Rebel Riot - Biography
Biography
Rebel Riot is a hard and heavy band from Riga, Latvia. A four-piece rock 'n' rolling brigade with main influences of the 60's and 80's classic rock and metal styles. Active since 2007.
Their third and most recent studio album 'The Good, The Bad And The Heavy', released in November 2016, was well received localy and abroad. In Latvian music awards it was nominated among the top 5 Latvian rock/metal records in 2016. Late 2017 Rebel Riot embarked on a 2 week tour through Central and Eastern European countries. Another European tour was held in May 2019.
It all started back in highschool when two classmates decided to form a hard rock band. Having a rich and good taste in music, Rebel Riot now is one of the few bands that still keep the true rock spirit alive in their neighbourhood. Sharp and punchy vocals, elaborate guitar work backed by female drumming and a few stage tricks are their trademark.
Winning at several local band contests helped a lot during the years of work on their first three albums (Make A Mess - 2010, Destructive Chaos - 2012, The Good, The Bad And The Heavy - 2016). Rebel Riot have played hundreds of shows in clubs and festivals around the Baltic states. Shows have been performed also in Finland, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Germany. One of the most notable performances was opening a show for the German heavy metal pioneers Accept in Riga, 2012.
2007 - 2008
The very first gigs were played quite often at local clubs (DEPO, Saksofons) during the fall of 2007, winter and spring 2008. During spring was the participation in 'Flashlight' - a contest for new bands which is held annually in Liepaja Rock city at Louie Fontaine's club Fontaine Palace. After making to the final then called Rebel Yell were announced as the Flashlight 2008 winners, thereby earning the prize - to record an album.
Summer season was the time to get on some open-air stages in festivals around Latvia (Sutas Balss, Fontaine Festival, VBO Biker Fest). Made friends with some foreign bands (Paperback Freud (Swe)). At the end of summer MMC (Moka Metal Crew) was formed which is a union of local hard 'n' heavy bands. Initially also participated by bands: The Blackout, Patriots and once in a while joined by other bands (Relicseed, The Factor, Wild and others).
December - opening a show in Liepaja for LAPKO, a band from Finland.
2009
January - MMC gig at club DEPO.
Participation in a local band contest - Garage Duels, taking place at the newly opened rock bar Rock N Riga. After several rounds, in duration of several months (March - June) and once again making to the final Rebel Yell get announced as the winners of the Rock N Riga's Garage Duels' season 1. Therefore having a lot of gigs at Rock N Riga during rest of the year.
April - opening for Adam Bomb (USA) in Riga and Liepaja.
May - MMC gig at club Melna Piektdiena /Black Friday/ (one of the most important clubs in Latvia for metal acts).
Taking part in local summer fests (Fontaine Festival, Sutas Balss).
Recording first single Hit The Road. August - Rebel Yell gets changed to Rebel Riot.
September - a show together with local veterans Sanctimony and friends Puka Gars at a moto racing event "Durka Racing". November - "Death N Roll" tour across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with Sanctimony (Lv) and Profane Omen (Fin).
Continuing work on recording first album.
2010
January - gig in Kaunas (Lt).
Spring - gigs around neighbourhood clubs and pubs (Route 66, Rocabilly, Transilvania, Joy Pub, Melna Piektdiena). Gig in Liepaja Rock city at Fontaine Palace with Sanctimony (Lv) and SIA Radikal (Lv). Gig in Bob's highschool - teachin' kids a lesson in violence.
May - MMC reunion gig at Melna Piektdiena.
Summer - finished work on first album - MAKE A MESS. The title symbolizes more or less the way things were done on stage and off stage as well.. In a way it still is the same. Before summer festivals Rebel Riot's first video is released "Hit The Road". Fests around Latvia (KVP, Metalshow, Zvērā, Fontaine Festival, Sutas Balss).
Fall - gigs around local clubs (Nabaklab, Melna Piektdiena).
December - MAKE A MESS is out. Thanks to Mr. Louie Fontaine for the support and Karlis Steinmanis (Relicseed) from KS Records for the help at the studio.
2011
January, February - supporting album in Lithuania (Palanga, Vilnius) and Liepaja.
