William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English punk singer, songwriter, musician and actor. He achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of the group Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the US.
Idol began his music career in late 1976 as a guitarist in the punk rock band Chelsea; he left the group after a few weeks. With his former bandmate Tony James, Idol formed Generation X. With Idol as lead singer, the band achieved success in the United Kingdom and released three studio albums on Chrysalis Records, then disbanded. In 1981, Idol moved to New York City to pursue his solo career in collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens. His debut studio album, Billy Idol (1982), was a commercial success. With music videos for singles "Dancing with Myself" and "White Wedding" Idol became a staple of the newly established MTV.
Idol spent the second half of the 1990s focusing on his personal life out of the public eye. In 1990, he had a motorcycle accident in which he broke his leg. In his 2014 biography Dancing With Myself, Idol stated "that by the time the motorcycle accident happened, he'd been living by the credo, 'Live every day as if it's your last, and one day you're sure to be right.'"[1] He made a musical comeback with the release of Devil's Playground (2005) and later released Kings & Queens of the Underground (2014).
Early life
Idol was born William Michael Albert Broad on 30 November 1955 in Stanmore, Middlesex, England.[2] His parents attended Church of England services regularly. Idol is half Irish; his mother, whose maiden name was O'Sullivan, was born in Cork. He qualifies for Irish citizenship through his mother.[3][4]
In 1958, when he was two years old, he moved with his parents to the US and settled in Patchogue, New York; they also lived in Rockville Centre, New York (both on Long Island). His younger sister, Jane, was born during this time. The family returned to England four years later and settled in Dorking, Surrey.[5] In 1971, when Idol was 15, the family moved to Bromley in southeastern Greater London, where Idol attended Ravensbourne School for Boys. His family later moved to Worthing to the suburb of Goring-by-Sea in West Sussex, where he attended Worthing High School for Boys.[6] In October 1975, he began attending the University of Sussex to pursue a Philosophy with Literature degree but left after year one in 1976. He joined the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, a loosely organised gang that travelled to see the band wherever they played.[7][8]
The name "Billy Idol" was coined due to a chemistry teacher's description of Idol on his school report card as "idle". Idol has stated that the subject was one that he hated and in which he underachieved.[9][10] In an interview on 21 November 1983, Idol said the name "Billy Idol" "was a bit of a goof, but part of the old English school of rock. It was a 'double thing', not just a poke at the superstar-like people... It was fun, you know?"[11][10] In another interview for BBC Breakfast in October 2014, he said that he wanted to use the name "Billy Idle", but thought the name would be unavailable due to its similarity to the name of Monty Python star Eric Idle and chose Billy Idol instead.[12]
In late 1976, he joined the newly formed West London 1960s retro-rock band Chelsea as a guitarist.[13] The act's singer/frontman Gene October styled Idol's image, advising him to use contact lenses instead of eyeglasses for his short sight, and dye his hair blonde with a crew cut for a retro-1950s rocker look. After a few weeks performing with Chelsea, Idol and Tony James, the band's bass guitarist, quit and co-founded Generation X, with Idol switching from guitarist to the role of singer/frontman. Generation X was one of the first punk bands to appear on the BBC Television music programme Top of the Pops.[14] Although a punk rock band, they were inspired by mid-1960s British pop, in sharp contrast to their more militant peers, with Idol stating, "We were saying the opposite to the Clash and the Pistols. They were singing 'No Elvis, Beatles or the Rolling Stones', but we were honest about what we liked. The truth was we were all building our music on the Beatles and the Stones."[7]
In 1977, Idol sang "Your Generation" on the TV series Marc. Generation X signed a recording contract with Chrysalis Records, released three studio albums, performed in the 1980 film D.O.A.: A Rite of Passage, and then disbanded.[15]
1981–1985: Solo career and breakthrough
"MTV has paved the way for a host of invaders from abroad: Def Leppard, Adam Ant, Madness, Eurythmics, the Fixx and Billy Idol, to name a few. In return, grateful Brits, even superstars like Pete Townshend and the Police, have mugged for MTV promo spots and made the phrase 'I want my MTV' a household commonplace."
