Billy Idol

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Billy Idol
Billy Idol
Billy Idol
Background information
Birth name William Michael Albert Broad
Born November 30, 1955 (age 51)
Origin Flag of United KingdomMiddlesex, England, UK
Genre(s) New Wave
Punk rock
Pop punk
Occupation(s) Musician
Actor
Instrument(s) Vocals
Guitar
Years active 1977 - present
Label(s) Chrysalis Records
Associated
acts		 Generation X
Website BillyIdol.net

Billy Idol (born William Michael Albert Broad, 30 November 1955 in Middlesex) is an English rock musician.

He first came to attention in the punk rock era, then embarked on a successful solo career, aided by a series of stylish music videos, making him one of the first MTV stars. He has continued to make music, but has yet to recapture the levels of fame he enjoyed in the 1980s.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life and career

The name Billy Idol was inspired by a school teacher's description of Broad as "idle."[1]

Billy Idol lived in Worthing, England before attending Sussex University for only one year before joining the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans. Idol first joined the punk rock band Siouxsie & the Banshees (before the band had decided on a name) in 1976, but soon quit and joined Chelsea in 1977 as a guitarist. However, he and Chelsea bandmate Tony James soon quit that group and co-founded Generation X, with Idol switching from guitar to lead singer.

Generation X signed to Chrysalis Records and released three albums before breaking up. Idol moved to New York and began working as a solo artist and working with Steve Stevens, soon becoming an MTV staple with "White Wedding" and "Dancing with Myself", the latter of which had originally been recorded with Generation X.

"White Wedding" was rumored to be a "nasty put down" by Idol and then-girlfriend Perri Lister, directed at Idol's sister for thinking that getting married was the answer to getting pregnant. In the 2001 recording of VH1 Storytellers Idol refutes that, saying his sister's wedding was simply inspiration for the song, which quickly took on its own form. Years after the video, Idol's sister is still married with three children. Idol and Peri broke up in 1990. They have a son named Willem together.

[edit] Rebel Yell

Steve Stevens and Billy Idol
Steve Stevens and Billy Idol

Idol's second LP, Rebel Yell (1984) was a blockbuster success, and established Idol's superstar status in the United States with singles like "Eyes Without a Face", "Flesh For Fantasy", and the title cut; Idol also became very popular in Europe thanks to this album, particularly in Germany, in Italy and in his native UK.

He did not release a new album until 1986; Whiplash Smile sold very well and proved to be a smash, including the hits "To Be A Lover", "Don't Need A Gun" and the Country-flavored "Sweet Sixteen". Stevens soon left for a solo career and Idol continued. A live cover of Tommy James' "Mony Mony" (the studio version of which was an Idol staple from early on) did well on MTV.

Just before the release of Charmed Life in 1990, Idol was in a motorcycle accident in which he almost lost his leg. The album had been named prior to Idol's accident. The album sold extremely well (led by "Cradle Of Love", from The Adventures of Ford Fairlane film), but Idol decided to take a break and acted in The Doors, directed by Oliver Stone. The follow-up to Charmed Life was 1993's Cyberpunk, which was a flop in the States, and Idol sank into drug addiction, nearly dying of a GHB overdose in 1994. Upon his discharge he calmed down and began to focus more on fatherhood.

Idol returned to the popular eye in 1998, when he played himself in The Wedding Singer, an Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore romantic comedy, where "White Wedding" was used as the title track. Idol appeared on VH1 Storytellers and issued a successful Greatest Hits CD in 2001.

Billy Idol on the set of In The Summertime video (2006)
Billy Idol on the set of In The Summertime video (2006)

Idol was embarrassed at the 2002 National Rugby League Grand final, when a power problem resulted in no one being able to hear him singing.

"White Wedding" appeared on popular videogame Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on fictional Classic Rock radio station, K-DST.

Devil's Playground, which came out 22 March 2005, was his first new studio album in nearly twelve years. This album was heavily promoted with use of the Devil's Playground album website, which was made by Squad in early 2005. The Devil's Playground album includes a cover of the classic song Plastic Jesus.

Idol played a handful of dates on the 2005 Vans Warped Tour. Then in 2006, as his only UK live date, he appeared headlining the Sunday night of GuilFest.

In 2006, Billy guested on his keyboardist Derek Sherinian's solo album Blood of the Snake, covering the 1970 Mungo Jerry hit, "In the Summertime". A video was also made featuring Idol and former Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash.

In November 2006, Idol released a Christmas album called Billy Idol: Happy Holidays. It includes classic Christmas songs like "Frosty the Snowman", "Jingle Bell Rock", and "Silent Night", plus some originals.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

  1. Don't Stop (EP) - 1981 #74 US
  2. Billy Idol - 1982 #101 US
  3. Rebel Yell - 1984 #2 UK / #6 US / #2 Germany / #40 Netherlands
  4. Vital Idol - 1985 #4 UK / #10 US (1987 release) / #8 Germany
  5. Whiplash Smile - 1986 #2 UK / #6 US / #12 Germany / #19 Netherlands
  6. Idol Songs: 11 of the Best - 1988 #2 UK / #14 Germany
  7. Charmed Life - 1990 #15 UK / #11 US / #5 Germany / #51 Netherlands
  8. Cyberpunk - 1993 #20 UK / #48 US / #13 Germany / #50 Netherlands
  9. Greatest Hits - 2001 #74 US
  10. VH1's Storytellers: Billy Idol - 2002
  11. Essential Billy Idol - 2003
  12. Devil's Playground - 2005 #78 UK / #46 US
  13. Happy Holidays - 2006

[edit] Singles

Starting with the 1983 re-release of "White Wedding", Chrysalis issued Billy's singles with an IDOL vanity catalogue numbering system, much like Nine Inch Nails's halo numbering system. This lasted for roughly seven years and sixteen singles (including various re-issues) until the release of "Prodigal Blues" in 1990.

Year Song UK singles U.S. Hot 100 U.S. Mainstream Rock U.S. Modern Rock Germany Top 75 Italy Top 50 Album
1981 "Dancing With Myself" - - - - - - Don't Stop
"Mony Mony" (Tommy James and the Shondells cover) - - - - - -
1982 "Hot in the City" 58(1) 23(2) 11 - - - Billy Idol
1983 "White Wedding" 6(3) 36 9 - - -
1984 "Rebel Yell" 62(4) 46 4 - - - Rebel Yell
"Eyes Without a Face" 18 4 3 - 10 14
"Flesh for Fantasy" 54 29 8 - 11 30
1985 "Catch My Fall" 63(5) 50 24 - 11 -
1986 "To Be a Lover" 22 6 2 - 28 16 Whiplash Smile
1987 "Don't Need a Gun" 26 37 10 - 36 -
"Sweet Sixteen" 17 20 26 - 2 30
"Mony Mony (Live)" 7 1 27 - 38 - Vital Idol
1990 "Cradle of Love" 34 2 1 7 38 8 Charmed Life
"L.A. Woman" 70 52 18 12 - 28
"Prodigal Blues" 47 - 35 - - 31
1993 "Shock to the System" 30 - 7 23 - 17 Cyberpunk
"Mother Dawn (Hold Me)" ? ? ? ? ? ?
1994 "Speed" 47 - - - - - Speed Soundtrack
2005 "Scream" - - 26 - 54 - Devil's Playground
  • 1 Re-released in the UK in 1988, charted at #13 in the Top 75.
  • 2 Re-released in the U.S. in 1988, charted at #48 in the Hot 100.
  • 3 UK release in 1985.
  • 4 Re-released in the UK in 1985, charted at #6 in the Top 75.
  • 5 UK release in 1988.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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