Billy Idol

Billy Idol
Billy Idol in 2003.
Background information
Birth name	William Michael Albert Broad
Genres	Hard rock, punk rock, new wave, post-punk
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician, actor
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, bass guitar
Years active	1972–present
Labels	Chrysalis, EMI, Sanctuary
Website	www.billyidol.net

William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), better known by his stage name Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. He first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X. He then embarked on a successful solo career, aided by a series of stylish music videos, making him one of the first MTV stars. Idol continues to tour with guitarist Steve Stevens and has a worldwide fan base.

Life and career

Early life and Generation X

Idol was born in Stanmore, Middlesex, the son of a salesman. He attended Tideway School in Newhaven, East Sussex. The name Billy Idol was inspired by a schoolteacher's description of Broad as "idle".

In 1958, when Idol was two years old, his parents moved to Patchogue, New York, on Long Island. The family returned to England four years later with Idol and a younger child Jane (who had been born in the US), settling in Dorking, Surrey. In 1971 the family moved to Bromley, where Idol attended Ravensbourne School for Boys. Idol (rather William Broad) also attended Worthing High School for Boys (later becoming Worthing College). In October 1975, Idol went to Sussex University to pursue an English degree and lived on campus (East Slope) but left after year one (1976). He then went on to join the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans. Idol first joined the punk rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees (before the band had decided on that name) in 1976, but soon quit and joined Chelsea in 1977 as a guitarist. However, he and Chelsea bandmate Tony James soon left that group and co-founded Generation X, with Idol switching from guitarist to lead singer. Generation X signed to Chrysalis Records and released three albums and performed in the 1980 film, D.O.A., before disbanding. Idol moved to New York in 1981, and became a solo artist working with Steve Stevens, Phil Feit and Steve Missal. Idol's debut solo album, Billy Idol, was released in July 1982.

Early solo success

Idol's solo career began with the EP titled Don't Stop, which included the Generation X song "Dancing with Myself", originally recorded for their last album Kiss Me Deadly, and a cover of Tommy James & The Shondells' song "Mony Mony". In 1982, Idol became an MTV staple with "White Wedding" and "Dancing with Myself". In 1983, in an effort to introduce Idol to American audiences not yet as familiar with him as those in the UK, 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.

Rebel Yell and superstar years

Steve Stevens and Billy Idol

Idol's second LP, Rebel Yell (1983) was a major success and established Idol's superstar status in the United States with hits like "Eyes Without a Face," "Flesh For Fantasy", and the title cut. Idol also became very popular in Europe thanks to this album and its singles, particularly in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and later in the UK. Tracks from the album featured in the 1988 Hollywood comedy film Big, which starred Tom Hanks.

Idol released Whiplash Smile in 1986, which sold well. The album included the hits "To Be a Lover," "Don't Need a Gun" and "Sweet Sixteen". Idol filmed a video featuring "Sweet Sixteen" (which he also wrote) in Florida's Coral Castle. The song was inspired by the story of Edward Leedskalnin's former love, Agnes Scuffs, who was the main reason Leedskalnin built the structure over a period of decades, starting years after she jilted him the day before their scheduled wedding in their native Latvia. Stevens parted ways with Idol after Whiplash Smile. In 1986, Stevens appeared with Harold Faltermeyer on the Top Gun soundtrack. Their contribution was the Grammy winning instrumental, "Top Gun Anthem".

A remix album was released in 1987 called, Vital Idol. The album featured a live rendition of his cover of Tommy James' "Mony Mony". The single topped the US chart in 1987.

In 1989, Idol appeared on stage with The Who as Cousin Kevin as part of the live version of Tommy, which was aired as an HBO special and released on home video and later as a DVD. In later years, Idol also stood in as a guest performer with The Who on "Bell Boy", a hit from their rock opera album Quadrophenia, and provided the lead vocals that were originally sung by the band's late drummer Keith Moon. On these brief appearances, Idol dressed in a full bell boy's uniform to reflect upon Moon's eccentricity on stage.

