Rebel Union was a band that was started by Vince Curley (vocals, guitar) and Rob Kelly (bass, vocals) in Victoria. They had grown up together in Hudson Hope, BC and moved down to Victoria as young men. Bernie Villareal was the original drummer. They played The Fernwood Inn in 1989. Vince also led the band, The Reefers, with Bob Miron on bass and Gary Thompson on drums. I think The Reefers worked more than Rebel Union. I saw them at The Fernwood Inn in 1989. Vince was a fiery, Eric Clapton inspired guitarist and an excellent singer. In late 1989 he asked me to join The Wicked River Band which was an offshoot of Rebel Union. The name change was because this band would tour playing modern country/country rock on the country circuit. I joined on guitar, fiddle, harp and vocals. Bernie wasn't up to the change and soon left, replaced by Gary Thompson. We did two long tours of the prairies, mostly Saskatchewan and Alberta - Estevan, Swift Current, Saskatoon, Regina, Lloydminster, Fort McMurray, Moose Jaw, Brooks, Calgary, Prince Albert and more. The material was by artists like Steve Earle, Desert Rose Band, George Strait, Travellin' Wilburys, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band etc. In between tours we played around the area as Rebel Union, playing more blues based material and rock (lots of Clapton, some originals, Hummingbird by Leon Russell, Cover of the Rolling Stone, even some Led Zeppelin etc). We played The Fernwood Inn, The Castle in Sooke and a couple others. After the second road trip in April/May/June 1990 the band broke up.
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