to Sire/Warner Records and released music until the early ‘90s. FOAB disbanded 1991. Smitty then joined the Wax Trax label in Chainsuck, with lead singer songwriter Marydee Reynolds, until 1999. Smitty then played in Fireking until 2017.
Now it's Smitt E. Smitty & The Feztones time! ALL the time!
After releasing Smitt E. Smitty's debut album in 2017, titled Just A Modern Guy, Smitty went back into the recording studio with Alec Rodriguez of New Alliance Audio, in Somerville, MA. This time with a full band, aptly named The Fezztones. The result is a collection of songs, led by instant 2022 classic “Buzzkill Baby” and a cover of David Bowie’s iconic “Rebel Rebel,” set for release in March 2023 through Code 213 Records.
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