Idol was involved in a serious motorcycle accident which nearly cost him a leg in February 1990 in Hollywood. He was hit by a car when he ran a stop sign while driving home from the studio one night, requiring a steel rod to be placed in his leg. Shortly prior to this, film director James Cameron had chosen Idol to play the T-1000 character in Terminator 2: Judgment Day and had drawn storyboards to resemble him, but the accident prevented Idol from accepting.

Charmed Life, was released and a video for the single, "Cradle of Love" had to be shot. The song had been featured in the Andrew Dice Clay film, The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. Since Idol was unable to walk, 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. Idol and George recreated the opening of the video for the 1991 American Music Awards. Against his doctors' advice, he also managed to make appearances to promote Charmed Life.

Idol made a cameo appearance in the 1998 film The Wedding Singer with Adam Sandler, in which Idol ultimately saved the relationship between characters Robbie Hart (Sandler) and Julia Sullivan (played by Drew Barrymore). Idol also had a small part in the movie The Doors, directed by Oliver Stone. Idol played Jim Morrison's drinking buddy, Cat. Idol also performed at Roger Waters' live concert The Wall Live in Berlin in 1990.

Crisis and resurgence

Billy Idol in concert

In 1993, Idol released Cyberpunk. Regarded as experimental, it was recorded in a home studio using a Macintosh computer, which was a new concept at the time. Idol recorded the album with Younger-Smith and producer Robin Hancock. Special editions of the album were issued with a floppy disc which contained a screensaver. It was the first album which listed the e-mail address of the artist (idol@well.sf.ca.us, which is now inactive) in its booklet. In 1996, Idol appeared in a live version of The Who's Quadrophenia. He returned to the public eye in 1998, when he played himself in The Wedding Singer, in which "White Wedding" was also the title track. He was also considered for the role of the villain, Jacob Kell, in Highlander: Endgame, although ultimately Bruce Payne was cast. He also shared the stage with the band Third Eye Blind.

VH1 aired Billy Idol - Behind the Music on 16 April 2001. The Behind the Music series was popular, and each band or artist that was featured on that program usually gained a resurgence of interest after the show had aired. Idol and Stevens were no exceptions, taking 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. The acoustic tour was a success, and Idol eventually started adding new material into the show. Another Greatest Hits CD was issued in 2001, with Keith Forsey's "Don't You (Forget About Me)" appearing on the compilation. Forsey had originally written it with Idol in mind, but the singer turned it down and eventually the song was given to Simple Minds, who made it a hit in 1985. The album also includes a live acoustic version of "Rebel Yell", taken from a performance at Los Angeles station KROQ's 1993 Acoustic Christmas concert.

In 2000, Idol was invited to be a guest vocalist on Tony Iommi's album. His contribution was on the song "Into The Night", which he also co-wrote. That year he voice acted the role of Odin, a mysterious alien character, in the animated fantasy film Heavy Metal 2000. In the 2002 NRL Grand Final in Sydney, Idol entered the playing field for the post-match entertainment on a hovercraft-type stage to the intro of "White Wedding", when he managed to sing only two words before a power failure ended the performance. "White Wedding" appeared on popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on fictional Classic rock radio station, K-DST.

Devil's Playground and beyond

Devil's Playground, which came out in March 2005, was Idol's first new studio album in nearly 12 years. It reached #46 on the Billboard 200. The album included a cover of "Plastic Jesus". Idol played a handful of dates on the 2005 Vans Warped Tour and also appeared at the UK's Download Festival at Donington Park, the Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans and Rock am Ring. In 2006, as his only UK live date, he appeared headlining the Sunday night of GuilFest. That same year he made an appearance on Viva La Bam where he helped Bam Margera succeed in "creating" a sunroof for his $250,000 Lamborghini Gallardo and performed live for April Margera for her birthday. In 2006, Idol 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 made featuring Idol and guitarist Slash. In November 2006, Idol released a Christmas album called Happy Holidays.

