Billy Idol

A certain William Broad went onto international fame better known as the Punk rocker Billy Idol. He initially shot to fame with punk band Generation X who enjoyed moderate success in the UK and then swept onto the new MTV generation with his countless video promo's as a solo artist in the 1980s.

Billy early musical career saw appearances in bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees and Chelsea before settling with Generation X in the mid to late seventies. They enjoyed 3 top 40 singles and one top 30 album in the UK but after leaving the band his career catapulted.

Billy moved to New York and worked with ex-Kiss manager Bill Aucoin. They played heavily on his bad boy image and this was mixed with the glam rock image that was playing heavily in America. He released his debut Album simply called 'Billy Idol' and Billy became part of the 'Second British invasion' of the USA and MTV in particular heavily played his video promo of 'White Wedding' and 'Hot in the city' as well as his Generation X classic 'Dancing with myself'. On the back of this success he released his second album and one of his most popular works.

The release of 'Rebel Yell' was a huge success in America and the UK with classic hits 'Rebel Yell' and 'Eyes without a face' Keith Forsey had produced the album and a lot of Billy Material and he also worked with the likes of Harold Faltermeyer, Giorgio Miroder, Donna Summer and Simple Minds.

The third studio album was released 'whiplash Smile' which featured the huge hits 'To be a lover' and 'Sweet Sixteen'. His long term musical partner Steve Stevens had drifted after he had huge success on the Top Gun film score earning him a Grammy. It wasn't until 1987 when album 'Vital Idol' was released and a cover of 'Mony Mony' reached number one in the US and a top 10 in the UK. In terms of musical output that was pretty much that for Billy although he did appear on stage with the Who on a live version of the Rock show 'Tommy' where he played Cousin Kevin.

The remainder of the 1980s saw him go on a tour of his own but without any musical input, he mainly got into the press for his bad boy image of heavy drug use and partying. Plus a bad accident with his motorbike that resulted in a steel rod being inserted into his leg. Famously, Keith Forsey wrote a song for him from the brat pack film 'Breakfast club'. The track was 'Don't you forget about me' and Billy turned it down and the song was given to Simple Minds who earned themselves a number one in America.

During the 1980s Billy released 3 studio albums with 'Whiplash Smile' the only one going top 10 in the UK. He also released a greatest hits album that peaked at number 2 in the UK charts. He also released 15 singles with 3 of those going top 10 with 'White Wedding' and 'Rebel Yell' both peaking at 6 in 1985.