Billy Idol (b. 1955)

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"WNYU-FM Interview on Punk Rock" — 1981

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Biography

William Michael Albert Broad, known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English rock singer. He achieved fame in the 1970s on the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of Generation X. He later embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made him a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in America.

Timeline

The story of Billy Idol, told in moments.

1955 Birth

Born William Michael Albert Broad in Stanmore, Middlesex. His family moved to Long Island when he was three, then back to England. A teacher wrote "idle" on his report card. He took the name.

A teacher wrote 'idle' on your report card. Best insult you ever received? Moving between Long Island and England. Did you feel rootless?

1976 Event

Co-founds Generation X with Tony James. They're one of the first British punk bands, playing the Roxy alongside the Sex Pistols and The Clash. They release three albums before splitting in 1981.

Playing the Roxy with the Sex Pistols. Did punk feel like a revolution? Was Generation X the real thing or a warm-up?

1982 Event

Moves to New York and launches his solo career. His self-titled EP goes gold. "White Wedding" becomes an MTV staple. The sneer, the fist, the bleached hair. He builds an image that burns itself into the decade.

The sneer, the fist, the bleached hair. How much was calculated? Did MTV make you, or did you make MTV?

1983 Event

"Rebel Yell" is released. The album sells over two million copies. He films the video in one take with a handheld camera. MTV plays it so often it becomes synonymous with the channel's early identity.

'Rebel Yell' in one take. Was spontaneity part of the brand? Two million copies. Did commercial success feel like selling out?

1990 Event

Crashes his motorcycle on Laurel Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles. Doctors nearly amputate his leg. He was cast as the T-1000 in Terminator 2 before the accident. Robert Patrick got the role instead.

Nearly losing your leg on Laurel Canyon. Did you mourn the T-1000 role? Did the crash change your relationship with risk?

Artifacts (15)

Single

image, photo

europeana View

Idole II

František Kupka

n.d. · Gouache and watercolor over graphite on board

aic View

Del Museo capitolino (IA gri 33125008657062)

Musei capitolini (Rome, Italy)

commons View

Theatre (IA theatre1188unse 0)

commons View

Poems (IA cu31924022412625)

Fisher, Benjamin Franklin, 1873-1916

commons View

Artists of Abraham Lincoln portraits (IA artistsofabrllinc)

Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection

commons View

Reminiscences about Abraham Lincoln (IA reminiscences00linc)

Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection

commons View

Miss Billy - Married

Eleanor H. Porter

commons View

Blue book (IA bluebook00ande)

Anderson, Tom Struve, Billy George Washington Flowers Collection of Southern Americana. NcD

commons View

Very Best of Billy Idol

Catch my Fall; Cradle of Love; Dancing with myself; Don't need a Gun; Eyes without a Face; Flesh for Fantasy; Hot in the City; L.A.Woman; Mony Mony; Ready steady go; Rebel Yell; Shock to the System;...

2005

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Dancing With Myself: Die Autobiografie

»Ich bin hoffnungslos gespalten zwischen dem Guten und der Dunkelheit, dem Mönch und dem Sexbesessenen, dem Priester und dem Dichter, dem Populisten und dem Demagogen. All das schreibe ich jetzt...

2014

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Kings and queens of the underground

From punk pioneer to global superstar, William Michael Albert Broad, akaBILLY IDOL, has left an indelible mark in popular music and remained a household name for over three decades. IDOL was inspired...

2014

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Dancing with Myself

A candid memoir by the multiplatinum recording artist chronicles his life from his childhood in England and rise to fame at the height of the punk-pop revolution to his popular hits and his...

2015

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Drugs, sex & rock'n'roll

Avec sa chevelure peroxydée et sa fougue rebelle, Billy Idol est resté une icône du rock’n’roll. De son enfance en Angleterre à sa gloire au moment de la révolution punk-pop, cette autobiographie...

2015

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Dancing with myself

»Berättar hela den galna historien.« | Rolling Stone Magazine »I’ve put it all down, every bit from the heart. I’m going out on a limb here, so watch my back.« | Billy Idol »Billy Idol bevisar att han...

2015

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