March - Gig together with Naked King (Kaliningrad, Rus). Some gigs at club "Nice Place" in Riga.
In Latvian Metal Music Awards which takes place at club Melna Piektdiena Rebel Riot are awarded as the best new band of year 2010 in the Latvian metal scene.
April - gig in Cesis city (Lv). Last show with Kaspars.
Alberts Levics joins Rebel Riot shortly. First gig with Albert in Siauliai (Lt) at HUDI one night fest.
Summer - festivals (Saldus Saule, Negativus, Lentpjuves (Lt), Rock N Bikes, Fontaine Festival, Sutas Balss).
During fall - gigs in Nabaklab, Nice Place (Riga). Lithuania - Siauliai, Vilnius. Participation in band contest 'Stage Number One' and playing first time in Valmiera (club 'Chill Inn').
Beginning of December - brief tour to Finland. Opening for Profane Omen (Fin) in Helsinki (Dom Helsinki) and Lahti (Torvi). Making a LIVE show recording in Lahti city.
New Year's celebration with a gig in Liepaja (Fontaine Palace).
2012
Starting year 2012 with couple of gigs in Riga. Proceeding to the Final in 'Stage Number One' contest in Valmiera city. On the 16th of March in the Final REBEL RIOT succeed and are prized as the winners of "Stage Number One 2012". In a competition of 27 Latvian bands.
Supporting SANCTIMONY on their EP presentation night together with Huskvarn, Sia Radikal and Profane Omen (Fin).
Spring - doing gigs in Riga.
June 8 - 9 - shows in Lithuania.
Starting work on second album - recording 8 songs for "Destructive Chaos" in Valmiera at Hordila Records studio.
Summer festivals in Latvia - (Summer Sound, Fonofest, Zvērā)
August 24 - Nice Place, August 25 - Fontaine Palace (with ex-bassist Kaspars)
September 1st - a gig at Nabaklab (Riga)
November 11 - opening for German heavy metal legends ACCEPT at Palladium concert hall (Riga). Releasing independently our second album "Destructive Chaos"
2013
Krishjanis Galinsh joins the band on bass. First gig on March 1st with the new line-up.
Concerts in spring - Valmiera, Liepaja, Madona, Riga.
April tour in Lithuania. In May touring Estonia.
Summer festivals:
July 19 - "Brothers Of The Wind" biker fest (Ventspils, LV)
July 20 - Acoustic ("Leningrad", Riga)
July 26 - "Margos Pievos" festival (LT)
July 27 - "KLANG!" Festival (Kekava, LV)
August 2 - 4 - "Laba Daba" festival (Ligatne, LV)
August 9 - 11 - "Fontaine Festival" (Liepaja, LV)
August 16 - Madonas kulturas nams (Madona, LV)
August 17 - Speed Way championship (Daugavpils, LV)
August 25 - "Metal Crowd Festival" (Rechitsa, BLR)
Autumn concerts in Riga. December 14 - MMC #9 reunion.
December 27 in Daugavpils "Artilerijas Pagrabi".
2014
February gigs in Lithuania and Liepaja (LV).
Spring concerts in Riga.
Summer festivals (Saldus Saule, Karkle (Lithuania), Fontaine Festival).
Autumn concerts (Valka, Riga).
Kaspar returns to the band on the bass.
20 December - Christmas gig at the longboard workshop "LOKAL HOUSE" in Riga.
2015
Work on 3rd studio album. It started with choosing a studio to do the job properly. Before Kaspar returned to the band we had already worked on the better part of the new material. Early spring we first did a pre-production recording (first time), a demo recording (all instruments at once, except guitar solos and vocals). Fixed some parts of the songs. Some more rehearsing. Then we went back to the studio to do the main album recording. We wanted to do live recording sessions (again all instruments together, except guitar solos and vocals). It took a couple of months. It all went kinda smooth. Except for the post-production process?
Some local summer festivals during summer.
We kept working on the new album mixing process. Then the studio guy suddenly disappeared for a while. Didn't answer phone calls. Just being lazy.