Idol moved to New York City in 1981 and became a solo artist, working with former Kiss manager Bill Aucoin. Idol's punk-like image worked well with the glam rock style of his new partner on guitar, Steve Stevens.[17] Together they worked with bassist Phil Feit and drummer Gregg Gerson. Idol's solo career began with the Chrysalis Records EP titled Don't Stop in 1981, which included the Generation X song "Dancing with Myself", originally recorded for their last album Kiss Me Deadly, and a cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' song "Mony Mony". Idol's debut solo album Billy Idol was released in July 1982.[18]
Part of the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the US in 1982, Idol became an MTV staple with "White Wedding" and "Dancing with Myself". The music video for "White Wedding" was filmed by the British director David Mallet and played frequently on MTV. The motorcycle smashing through the church window stunt was carried out by John Wilson, a London motorcycle courier. In 1983, Idol's label released "Dancing with Myself" in the US in conjunction with a music video directed by Tobe Hooper, which played on MTV for six months.[citation needed]
A remix album was released in 1987, titled Vital Idol. The album featured a live rendition of his cover of Tommy James' "Mony Mony". In 1987, the single topped the United States chart and reached number 7 in the UK.[19][21]
On 6 February 1990 in Hollywood, Idol was involved in a serious motorcycle accident that nearly cost him a leg.[23] He was hit by a car when he ran a stop sign while riding home from the studio one night, requiring a steel rod to be placed in his leg.[24] While he was hospitalised, he vowed to stop wearing clothing featuring the Confederate flag, after a black employee tending to him explained his feelings on it.[25][26]
Prior to the accident, film director Oliver Stone had chosen Idol for the role of Jim Morrison's drinking pal Cat in his film The Doors (1991), but it prevented him from participating in a major way and Idol's role was reduced to a small part.[27] He was James Cameron's first choice for the role of the villainous T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991); the role was recast as a result of the accident.[28]
Charmed Life was released in 1990, and a video for the single "Cradle of Love" had to be shot. The song was featured in the Andrew Dice Clay film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. Because Idol was unable to walk due to injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident,[29] he was shot from the waist up. The video featured video footage of him singing in large frames throughout an apartment while Betsy Lynn George was trying to seduce a businessman. The video was placed in rotation on MTV. "Cradle of Love" earned Idol a third Grammy nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.[30]
In 1993, Idol released Cyberpunk.[31] Regarded as experimental, it was recorded in a home studio using a Macintosh computer. Idol used Studiovision and Pro Tools to record the album. The album took ten months to make. The album did not perform well in the United States and the lead single "Shock to the System" did not chart in the Billboard Hot 100. In comparison, the lead single from Idol's previous album, "Cradle of Love", peaked at No. 2. In Europe, the album fared slightly better, achieving moderate chart success and peaking within the UK top 20. Idol toured in Europe and played a Generation X reunion show in 1993.[32]
He recorded and released the single "Speed" in 1994; the song was featured as the first track in the film soundtrack album. Idol appeared in a 1996 live version of the Who's Quadrophenia.[33] Idol made a cameo appearance as himself in the 1998 film The Wedding Singer with Adam Sandler, in which Idol played a pivotal role in the plot. The film featured "White Wedding" on its soundtrack.[34] In 2000, he was invited to be a guest vocalist on Tony Iommi's debut solo album. His contribution was on the song "Into the Night", which he co-wrote. That year, he voice acted the role of Odin, a mysterious alien character, in the adult animated science fiction film Heavy Metal 2000, also providing a song for the soundtrack.[citation needed]
VH1 aired Billy Idol – Behind the Music on 16 April 2001. Idol and Stevens took part in a VH1 Storytellers show three days later. The reunited duo set out to play a series of acoustic/storytellers shows before recording the VH1 special. Another Greatest Hits CD was issued in 2001, with Keith Forsey and Simple Minds' "Don't You (Forget About Me)" appearing on the compilation. The LP includes a live acoustic version of "Rebel Yell", taken from a performance at Los Angeles station KROQ's 1993 Acoustic Christmas concert. The Greatest Hits album sold 1 million copies in the United States alone.[citation needed]
In the 2002 NRL Grand Final in Sydney, Idol entered the playing field for the half-time entertainment on a hovercraft to the intro of "White Wedding", of which he managed to sing only two words before a power failure ended the performance.[35]
2005–2009: Devil's Playground
Idol performing on stage at the Brixton Academy in London, 2005
In June 2006, Idol performed at the Congress Theater, Chicago, for the United States television series Soundstage. This performance was recorded and then released on DVD/Blu-ray as In Super Overdrive Live, on 17 November 2009.[37][38]
On 16 February 2010, Idol was announced as one of the acts to play at the Download Festival in Donington Park, England. He stated, "With all of these great heavyweight and cool bands playing Download this year, I'm going to have to come armed with my punk rock attitude, Steve Stevens, and all of my classic songs plus a couple of way out covers. Should be fun!"[39] In March 2010, Idol added Camp Freddy guitarist Billy Morrison[40] and drummer Jeremy Colson to his touring line-up.
