REBEL LION represents a musical rebellion in Fortaleza. Formed in 1990 – it is one of the bands with the longest activity in the Ceará music scene - being responsible for introducing reggae to the state. Its sound is quite close to Jamaican reggae from the 70s, seeking the rhythmic diversity of roots reggae through the styles: roots, rockers, dj, dub and rub-a-dub, being one of the pioneering bands of roots reggae made in Brazil. The leader, Gianni Zion, for 3 decades has researched and collected reggae records, having made visits to Jamaica, England and the USA in search of more knowledge about reggae. Zion is also the band's composer and arranger with almost 100 original songs.
Rebel, as a pioneer in the style, inspired the formation of other reggae groups in Fortaleza such as Donaleda, Tribo de Leões, Nação Regueira, Alma Negra, etc. Since 1991, the band promotes the most traditional reggae event in Ceará, the Tribute to Bob Marley. During its trajectory, the band has already shared stages with the biggest names in world reggae: The Wailers (Bob Marley's band), Alpha Blondy, Steel Pulse (England), Gladiators, Jimmy Cliff and Gregory Isaacs and national: Cidade Negra, Natiruts, Edson Gomes, Olodum and Tribo de Jah, besides accompanying legendary Jamaican artists Eric Donaldson, Jackie Brown and Owen Gray and the African Tiken Jah Fakoly, on shows in Brazil.
Two of these great Jamaican names recorded Rebel Lion compositions: Eric Donaldson (Peace and Rest) and Jackie Brown (Wicked Babylon), songs that will be on the long-awaited studio CD of the band, which should be released in 2007. The sound of the Ceará band already hits hard in other capitals such as Recife, Brasília, Salvador, São Luís, Teresina and Belém. The group has already performed in practically all show venues in Fortaleza and participated in scenes from the soap opera Tropicaliente and the Globo Canta Nordeste Festival, besides playing at 3 editions of the megafestival CEARAMUSIC, being one of the four local bands chosen to play on the main stage, the Brasilis stage, in 2003, which resulted in the inclusion of the song "Capital do Reggae" on the event CD.
Recently the group released a live demo CD, recorded at shows at the legendary Canto das Tribos club, with 20 songs between covers and original works, following the path of the previous Pirata CD, which exploded in Fortaleza. At shows, besides their own "stones", the band interprets classic reggae names: Bob Marley, Gladiators, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, Jacob Miller, Max Romeo, etc. The compositions are written in Portuguese, English and even in the Jamaican patwa dialect, creating the pure atmosphere of Jamaican sound, with themes of social protest, about reggae-rasta culture and romantic, in the best "lovers rock" style.
The band scored 2 major public successes "Razão de Ser", whose message of optimism conquered the Ceará reggae fans and the version of Hugh Mundell's "My Mind", known as "Melô do Canto das Tribos" or "Melo de Valéria", which for 6 years has been driving the crowd wild. Currently Rebel gives more prominence to its own work, with dozens of compositions that don't leave the "radiola" of the Ceará reggae fan, among them: Wicked Babylon (which became the melody of a Maranhão sound system – being released nationally on the cd Reggae Roots vol. 14); Rebellion (a tribute to the Gladiators group), Capital do Reggae (great success dedicated to the people of Maranhão), Nossa Filosofia, Rasta Fé, Sinta a Música, See Jah, Chant and Pray, Jah Warrior and the most recent: Time is Hard, Leggo the Lion, Fire Down Babylon and Slaving Everyday.