Rebel Yell by Billy Idol was released on October 23, 1983, with Crank Call as the B side. It was a single from the English rocker’s second studio album of the same name. 

The song didn’t achieve great success on the charts upon its original release. In the United States, it reached No. 9 on the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart, but charted outside the Top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 46. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at No. 62 on the UK Singles Chart.

In an episode of VH1 Storytellers, Idol recounted the inspiration for the song – an event he had attended with several members of the Rolling Stones, who were drinking from a bottle of Rebel Yell bourbon whiskey. He liked the name of the liquor and decided to write a song with the same name.