On 30 October 2018, former Generation X members Idol and Tony James joined with Steve Jones and Paul Cook, former members of another first wave English punk rock band, the Sex Pistols, to perform a free gig at the Roxy in Hollywood, Los Angeles, under the name Generation Sex, playing a combined set of the two former bands' material.[46]
In late February 2020, Idol starred in a public service campaign with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection Police titled "Billy Never Idles", intended to fight the unnecessary idling of automobile engines in New York City, to reduce air pollution. Idol teamed with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio to open the campaign, which features Idol saying, "If you're not driving, shut your damn engine off!" and other strong advice.[47] He was a guest vocalist on the song "Night Crawling" from Miley Cyrus' album Plastic Hearts, released in November 2020.[48] In 2016, Idol and Cyrus performed "Rebel Yell" at the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas.[49]
On 12 August 2021, Idol's music video "Bitter Taste", directed by Stephen Sebring, was uploaded to YouTube. Idol announced his new EP The Roadside, which was released on 17 September.[50] Another EP, The Cage, was released on 23 September 2022. A video for the title track, also directed by Sebring, premiered on YouTube 17 August.
In March 2022, Idol was diagnosed with MRSA, which forced him to cancel a co-headlining tour with Journey.[51]
On 6 January 2023, Idol was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[54] On 24 January, he announced a North American tour from late March through mid-May: the tour was to begin in Scottsdale on 30 March and conclude with a concert at the Cruel World Festival on 20 May in Pasadena.[55]
In April that year, Idol played the first concert in history at the Hoover Dam.[56]
Idol is a member of Generation X who are on tour and performed at Glastonbury in 2023.[57]
Idol has never married, but was in a long-term relationship with English singer, dancer, and former Hot Gossip member Perri Lister. They have a son, Willem, who was born in Los Angeles in 1988[59] and who has been a member of the rock band FIM.[60] Lister and Idol separated in 1989.[61] Idol also has a daughter from a relationship with Linda Mathis.[62][63]
Idol has struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction. His drug history includes heroin and cocaine.[64] In his 2014 memoir, he said he passed out more than once in nightclubs only to then wake up in a hospital.[65] In 1994, Idol collapsed outside a Los Angeles nightclub due to an overdose[66] of the drug GHB.[67] After the incident, Idol decided that his children would never forgive him for dying of a drug overdose, and he stopped his drug use.[68] In 2014, Idol said he had not taken hard drugs since 2003, but added that he smoked cannabis regularly and was an occasional drinker.[64]
In 2018, Idol became a naturalised American citizen during a ceremony in Los Angeles, while retaining his British citizenship.[69] Idol has two grandchildren.[70]
^Both Billy Idol and his friend John Diaz discuss this incident/drug in MTV BTM interview 2001 "MTV Behind the Music". 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2014 – via YouTube.
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