London, UK · punk-pop · new-wave

Billy Idol

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Sneer, fist, peroxide — punk attitude welded onto arena rock and never once dialled down, with 'Rebel Yell' and 'White Wedding' still detonating on cue.

Born William Michael Albert Broad in Stanmore in 1955, Billy Idol was part of the Bromley Contingent, the group of Sex Pistols followers around the London punk scene. He began performing in 1976 as guitarist in the band Chelsea before leaving after a few weeks to form Generation X with former bandmate Tony James, fronting the group through three studio albums on Chrysalis Records.

In 1981 he moved to New York to build a solo career with guitarist Steve Stevens, combining punk's snarl with hard rock riffs and the synthesizers and drum machines of the era. His solo debut, Billy Idol, arrived in 1982 and was a commercial success, powered by the videos for "Dancing with Myself" and "White Wedding" on the newly launched MTV.

Rebel Yell followed in 1983, went double platinum in America on the strength of its title track and "Eyes Without a Face," and was followed by Whiplash Smile in 1986 and the platinum-selling UK compilation Idol Songs in 1988. He released Charmed Life in 1990 and the concept album Cyberpunk in 1993.

A motorcycle accident in 1990 broke his leg, and he spent much of the following decade out of the public eye before returning with Devil's Playground in 2005, Kings & Queens of the Underground in 2014 and Dream Into It in 2025, with Stevens remaining a regular collaborator throughout.

Idol has received three Grammy nominations, was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Stevens in 2026.

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punk-popnew-wave