Wray came up with this when he was asked to play a stroll at one of his shows. The song was radically different from other popular instrumentals, as it introduced gritty guitar distortion and power chords to the world of Rock.
Wray was with Archie Bleyer's Cadence label and he wanted to record this as a single. Bleyer was ready to pass on it until his step daughter said she liked it and that it reminded her of the rumble scenes in West Side Story. Bleyer named the song "Rumble" and decided to release it. The title made the song somewhat controversial because it implied gang violence - some radio stations refused to play it. It might be the only instrumental song ever banned on the radio.
Wray used a 1953 Gibson Les Paul guitar run through a Premier amp to produce this song.
Pete Townshend once declared about Wray, "He is the King; if it hadn't been for 'Rumble,' I would have never picked up a guitar."
info is from songfacts.com 8