Billy Idol

Billy Idol Headshot

Singer • Songwriter • Musician

Birth Date: November 30, 1955

Age: 68 years old

Birth Place: Middlesex, England, UK

Part of the British punk explosion with Generation X, singer Billy Idol became a surprise commercial success in America afterwards. Born William Broad in Middlesex, England, Idol lived in New York as a child when his parents moved there. After returning to England he completed high school and dropped out of the University of Sussex, becoming part of the "Bromley contingent"-a group of diehard fans who followed Sex Pistols gigs. Taking his stage name from a teacher who called him an idler, he briefly joined Chelsea as a guitarist and then cofounded Generation X with ex-Chelsea bassist Tony James. Flashy and hedonistic, the band specialized in shout-along anthems including "Wild Youth," "Ready Steady Go" and the Who comeback "Your Generation," all of which were UK hits. The band also got to work with one of its heroes, Ian Hunter who produced their more thoughtful second album Valley of the Dolls. The band shortened its name to Gen X before imploding in 1981. Idol then moved to New York and teamed with former Kiss manager Bill Aucoin. His solo debut was "Dancing With Myself," a remix of a Gen X single. Thanks to frequent club play it became one of the iconic dance-punk crossovers, though it was never technically a hit single. Not the case with his cover of Tommy James' "Mony Mony," which became a dance-club hit and later hit Number One on the Billboard singles chart when re-released in a live version. Idol was now working with hotshot guitarist Steve Stevens and drummer/producer Keith Forsey-previously a studio partner of disco innovator Giorgio Moroder. This team continued a string of hits including "Rebel Yell," "White Wedding" and "Eyes Without a Face," all of which kept a foot in punk and a foot in modern dance music. Idol's trademark stage presence-bleached hair, bare chest, leather and chains-likewise represented a slicker version of his punk roots. Idol became an MTV fixture and even joined his earlier targets, the Who, for a charity performance of Tommy in 1989. The 1990 album Charmed Life was Idol's last major hit, spawning the singles "Cradle of Love" and a cover of the Doors' "L.A. Woman." Yet his career suffered from a couple of bad moves, including turning down Forsey's song "(Don't You) Forget About Me"-which then became a Number One for Simple Minds-and making the 1993 concept album Cyberpunk, a commercial and critical flop despite a high-profile marketing campaign. His personal life also took a downswing and in 1994 he was hospitalized in Los Angeles after overdosing on the psychoactive drug GHB. After a ten-year recording break, a cleaned-up Idol returned in 2005 with Devil's Playground, picking up where he'd left off with Stevens and Forsey. It was followed bizarrely enough by a Christmas album, Happy Holidays, on which Idol sang orchestrated seasonal tunes with no hint of irony. In another surprise move, Idol teamed in late 2018 with old Gen X partner Tony James and Sex Pistols Steve Jones and Paul Cook, playing both bands' hits in a band called Generation Sex.

Credits

Billy Idol: State Line

Self
Show
2023

Power HourStream

Guest
Reality
2023

Rock in Rio 2022

Music Performer
Show
2022

Nightclubbing: The Birth of Punk Rock in NYC

Self
Movie
2022

Billy Idol: Bitter Taste

Music Performer
Show
2021

Ultimate Halloween Party

Music Performer
Show
2021

Halloween Party

Music Performer
Show
2021

80s New Year's Eve Party

Music Performer
Show
2021

Halloween Party

Music Performer
Show
2020

Hit Halloween: 15 Videos to Rock Your Costume Party

Music Performer
Show
2020

Saved by the '80s New Years

Music Performer
Show
2020

Halloween Party

Music Performer
Show
2019

Today With Hoda & Jenna

Music Performer
Show
2019

Stage Then Screen

Music Performer
Show
2019

The Fan

Guest
Show
2018

80s Hits

Music Performer
Show
2018

Billy Idol: Dancing With Myself (RAC Remix)

Music Performer
Show
2018

Throwback Halloween: 20 Killer Videos to Rock Your Party

Music Performer
Show
2018

Halloween Party

Music Performer
Show
2018

Don Letts: Dread Meets Punk Rockers

Self
Show
2017

80s Party: 10 Spooky Videos for Your Halloween Party

Music Performer
Show
2017

iHeartRadio Music Festival - Night One

Music Performer
Show
2016

iHeartradio Music Festival

Music Performer
Show
2016

Ozzy and Jack's World DetourStream

Guest Star
Reality
2016

Soundbreaking

Self
Show
2016

iHeart80s Party

Music Performer
Show
2016

Download Festival 2015

Actor
Show
2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Music Performer
Talk
2015

'80s Were Wicked

Music Performer
Show
2015

Billy Idol: Dancing with Myself

Music Performer
Show
2014

Billy Idol: Eyes Wide Shut

Music Performer
Show
2014

Billy Idol: Ghosts In My Guitar

Music Performer
Show
2014

Billy Idol: Kings & Queens Of The Underground

Music Performer
Show
2014

Billy Idol: Postcards From The Past

Music Performer
Show
2014

Billy Idol: Whiskey and Pills

Music Performer
Show
2014

Billy Idol: Nothing To Fear

Music Performer
Show
2014

Billy Idol: Save Me Now

Music Performer
Show
2014

OnSTAGE

Music Performer
Show
2013

Sunday Brunch

Guest
Show
2011

The VoiceStream

Music Performer
Reality
2011

Inheritance Tracks

Self
Show
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Video Killed the Radio Star

Self
Show
2009

Glenn Martin, DDS

Guest Voice
Show
2009

The Project

Guest
Show
2009

Billy Idol: Catch My Fall

Music Performer
Show
2008

Billy Idol: Don't Need a Gun

Music Performer
Show
2008

Billy Idol: Hot in the City

Music Performer
Show
2008

Billy Idol: Sweet Sixteen

Music Performer
Show
2008

Billy Idol: To Be a Lover

Music Performer
Show
2008

The Who: Tommy and Quadrophenia Live

Music Performer
Show
2006

Billy Idol: Dancing with Myself

Director
Show
2004

Billy Idol: Dancing with Myself

Music Performer
Show
2004

Soundstage

Music Performer
Show
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Music Performer
Talk
2003

Heavy Metal 2000

Voice
Odin
Movie
2000

Music Mix USA

Guest
Show
1999

The Wedding SingerStream

Actor
Himself
Movie
1998
72%

The Wedding SingerStream

Self
Movie
1998
72%

Mad Dog Time

Actor
Lee Turner
Movie
1996

The DoorsStream

Actor
Cat
Movie
1991
56%

Billy Idol: Cradle of Love

Music Performer
Show
1990

The Adventures of Ford Fairlane

Original Song
Movie
1990
25%

Billy Idol: Mony Mony

Music Performer
Show
1987

Billy Idol: Rebel Yell

Music Performer
Show
1983

Billy Idol: Eyes Without a Face

Music Performer
Show
1983

Billy Idol: Flesh for Fantasy

Music Performer
Show
1983

Billy Idol: White Wedding Part 1

Music Performer
Show
1982

Billy Idol: White Wedding Pt. 1

Music Performer
Show
1982

Billy Idol: Dancing With Myself

Music Performer
Show
1982

CBS News Sunday Morning

Guest
News
1979

Saturday Night LiveStream

Music Performer
Series
1975

Today

Guest
News
1952