In 2008, "Rebel Yell" appeared as a playable track on the video game, Guitar Hero World Tour, and "White Wedding" on Rock Band 2. The Rock Band 2 platform later gaining "Mony Mony" and "Rebel Yell" as downloadable tracks. On 24 June 2008, Idol released a new greatest hits album, The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself. The compilation featured two previously unreleased tracks, "John Wayne" and "New Future Weapon". A third track, "Fractured", was available for download on iTunes. He embarked on a worldwide tour, co-headlining with Def Leppard.

In July 2009, Idol performed at the Congress Theater, Chicago for the US TV series Soundstage. This performance was recorded and was released on DVD as In Super Overdrive Live, on 17 November 2009.

Recent events

On 16 February 2010, Idol was announced as one of the acts to play the Download Festival in Donington Park. 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!" In March 2010, Idol added Camp Freddy guitarist, Billy Morrison and drummer Jeremy Colson to his touring line-up.

Live band

Billy Idol's current band consists of:

• Steve Stevens - lead guitar (1981–1986, 2001–present)
• Stephen McGrath - bass guitar, backing vocals (2001–present)
• Derek Sherinian - keyboards (2002–present)
• Billy Morrison - rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2010–present)
• Jeremy Colson - drums, percussion (2010–present)25, 1966) is a rock keyboardist who has toured and recorded for Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen, Kiss, and Alice In Chains.[1] He has also appeared on stage with Dream Theater.
• Andrew Freese turtablism, pioneer cdj-2000 (2011&ndash:present)

Former members

• Gregg Gerson - drums, percussion (1981–1983)
• Steve Missal - drums, percussion (1981)
• Phil Feit - bass guitar (1981–1983)
• Thommy Price - drums, percussion (1983–1988)
• Steve Webster - bass guitar (1983–1985)
• Judi Dozier - keyboards (1982–1985)
• Kenny Aaronson - bass guitar (1986–1988)
• Mark Younger-Smith - lead guitar (1990–1996)
• Mark Schulman - drums, percussion (1993–2001)
• Brian Tichy - drums, percussion (2001–2009)
• Tal Bergman - drums, percussion (1990–1993)
• Danny Sadownik - drums, percussion (1993)
• Zane Fix - bass guitar (1980s)
• Jennifer Blakeman - keyboards (1993)
• Julie Greaux - keyboards (1993)

Discography

Main article: Billy Idol discography

• Don't Stop (EP) (1981)
• Billy Idol (1982)
• Rebel Yell (1983)
• Vital Idol (Compilation) (1985)
• Whiplash Smile (1986)
• Idol Songs: 11 of the Best (Compilation) (1988)
• Charmed Life (1990)
• Cyberpunk (1993)
• Greatest Hits (Compilation) (2001)
• VH1 Storytellers (Live album) (2002)
• Devil's Playground (2005)
• Happy Holidays (2006)
• The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself (Compilation) (2008)

List of Billy Idol awards and nominations

Grammys

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1985	"Rebel Yell"	Best Male Rock Vocal Performance	Nominated
1987	"To Be A Lover"	Best Male Rock Vocal Performance	Nominated
1991	"Cradle of Love"	Best Male Rock Vocal Performance	Nominated

MTV Video Music Awards

The MTV Video Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1984 by MTV.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1984	"Dancing With Myself"	Best Art Direction	Nominated
1984	"Dancing With Myself"	Best Special Effects	Nominated
1984	"Eyes Without a Face"	Best Cinematography	Nominated
1984	"Eyes Without a Face"	Best Editing	Nominated
1990	"Cradle of Love"	Best Video from a Film	Won
1990	"Cradle of Love"	Best Male Video	Nominated
1990	"Cradle of Love"	Best Special Effects	Nominated
1993	"Shock To The System"	Best Special Effects	Nominated
1993	"Shock To The System"	Best Editing	Nominated

BRIT Awards

The BRIT Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards.

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
1991	Billy Idol	Best British Video	Won

See also

• Coral Castle, a stone structure where Idol got his inspiration for his song "Sweet Sixteen".
• Bromley Contingent

External links

• Official website
• Billy Idol MySpace page
• Billy Idol at IMDb
• Interview @ Legends
• Billy Idol at Rolling Stone