2016
It turned out he was having some problems with the studio rent.. Then we basically took him with all his gear and the recording material to our rehearsing place to finish the album. That took a while during the year until November 11, when "The Good, The Bad And The Heavy" was officially released. We first did some gigs in Finland supporting the new album.
http://www.rebelriot.com/about-us/
Their third and most recent studio album 'The Good, The Bad And The Heavy', released in November 2016, was well received localy and abroad. In Latvian music awards it was nominated among the top 5 Latvian rock/metal records in 2016. Late 2017 Rebel Riot embarked on a 2 week tour through Central and Eastern European countries. Another European tour was held in May 2019.
It all started back in highschool when two classmates decided to form a hard rock band. Having a rich and good taste in music, Rebel Riot now is one of the few bands that still keep the true rock spirit alive in their neighbourhood. Sharp and punchy vocals, elaborate guitar work backed by female drumming and a few stage tricks are their trademark.
Winning at several local band contests helped a lot during the years of work on their first three albums (Make A Mess - 2010, Destructive Chaos - 2012, The Good, The Bad And The Heavy - 2016). Rebel Riot have played hundreds of shows in clubs and festivals around the Baltic states. Shows have been performed also in Finland, Belarus, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Germany. One of the most notable performances was opening a show for the German heavy metal pioneers Accept in Riga, 2012.
2007 - 2008
The very first gigs were played quite often at local clubs (DEPO, Saksofons) during the fall of 2007, winter and spring 2008. During spring was the participation in 'Flashlight' - a contest for new bands which is held annually in Liepaja Rock city at Louie Fontaine's club Fontaine Palace. After making to the final then called Rebel Yell were announced as the Flashlight 2008 winners, thereby earning the prize - to record an album.
Summer season was the time to get on some open-air stages in festivals around Latvia (Sutas Balss, Fontaine Festival, VBO Biker Fest). Made friends with some foreign bands (Paperback Freud (Swe)). At the end of summer MMC (Moka Metal Crew) was formed which is a union of local hard 'n' heavy bands. Initially also participated by bands: The Blackout, Patriots and once in a while joined by other bands (Relicseed, The Factor, Wild and others).
December - opening a show in Liepaja for LAPKO, a band from Finland.
2009
January - MMC gig at club DEPO.
Participation in a local band contest - Garage Duels, taking place at the newly opened rock bar Rock N Riga. After several rounds, in duration of several months (March - June) and once again making to the final Rebel Yell get announced as the winners of the Rock N Riga's Garage Duels' season 1. Therefore having a lot of gigs at Rock N Riga during rest of the year.
April - opening for Adam Bomb (USA) in Riga and Liepaja.
May - MMC gig at club Melna Piektdiena /Black Friday/ (one of the most important clubs in Latvia for metal acts).
Taking part in local summer fests (Fontaine Festival, Sutas Balss).
Recording first single Hit The Road. August - Rebel Yell gets changed to Rebel Riot.
September - a show together with local veterans Sanctimony and friends Puka Gars at a moto racing event "Durka Racing". November - "Death N Roll" tour across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with Sanctimony (Lv) and Profane Omen (Fin).
Continuing work on recording first album.
2010
January - gig in Kaunas (Lt).
Spring - gigs around neighbourhood clubs and pubs (Route 66, Rocabilly, Transilvania, Joy Pub, Melna Piektdiena). Gig in Liepaja Rock city at Fontaine Palace with Sanctimony (Lv) and SIA Radikal (Lv). Gig in Bob's highschool - teachin' kids a lesson in violence.
May - MMC reunion gig at Melna Piektdiena.
Summer - finished work on first album - MAKE A MESS. The title symbolizes more or less the way things were done on stage and off stage as well.. In a way it still is the same. Before summer festivals Rebel Riot's first video is released "Hit The Road". Fests around Latvia (KVP, Metalshow, Zvērā, Fontaine Festival, Sutas Balss).
Fall - gigs around local clubs (Nabaklab, Melna Piektdiena).
December - MAKE A MESS is out. Thanks to Mr. Louie Fontaine for the support and Karlis Steinmanis (Relicseed) from KS Records for the help at the studio.
2011
January, February - supporting album in Lithuania (Palanga, Vilnius) and Liepaja.
March - Gig together with Naked King (Kaliningrad, Rus). Some gigs at club "Nice Place" in Riga.
