Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English-American[1] singer, songwriter, musician and actor. He first achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of the group Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the US. The name "Billy Idol" was inspired by a schoolteacher's description of him as "idle".[2]
Not to be confused with Billie Idle.
Billy Idol
William Michael Albert Broad
30 November 1955
Stanmore, Middlesex, England
- Singer
- songwriter
- musician
- actor
- Vocals
- guitar
1976–present
Generation Sex
Idol began his music career in late 1976 as a guitarist in the punk rock band Chelsea. However, he soon left the group. With his former bandmate Tony James, Idol formed Generation X. With Idol as lead singer, the band achieved success in the United Kingdom and released three studio albums on Chrysalis Records, then disbanded. In 1981, Idol moved to New York City to pursue his solo career in collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens. His debut studio album, Billy Idol (1982), was a commercial success. With music videos for singles "Dancing with Myself" and "White Wedding" Idol soon became a staple of then newly-established MTV.
Idol's second studio album, Rebel Yell (1983), was a major commercial success, featuring hit singles "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without a Face". The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of two million copies in the US. In 1986, he released Whiplash Smile. Having accumulated three UK top 10 singles ("Rebel Yell", "White Wedding" and "Mony Mony") Idol released a 1988 greatest hits album titled Idol Songs: 11 of the Best; the album went platinum in the United Kingdom. Idol then released Charmed Life (1990) and the concept album Cyberpunk (1993).
Idol spent the second half of the 1990s focusing on his personal life out of the public eye. He made a musical comeback with the release of Devil's Playground (2005) and again with Kings & Queens of the Underground (2014).
Early life[edit]
Idol was born William Michael Albert Broad on 30 November 1955 in Stanmore, Middlesex, England.[3] His parents were devout Anglicans and attended church regularly. Idol is half Irish; his mother was born in Cork and is an O'Sullivan.[4][5] In 1958, when he was two years old, he moved with his parents to the US and settled in Patchogue, New York. They also lived in Rockville Centre, New York. His younger sister, Jane, was born during this time. The family returned to England four years later and settled in Dorking, Surrey.[6]
In 1971, the family moved to Bromley in southeastern Greater London, where Idol attended Ravensbourne School for Boys. His family later moved to the Worthing suburb of Goring-by-Sea in West Sussex, where he attended Worthing High School for Boys.[7] In October 1975, he began attending the University of Sussex to pursue an English degree but left after year one in 1976. He then joined the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans, a loosely organised gang that travelled to see the band wherever they played.[8][9]
Personal life[edit]
Idol has never married, but had a long-term relationship with English singer, dancer, and former Hot Gossip member Perri Lister. They have a son who was born in Los Angeles in 1988.[58] Willem has been a member of the rock band FIM.[59] Lister and Idol separated in 1989.[60] Idol also has a daughter from a relationship with Linda Mathis.[61][62]
Idol has struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction. His drug history includes heroin and cocaine.[63] In his 2014 memoir, he said he had passed out more than once in nightclubs only to then wake up in a hospital.[64] In 1994, Idol collapsed outside a Los Angeles nightclub due to an overdose[65] of the drug GHB.[66] After the incident, Idol decided that his children would never forgive him for dying of a drug overdose, and he stopped his drug use.[67] In 2014, Idol said he had not taken hard drugs since 2003, but added that he smoked cannabis regularly and was an occasional drinker.[63]
In 2018, Idol became a naturalized American citizen during a ceremony in Los Angeles, while retaining his British citizenship.[68] Idol has two grandchildren.[69]
In 2023, Idol played the first concert in history at the Hoover Dam.[70]
