Billy Idol is one of the first rock musicians to take full advantage of music television. It was MTV that helped the young talent become popular among young people.
Young people liked the artist, who was distinguished by his good-looking appearance, the behavior of a “bad” guy, punk aggression, and the ability to dance.
True, having achieved popularity, Billy could not consolidate his own success and his popularity quickly decreased.
In fact, his compositions dominated the music industry for 18 years, and then there was a 12-year silence. The rock legend revived his musical career only at the age of 50.
The Story of Billy Idol's Childhood and Youth
Billy Idol was born November 30, 1955. The birthplace of the future rock musician is the city of Middlesex (UK). After the birth, the parents named the boy William Albert Broad (William Michael Albert Broad).
The school years of the future rock star took place in the United States of America in New York.
After graduation, the young man returned to England, where he entered the university. True, he studied there for only 1 year. Interest in music is to blame for the incomplete higher education.
He liked to be among the fans of the then popular punk. The guy met the members of the Sex Pistols group, regularly attended their concerts.
The Beginning of Billy Idol's Musical Career
It was because of his involvement in the rock culture of the capital of Great Britain that Billy was interested in the idea of leading his own punk band.
Initially, he became one of the members of the Chelsea team. It was then that the guy decided to perform under the stage name Billy Idol.
He was the guitarist in the band. After leaving it, he began to think about a vocal career. In 1976, he led the Generation X group.
Two years later, the band released their debut album of the same name, and after the release of another album, Kiss Me Deadly, the group broke up.
Actually, it seemed to Billy Idol that his group would not fall apart as quickly as it actually happened. The young man bought a ticket to New York and flew overseas.
He found Kiss manager Billy Okoin, with his support he recorded the single Don't Stop. One of his assistants was guitarist Steve Stevense.
It was with his direct participation in 1982 that the debut solo album Billy Idol was released. True, music lovers did not like it.
However, it is Stevens who can be thanked for the popularity of Idol. It was his chords, excellent musical solutions, improvisation that became the reasons for the success of Billy's compositions. In fact, he became the founder of dance-rock music.
Television played a major role in its popularity. Thanks to the producers and directors, his videos have become mega-popular.
In 1983, the singer released Rebel Yell, which became, perhaps, one of the best in his musical career. Its circulation in the United States alone exceeded 2 million copies.
The Fall and Return of William Albert Broad
Naturally, such success could not remain inevitable for Billy Idol. Drugs appeared in his life, and in any case, this leads to the destruction of any, even the most successful, career.
For two years, Billy could not find the strength to record a new album.
The musician recorded the third record only in 1986, having previously launched the singles To Be A Lover and Sweet Sixteen. After their release, Steve Stevens ended his collaboration with Billy. In the end, he was left alone.
True, in the same year a video clip for a cover version of the song Mony Mony was released, which became one of the most popular among MTV viewers. Thanks to this, for some time the musician remained popular among lovers of quality music.
Fans had to wait four years before the release of the next record. Unexpectedly for all fans of his work, he appeared as an actor in the production of Tommy.
The new Charmed Life CD was released only in 1990. By the way, shortly after his release, the musician got into a car accident, his leg was almost cut off.
It is for this reason that the director who shot the first single shot the artist only to the waist. By the way, the album eventually went platinum.
Subsequently, the musician became addicted to drugs again. In 1994, he ended up in the hospital, he was barely saved from an overdose. After that, no information was heard about the artist for four years.
In 1998, he returned to show business - in the popular comedy film The Wedding Singer, the singer played himself. Billy resumed tours in Europe and the USA only in 2003.
By the way, in 2005 for the album Devil's Playground, which was released in 2005, Billy's old friend, Steve Stevens, took part.
From 1980 to 1989, Billy Idol was in a civil marriage with Perry Lister. The couple had a son, William Broad. In 2006, the musician came to Russia on tour.
Of course, he did not perform with punk songs, but the audience fell in love with him for his charisma and charm.
