Billy Idol is an English rock/punk musician. He made a name for himself after going solo and gaining worldwide success. With memorable music videos and chart topping songs he was and continues to be one of the biggest names in punk rock.

Billy Idol

"Great rock isn't art, it's the way ordinary people talk."

Billy Idol is an English rock/punk musician. He made a name for himself after going solo and gaining worldwide success. With memorable music videos and chart topping songs he was and continues to be one of the biggest names in punk rock.

Starting Out

Billy Idol was born in November of 1955 in Stanmore, Middlesex. When Idol was three, his family moved to the United States only to move back four years later. When he was twenty he went to Sussex University so that he could get himself an English degree. It was a year before he dropped out. After jumping around from band to band as a guitarist, he and fellow band mate Tony James formed Generation X. It was at this time that Billy Idol became a lead singer.

Generation X

In 1977, Generation X was offered a record deal with Chrysalis Records. The band released three albums before they decided to call it quits. Between managerial problems and the slow decline of punk music, Billy Idol decided it was time for him to go solo.

Solo

In 1981, Idol moved to New York and began his career as a solo performer. His self titled debut album released in the summer of 1982. It was not long before he began to get the attention of MTV with his videos for Dancing with Myself and White Wedding. Although Idol was achieving great success in England, America was not as aware of him. So in 1983, Dancing with Myself was released in the United States. The video for the song was played heavily on MTV for six months.

It was not long before the video for this song began to start a trend in feature film directors doing music videos. Between this song, Eyes without a Face as well as White Wedding Billy Idol became a household American name.

Super Stardom

In 1983, Rebel Yell helped Idol to become a huge sensation in the United States. For Rebel Yell he got a Grammy nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance. Three years later, Whiplash Smile was released. With this release he was able to get yet another nomination. He did not take home the award for either nomination. Sadly, not everybody was as impressed with Whiplash Smile as they had been with Rebel Yell.

Starting Fresh

In 1990, Idol released a new album entitled Charmed Life. He was also in a very serious motorcycle accident. He almost lost one of his legs and was confined to a bed for six months. He was able to overcome this obstacle and recover. His album was yet another success.

After his fourth successful solo album release, Idol decided to act. His first movie was The Doors in 1991, one year after his motorcycle accident. After running into some trouble with the law, Idol was forced to do a number of commercials against drug use.

Dark Period

In 1993, Idol decided to go in a completely different direction. He grew out his legendary spiked peroxide color hair to dreadlocks. In addition to a new look he changed his sound to synthesized and techno inspired beats. People did not like the new Idol and the album did not do well at all. He quickly turned to drugs and in 1994 nearly died from an overdose. After leaving the hospital Idol began to grow up and focus on his children.

Into the Light

With just a small but memorable cameo in the 1998 movie, The Wedding Singer, people were once again in love with Billy Idol. In 2001 a greatest hits album was released and Idol found himself on the VH1 shows Storytellers and Behind the Music. Billy Idol is currently working on new material and still continues to tour to do this day.

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