Billy Idol

Billy Idol
Billy Idol
	Idol performing in August 2011
Background information
Birth name	William Michael Albert Broad
Born	30 November 1955 (aged 69); Stanmore, Middlesex, England
Genres	New wave; hard rock; pop rock; dance-rock; punk rock; post-punk;
Occupation(s)	Singer; songwriter; musician; actor;
Instruments	Vocals; guitar; keyboards; drums;
Years active	1976–present
Labels	Chrysalis; EMI; Sanctuary; BFI;
Associated acts	Chelsea; Generation X; Steve Stevens;
Website	billyidol.net

William Michael Albert Broad^[1] (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English rock musician and singer-songwriter. He became famous in the 1970s as a member of Generation X. He later began a solo career which led to international fame and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the United States.^[2]

Idol's second studio album, Rebel Yell (1983), was a major commercial success, featuring hit singles "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without a Face". In 1986, he released Whiplash Smile. Idol then released two studio albums, Charmed Life (1990) and the concept album Cyberpunk (1993). The latter was a commercial and critical flop. A year later, he recorded and released the single "Speed". The song was featured as first track in the homonymous movie soundtrack album.

Devil's Playground, which came out in March 2005, was Idol's first new studio album in nearly 12 years. The album reached No. 46 on the Billboard 200. This was followed by Happy Holidays, a Christmas album, and Kings & Queens of the Underground, his eighth studio album. Idol's autobiography, Dancing with Myself, was published on 7 October 2014. It soon became a New York Times bestseller.^[3]

Billy Idol Media

Idol performing at the Milton Keynes Bowl in Buckinghamshire, 1993
Idol performing live at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee, 2013
Idol performing live at the 2015 NHL Winter Classic in Washington, D.C.
Bruce Springsteen influenced Valley of the Dolls and Billy Idol's singing style

References

↑ Guinness 1992, p. 1222.
↑ "Radio with Pictures". Television New Zealand alternative music show interview with Karyn Hay (cue to 04:30s), broadcast April 1984. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
↑ "Billy Idol to Release First New Album in Nearly a Decade". The Hollywood Reporter. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.

[FOOTNOTEGuinness19921222-1] Guinness 1992, p. 1222.

[Radio_with_Pictures-2] "Radio with Pictures". Television New Zealand alternative music show interview with Karyn Hay (cue to 04:30s), broadcast April 1984. Retrieved 25 June 2019.

[3] "Billy Idol to Release First New Album in Nearly a Decade". The Hollywood Reporter. 17 June 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.

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