Billy Idol

Billy Idol, born William Michael Albert Broad in London in 1955, is a British rock icon and punk rebel. He began his career in 1976 as a guitarist in the punk band Chelsea before co-founding Generation X, becoming a key figure in the London punk scene. He moved to New York in 1981 and launched a solo career with guitarist Steve Stevens. His debut solo album Billy Idol (1982) catapulted him to global fame with MTV staples like “Dancing with Myself” and “White Wedding.” Rebel Yell (1983) followed, solidifying his status with hits “Rebel Yell” and “Eyes Without a Face.” Subsequent albums—Whiplash Smile (1986), Charmed Life (1990), and the experimental Cyberpunk (1993)—demonstrate his musical evolution. After surviving a near-fatal motorcycle accident in 1990 that almost cost him a leg, he bounced back with Devil’s Playground (2005) and Kings & Queens of the Underground (2014). Recent releases include EPs The Roadside (2021) and The Cage (2022). In 2025, he dropped the album Dream Into It, featuring the single “Still Dancing” and a collaboration with Avril Lavigne on “77”. Heralded as a leader during the “Second British Invasion,” Billy Idol remains a rock legend known for his charismatic stage presence, punk attitude, and hit songs that defined an era.