I recently stumbled across the young but powerful rock n roll group REBELMANN consisting of Clayton, Johnathon and Bryce Mann. This band of brothers is nothing but pure, classic rock and roll energy. In the interview below, we get to know the band, discuss favorite music moments, and learn about their plans for the future.
I’m loving their song “Indian Land”. Watch the video below (and make sure to share).
REBELMANN is a trio of amazing, young talent… Who are you guys? Where are you from?
Hi, we’re out of Chicago. I’m Clayton Mann and I’m almost 16. I was born on 9-9-99, so my birthday is tomorrow. I front the band and play rhythm guitar. I have the first mini solo in California Mann, and the first half of the main guitar solo again in California Mann. I’m pretty good at what I do, but John is lightening fast. I will never have his mad skills.
Hi, I’m Johnathon Mann. I’m 18 and play lead lefty guitar. And I’m Bryce, John’s twin, one minute older! I pound the skins and keep it all together.
When did you all first start playing music? How young were you when you decided music would be your life path?
Bryce, drummer – We first started playing as a band about 5 years ago. Johnathon had a guitar recital and they needed a drummer and a lead singer. So we got up on stage and joined him. That was our first gig. I was taking drum lessons, but Clayton wasn’t in that deep yet.
Here’s the link if you want raw entertainment. https://youtu.be/FiNdP8_ox0g
John lead lefty guitarist – I think we were hooked on music since we were born. Bryce and I were born 8 weeks too early and our mom played Mozart all the time for us. That’s why the “experts” say we like music so much. It’s always been with us. We all 3 played in our school orchestra too. Some people get math and science. We all just get music. It comes easily for us, but we all still take professional lessons to this day.
Who influences your writing and playing styles?
John- lefty guitar I’m influenced by artists such as Slash and Guns N Roses. There’s nothing like a guitar solo for me. That’s what hooked me on rock, the speed and depth of the guitar solo and the level you can take the music. As far as writing styles, it’s myself really. What’s in my head and how I hear and feel the music. I write the riffs, or if Clayton or Bryce come up with something, I’ll help develop that into something more concrete.
Bryce – Drummer – I know this is kinda weird, but I listen to a lot of heavy metal music and country music at the same time. When you listen to heavy metal drummers, they hit hard and fast, and then the melodic form of country music hits me too. So I can go from listening to Lamb of God to Jason Aldean in the same playlist.
Clayton Mann – I’ve always been hooked on the classic artists and icons of the past. Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash. BB King. I really like the bluesy rock music. I like the depth of these artists as true artists and entertainers.
What was the last song you listened to?
Clayton – “Mannish Boy” by Muddy Waters.
Bryce – “My Kind of Party” by Jason Aldean.
Johnathon – Panama by Van Halen.
For your age, you have accomplished more than many bands well beyond your years… How do you balance maintaining a successful career as an indie band and still enjoying your youth?
Clayton – First we really love what we do, so that helps. If we didn’t love writing and playing music we wouldn’t be doing it. We actually got voted into The Recording Academy in 2013. This year, we are on the nominating ballot for rock, categories 12 and 14, if you know anyone who would vote for us! So it’s an honor to be in the company of people who validate us for writing and producing our own music. That was a huge compliment.
Johnathon – We are all homeschooled through the University Of Nebraska High School. So we still hang out with friends on weekends, or go on family trips. If you want something you have to work for it. Some kids do hockey, football, tennis, whatever they’re interested in. We just do music. So we hope to just stay true to ourselves and keep ourselves on the same level as those who want to come to our shows. Be accessible.
What has been your favorite music memory so far? I’m sure you have many many more to come.
Clayton – I would say playing the independent music fest in Nashville in 2012. It’s just music all the time there. It’s where I want to be. On stage, all the time, playing for the people.
Johnathon – Mine would be opening for LA Guns on New Year’s Eve at the Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood. Standing on the same stage as all the icons. Slash, Hendrix, Motley Crue. We were invited by management to open, so that was super cool.
Bryce – Probably Rock Fantasy Camp in Las Vegas. We worked with Bruce Kulick of KISS. He had high expectations for us to prepare to backline Gene Simmons. I like being pushed like that. Bruce made sure we were prepared. He was tough on us, but very good. I like to be with other professionals I can learn from, otherwise, I tend to get bored.
Are you currently on tour? Are you stopping in Tennessee?
Clayton – Right now we are not on tour. We’ve actually been chilling a bit this summer. Our dad had emergency open heart surgery, so we have had to hang back and help him recover. It’s not really good for the blood pressure to be banging out tunes when your dad basically had a chain saw put to his chest. He’s actually doing great now, and is a lot healthier, so that was a family blessing.
As far as Tennessee, would go there tomorrow if we had a gig. Get in the SUV and drive all night.”
John – We’re getting ready to pick it back up this fall. We hit it hard at a pretty young age. We really didn’t realize how much we accomplished at the time, but I’m proud of our work.
Where can readers find more music online and connect with the band?
Check out these sites…there’s a lot!
http://www.REBELMANN.com
http://www.ClaytonMann.net
http://www.twitter.com/REBELMANN
http://facebook.com/REBELMANN
Everything REBELMANN, with 2 N’s because that’s our last name.
What’s next for REBELMANN? What can we expect to see in the months…years to come?
In the next few months – In our basement hammering out some new tunes, and hopefully gigging more.
In months/years to come – We really need and want to be a part of a major tour, national or international. Can we say open for Taylor Swift? KISS, Kid Rock, Cadallic Three, anyone. We really want to be able to score a major tour and hit the road. That’s what we want to see happen next honestly. We want to be on a major tour.
Clayton – Our passports are ready. Just waiting on that one yes. Just one.
Any last thoughts? Shout outs?
Thanks for giving us this opportunity and we appreciate the interview. Just a shout out to all the people who help keep music alive and real. That’s what we’re about. Just being a part of REBEL nation. Stay humble and with the people. Hopefully, one day we can give back through our music. That’s the goal.
Shoutout? Shoutout to the parents, family members, and all the people behind the curtain who support the music and their kids dreams. Without our mom and dad, we wouldn’t be where we are. They work hard so we can play music. It’s more work and more money than people realize. It really is a grind. So we shout out all the people behind the scenes who bring the music to the people. It takes a lot more people and a huge team effort to bring it all together. It’s the people behind us that make the steam. So we thank God and our mom and dad for making this our reality. And we thank you for the interview.
Clayton, Bryce and Johnathon Mann
