Billy Idol

Billy Idol

http://www.billyidol.com/
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Biography

Gelled into the memory with his bleach blond spikes and Sex Pistol sneer, Billy Idol became the punk superstar of the ‘80s. Starting life as William Broad in 1955, he twisted a description of him by his teacher – “idle – to rename himself as a parody of contemporary rock idols. Idol teamed with lyric writer and bass guitarist Tony James (later of Sigue Sigue Sputnik and Sisters of Mercy). Both joined the well-known punk legend Chelsea in its first incarnation, with Idol on the guitar. Idol and James subsequently left and formed Generation X, taking the name from a book about 60's youth rock culture.

Though Generation X never toured the US, they did take it by storm in 1980 with their single named ‘Dancing with Myself’’, but their album bombed in the UK and a breakup duly followed. Disillusioned with his homeland, Idol made a pilgrimage to New York City, releasing an E.P. ‘Don't Stop’ in 1981, followed by the seminal ‘Mony Mony’. Idol then found raven-haired, spikey-top, veteran New York guitarist Steve Stevens and they released four records together, including the classic ‘Rebel Yeh’. For many, Idol was last seen in a cameo role alongside Adam Sandler in ‘The Wedding Singer’. He has since revived his singing career and is recording new material.

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