One option (that I find superior) is have them all come from the same town/city. Have a tavern where all the 'wrong' people hang out [rebels, artists] so that they will have a chance to drift together, meet each other and decide to go out together and adventure. You might have a lot of fun making their city of origin a fun place in and of itself -- have their families play parts -- you can referee it for several games -- AND then they'll always have a place to return to............ .....and it helps settle in the player's mind that their PCs ARE rebels ..... that the 'normal' people live in cities and stay there...