80's Music Junkies: Billy Idol

Billy Idol (born William Michael Albert Broad, 30 November 1955 in Middlesex) is an English 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 enjoyed in the 1980s. The name Billy Idol was inspired by a school teacher's description of Broad as "idle".

Billy Idol lived in Worthing, England before attending Sussex University for only one year before joining the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans. Idol first joined the punk rock band Siouxsie & the Banshees (before the band had decided on a name) in 1976, but soon quit and joined Chelsea in 1977 as a guitarist. However, he and Chelsea bandmate Tony James soon quit that group and co-founded Generation X, with Idol switching from guitar to lead singer.

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

"White Wedding" was rumoured to be a "nasty put down" by Idol and then-girlfriend Perri Lister, directed at Idol's sister for thinking that getting married was the answer to getting pregnant. In the 2001 recording of VH1 Storytellers Idol refutes that, saying his sister's wedding was simply inspiration for the song, which quickly took on its own form. Years after the video, Idol's sister is still married with three children. Idol and Peri broke up in 1990. They have a son named Willem together.

Vital Idol is a compilation of remixed singles from Billy Idol's first two albums. Peaking at number 10 on the Billboard 200, the album was supported by a live single version of "Mony Mony".

The album, sporting a photo from the "Dancing With Myself" video was originally released in Europe in 1985. It was expanded to feature a remix of "To Be A Lover" and reissued globally in 1987. This time, it sported a photo from the live video of "Mony Mony", used to promote the album.

11 of the Best was Billy Idol's 1988 compilation album.

Billy Idol is the full-length solo debut by the singer of the same name. Preceded in June 1982 by the hit-single "Hot in The City", the album was released in July 1982. After the next single from the album, "White Wedding", entered the Top 40 a year later, Billy Idol was reissued with the addition of the earlier single "Dancing With Myself". The LP peaked at number 101 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold in 1983.

Rebel Yell is the second album by British rocker Billy Idol, released in 1984 (see 1984 in music), entitled after the first song on the record. "Eyes Without a Face" and "Flesh for Fantasy" had hit videos on MTV. The album reunited the hit-making team of Billy Idol, Steve Stevens and Keith Forsey, after their success with Idol's solo debut, Billy Idol (1982).

Whiplash Smile is Billy Idol's third full-length album. Released in 1986, it was supported by the singles "To Be a Lover", "Sweet Sixteen", and "Don't Need a Gun".

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