Rebel Machine

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, pull up a bean bag and let's vibe with the Zoo Crew as we drop the needle on "Rebel Machine" by those Swedish rock renegades, Bonafide, straight from their powerhouse album "Ultimate Rebel." Oh man, this tune's got that rebellious spirit flowing like a wild river, cranking up the amps with riffs that make you wanna shake off the chains and dance under the stars. It's pure, unadulterated rock energy, the kind that reminds us to live free and loud, just like we're doing here at the station.

Alright, let's dive into some cosmic trivia about "Rebel Machine," pulled from old interviews and the band's own words. Back in 2012, when Bonafide was crafting "Ultimate Rebel," frontman Pontus Snibb spilled in a chat with Rock United that they knocked out the whole album in under two weeks in February. He said, "We recorded the album in under two weeks in February 2012." They aimed to capture that raw live vibe, recording all the rhythm tracks together in the studio, no fancy overdubs, just keeping it real like the old days. Pontus produced it himself, working out of Gig Studio in Stockholm with engineer Conny Wall, who he's collaborated with before. He shared, "I'm very pleased with the album. I've recorded in Gig Studio in Stockholm before and really like working with studio owner Conny Wall. It all came out just as I hoped it would."

One groovy story from those sessions? Pontus laughed about how they'd do a take and then dash to the bar in the studio for a quick laugh, a smoke, and a pint. By day's end, they were pretty buzzed, and that's when he'd lay down the vocals! He quipped, "You mean besides doing a take and then quickly run out to the bar in the studio for a laugh and a smoke and a pint. By the end of the day we were pretty hammered, ha ha. Then I did vocals..." Imagine the free-flowing creativity in that haze – it's probably what gives "Rebel Machine" that untamed edge, like a machine revving up against the system. The album's sound was all about natural tones, drums sounding like drums, guitars like guitars, no heavy tweaking. Pontus explained, "We went for as natural sound as possible, meaning drums sounding drums and guitars sounding guitars. Not too much tweaking when it came to sound. We got good instruments and tried to capture that."

Flipping through social media archives and fan shares, there's this sense that "Rebel Machine" embodies the band's rebellious ethos. In fan groups, folks rave about how it pumps them up for road trips, with one post calling it the ultimate anthem for breaking free. Pontus described the overall album as "Raw, powerful and true with a great groovy live sound," which totally fits "Rebel Machine" with its placement on the tracklist as the closer – track 10, sealing the deal with a bang. Though he didn't single it out, his favorites shifted daily; at one point, it was "Too Fired Up" for its hooks, but the lyrics across the board, like in "Blue Skies Red," have that eerie rock 'n' roll punch. He noted, "Lyrics wise, 'Blue Skies Red', is really scary, I even scare myself singing that one. Good rock'n'roll lyrics on that one." The theme? Good time rock 'n' roll that pairs perfectly with a cold brew, as Pontus put it, "Lyrics and music that go well with a pint or two, good time rock'n'roll so to speak. That's what people want out of this band, and me too, ha ha!"

There's also this tidbit from later interviews where Pontus reflected on the era – they were ready to hit the stage with these tunes. He enthused, "Hope you guys will enjoy listening to the album as much as we did recording it, and see you on a stage near you. We are definately ready to rock these songs live now!" Fans on platforms echo that, sharing stories of live shows where "Rebel Machine" turned the crowd into a sea of headbangers. One interview snippet ties into the creative process; while talking about another track skipped from "Ultimate Rebel," it highlights how picky they were, ensuring only the best made the cut. For "Rebel Machine," it must've clicked perfectly, revving like a well-oiled engine. Influences shine through too – Pontus draws from classics like Zeppelin, Faces, The Who, AC/DC, and blues legends like Freddie, Albert, and BB King, infusing that soul into every riff.

Now, shifting the groove to how Bonafide got rolling, let's tap into Pontus Snibb's bio vibes. This guy's been soaking in music since he could toddle, following his dad, a drummer who played with everyone under the sun, on tours. Pontus shared in a Rockpit interview, "No, I followed my Dad on tour before I can remember and I’ve been on the tour bus for ages and ages and grew up with the guys and girls he played with. So it’s been naturally and I’ve never thought of anything else but being a musician. And that’s been forever so to speak so there was no defining moment. But I remember going through his vinyl collection and borrowing all of the good ones, you know." His dad sparked that fire, and they even jammed in bands together. In a ViriAOR chat, Pontus said, "Oh yeah, my Dad is a drummer so I´ve been on tour with him. so I knew that I wanted to be musician. So I´ve musician for all my life with his support. And we played together in a couple of bands, and that´s really fun."

Pontus started as a drummer himself – that's his main gig originally. He revealed, "That’s actually my main instrument I’m a drummer first of all." But he switched to guitar and vocals for Bonafide, forming the band in 2006 in Malmö with bassist Micke Nilsson. They dropped their self-titled debut in 2007, all raw and real, no polish. Pontus has juggled side projects like PS3 and Wreck of Blues, even drumming for Jason & the Scorchers, but Bonafide's his core jam. He writes most tunes, starting with riffs that pop into his head while strumming. As he put it, "Usually is guitar riffs. I sit to play guitar and some riff come to my head and then I go back and I write the song." The lineup's evolved – now with guitarist Anders Rosell, whom Pontus calls "The quiet guy," bassist Martin Ekelund, "He´s all about the money. He makes the counting for all of us," and drummer Niklas Matsson, "He´s like me. allways up to late." They've stayed true, no steady jobs, just music. Pontus affirmed, "Pontus: Yeah absolutely, I'm put on this earth to be on stage, I've been a musician all my life never had a steady job you know."

From those early blues dips with bands like Mescaleros and SNiBB, Pontus craved something harder, blending blues with AC/DC punch. Their bio paints them as refusing to compromise, drawing from electric blues and rhythm 'n' blues. It's all about passion – Pontus once said in an interview, "I wanted to play hard rock the way it's supposed to be – raw and unrelentin'." They've toured Europe, built a following, and keep the flame alive, celebrating 20 years soon with that same fire.

We've gotta point you to the hubs where the magic happens. Swing by the Bonafide official website for discography digs and tour tales. Catch the vibes on Facebook, Instagram, and X. For fan love, join the Bonafide rocks! group on Facebook or check Bonafide Fans Holland. And keep it locked to THE ZOO for more psychedelic spins and community grooves.

As we let "Rebel Machine" fade into the ether, remember it's all about that free spirit, Zoo Freaks. Bonafide's journey from Pontus's blues roots to rocking the world is a testament to following your heart's rhythm. Peace out and keep the love flowing!