In Latvian Metal Music Awards which takes place at club Melna Piektdiena Rebel Riot are awarded as the best new band of year 2010 in the Latvian metal scene.
April - gig in Cesis city (Lv). Last show with Kaspars.
Alberts Levics joins Rebel Riot shortly. First gig with Albert in Siauliai (Lt) at HUDI one night fest.
Summer - festivals (Saldus Saule, Negativus, Lentpjuves (Lt), Rock N Bikes, Fontaine Festival, Sutas Balss).
During fall - gigs in Nabaklab, Nice Place (Riga). Lithuania - Siauliai, Vilnius. Participation in band contest 'Stage Number One' and playing first time in Valmiera (club 'Chill Inn').
Beginning of December - brief tour to Finland. Opening for Profane Omen (Fin) in Helsinki (Dom Helsinki) and Lahti (Torvi). Making a LIVE show recording in Lahti city.
New Year's celebration with a gig in Liepaja (Fontaine Palace).
2012
Starting year 2012 with couple of gigs in Riga. Proceeding to the Final in 'Stage Number One' contest in Valmiera city. On the 16th of March in the Final REBEL RIOT succeed and are prized as the winners of "Stage Number One 2012". In a competition of 27 Latvian bands.
Supporting SANCTIMONY on their EP presentation night together with Huskvarn, Sia Radikal and Profane Omen (Fin).
Spring - doing gigs in Riga.
June 8 - 9 - shows in Lithuania.
Starting work on second album - recording 8 songs for "Destructive Chaos" in Valmiera at Hordila Records studio.
Summer festivals in Latvia - (Summer Sound, Fonofest, Zvērā)
August 24 - Nice Place, August 25 - Fontaine Palace (with ex-bassist Kaspars)
September 1st - a gig at Nabaklab (Riga)
November 11 - opening for German heavy metal legends ACCEPT at Palladium concert hall (Riga). Releasing independently our second album "Destructive Chaos"
2013
Krishjanis Galinsh joins the band on bass. First gig on March 1st with the new line-up.
Concerts in spring - Valmiera, Liepaja, Madona, Riga.
April tour in Lithuania. In May touring Estonia.
Summer festivals:
July 19 - "Brothers Of The Wind" biker fest (Ventspils, LV)
July 20 - Acoustic ("Leningrad", Riga)
July 26 - "Margos Pievos" festival (LT)
July 27 - "KLANG!" Festival (Kekava, LV)
August 2 - 4 - "Laba Daba" festival (Ligatne, LV)
August 9 - 11 - "Fontaine Festival" (Liepaja, LV)
August 16 - Madonas kulturas nams (Madona, LV)
August 17 - Speed Way championship (Daugavpils, LV)
August 25 - "Metal Crowd Festival" (Rechitsa, BLR)
Autumn concerts in Riga. December 14 - MMC #9 reunion.
December 27 in Daugavpils "Artilerijas Pagrabi".
2014
February gigs in Lithuania and Liepaja (LV).
Spring concerts in Riga.
Summer festivals (Saldus Saule, Karkle (Lithuania), Fontaine Festival).
Autumn concerts (Valka, Riga).
Kaspar returns to the band on the bass.
20 December - Christmas gig at the longboard workshop "LOKAL HOUSE" in Riga.
2015
Work on 3rd studio album. It started with choosing a studio to do the job properly. Before Kaspar returned to the band we had already worked on the better part of the new material. Early spring we first did a pre-production recording (first time), a demo recording (all instruments at once, except guitar solos and vocals). Fixed some parts of the songs. Some more rehearsing. Then we went back to the studio to do the main album recording. We wanted to do live recording sessions (again all instruments together, except guitar solos and vocals). It took a couple of months. It all went kinda smooth. Except for the post-production process?
Some local summer festivals during summer.
We kept working on the new album mixing process. Then the studio guy suddenly disappeared for a while. Didn't answer phone calls. Just being lazy.
2016
It turned out he was having some problems with the studio rent.. Then we basically took him with all his gear and the recording material to our rehearsing place to finish the album. That took a while during the year until November 11, when "The Good, The Bad And The Heavy" was officially released. We first did some gigs in Finland supporting the new album.
http://www.rebelriot.com/about-us/