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Billy Idol (born William Michael Albert Broad, 30 November 1955 in Middlesex) is an English hard 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 found in the 1980s.

Biography

Early life and career

The name Billy Idol comes from a childhood incident. In his youth, a teacher handed him a test paper he had failed with the words "William is idle" written on the front in giant letters. Rather than be ashamed, Broad was proud, and began calling himself Billy Idol to spite the teacher.

Billy Idol lived in Worthing, England before attending Sussex University for only one year before joining the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans. Idol joined a punk rock band Chelsea in 1977, soon leaving it to form Generation X.

Generation X signed to Chrysalis Records and released three albums before breaking up. Idol moved to New York City 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.

Rebel Yell

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 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.

Idol was embarrassed at the 2002 Australian 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.

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.

Discography

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 - 2002
11. Essential Billy Idol - 2003
12. Devil's Playground - 2005 #46 US
13. Happy Holidays - 2006

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.

• 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.

Quotes

See also

• Coral Castle, a stone structure where Idol recorded his song Sweet Sixteen.
• Bromley Contingent

References

• Guinness Book of British Hit Singles - 16th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-190-X
• Guinness Book of British Hit Albums - 7th Edition - ISBN 0-85112-619-7

External links

• Official Site
• Myspace
• Devil's Playground Album Site
• Interview @ Legends
• Billy Idol LIVE photos [1]

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