The bleached spike topped BILLY IDOL, erstwhile vocalist with Punk act GENERATION X, would snarl his way into Pop superstar status throughout the mid 80s. Relocating to New York and engaging with manager Bill Aucoin, notorious for his machinations with KISS, Idol would hit paydirt in the States before transferring that success back to his homeland. Perfect timing with slick videos on heavy MTV rotation and just enough rebel appeal to fascinate the American youth that appreciated both pseudo-Punk rebellion and the undoubted Hard Rock leanings Idol was now pursuing would ensure a longevity to his career based on hits such as 'White Wedding', 'Rebel Yell' and even hitting the no. 1 spot in America with a live rendition of 'Mony Mony'.

Born William Michael Albert Broad, Idol had fronted CHELSEA then GENERATION X, the latter for a period of four years and scoring a UK hit with 'King Rocker'. GENERATION X would evolve into GEN X for the 1981 'Kiss Me Deadly' album after which Idol split for a solo career. GEN X's 'Dancing With Myself' would be resurrected as a B side to his opening solo single, a cover of TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS 'Mony Mony'.

Idol's debut album 'Don't Stop', only released in America, would signal the start of a lengthy collaboration with guitarist STEVE STEVENS. Although laying siege to the album charts for over a year 'Don't Stop' only comprised of four songs.

This fruitful partnership with Stevens would be duly recognised by both media and record company over the years as the raven haired Stevens would often be promoted alongside Idol in photo shoots. Idol's band would also include bass player Phil Feit and former BENNY MARDONES drummer Steve Missal. The drummer had been located by Aucoin's secretary who was surprised to find she recognised Missal driving a cab she hailed one day to get to the office. Missal would record the album but later decamp to concentrate on his own project THE RHYTHM TEAM.

The band set out on an American club tour in the Spring of 1982 which would be extended and upgraded to larger and larger halls as Idol's success burgeoned. The touring band on these dates consisted of Idol, Stevens, Feit, keyboard player Judi Dozier and drummer Gregg Gerson, a veteran of MAYDAY and BENNY MARDONES.

In August of 1982 Idol managed to crack the Billboard singles charts with 'Hot In The City'. It would be the first of many with 'White Wedding' following in September paving the way for 1984's Grammy nominated 'Rebel Yell' album which would hit top ten. Although Gerson had contributed to pre-production demos he was forced to bow out with drug problems, subsequently successfully completing a rehab course. Thommy Price would handle drums on the record.

The 'Rebel Yell' single itself did not fare so well on the charts but the brooding even sinister ballad 'Eyes Without A Face' gained a no. 4 placing. Meantime Idol's star status in America would see the UK arm of Chrysalis records engaging in a repromotion campaign which took both 'White Wedding' and 'Rebel Yell' top ten during the summer of 1985. The 'Vital Idol' compilation of remixes the same year would also land another hit, repeated when released in America some two years later. Feit though would decamp to join the ADAM BOMB band. 1986 would also be the year German Metal band SINNER had a stab at covering 'Rebel Yell'.

'Whiplash Smile', issued in October of 1986, would solidify Idol's career ascendancy and proved to be a major hit on both sides of the Atlantic. The accompanying singles, 'Don't Need A Gun' and 'Sweet 16', were not the huge hits expected but in September of 1987 Idol secured the top placing on the Billboard singles charts with a live take on 'Mony Mony'. Ironically Billy's version of this hit, originally by TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS, would knock teen queen TIFFANY off the top spot with her 'I Think We're Alone Now'- another TOMMY JAMES & THE SHONDELLS cover.

For touring Idol's band now included former WILDLIFE and OZZY OSBOURNE bassist PHIL SOUSSAN and drummer Mike Baird. Another compilation, 'Idol Songs', pulled in a valuable no. 2 placing in the UK during 1988. The 1990 album 'Charmed Life' fared well maintaining Idol's profile on both MTV and the singles charts. Indeed, the single 'Cradle Of Love' scored an MTV award for its accompanying video. Progress would be halted though when Idol suffered severe injuries as the result of a motorbike accident necessitating months of healing and recovery.

In 1992 Idol would be spotted on the cat walks modelling suitably armoured leather gear for fashion guru Jean Paul Gaultier. The same year both Soussan and Stevens united with MÖTLEY CRÜE frontman VINCE NEIL for his solo 'Exposed' album.

The Techno infused 1993 effort 'Cyberpunk' saw chart placings slipping. Idol's attempt at a raw alternative record would be backed by an impressive tour complete with cutting edge video multiple screen technology but the radical musical shift (not to mention Idol's new dreadlock hairstyle) did not sit easily with fans.

BILLY IDOL would be back in the news in 1994 contributing the title track to the Tom Cruise movie soundtrack 'Speed'. Quite surprisingly renowned Finnish Death Metal act would aid the cause by covering 'White Wedding' on their 1995 mini album 'Love & Death'.

A long period of silence followed with much speculation as to Idol's status or whereabouts. However, at the turn of the millennium Idol finally marked a resumption of live work re-enlisting his old sparring partner STEVE STEVENS. A record deal with the Java label was announced but shortly after dissolved much to fans frustration and eagerness to hear new material. Idol did grace a recording studio to lend vocals to NO DOUBT's interpretation of the CLASH number 'Hateful' donated to a tribute collection 'Burning London'. Meantime Idol's predilection for the dangerous was once again evident as he performed bare back horse riding stunts at the Barnum & Bailey circus!

Billy did sit in on an MP3.COM party though performing a selection of covers including songs by THE DOORS and STEPPENWOLF's hoary 'Born To Be Wild'. A batch of Christmas 1999 shows would find Sasha Krivtsov and Tal Bergman sitting in on bass and drums respectively.

2000 would bring more encouraging news with a brief run of live dates in July. German Metal queen DORO would add to the gathering momentum for Billy's resurrection with her version of 'White Wedding', launched as a single from her 'Calling The Wild' album.

The singer turned up in a cameo role, playing himself, in the Adam Sandler hit movie 'The Wedding Singer'. In another move into the world of celluloid Idol committed narration, as the character 'Odin', and a new song 'Buried Alive' to the 'Heavy Metal 2000' movie. He would also lend his vocals to a song 'Into The Night' on BLACK SABBATH guitarist TONY IOMMI's 'Iommi' release.

In 2001 Idol got back to work with a short East Coast acoustic tour kicking off in Atlantic City on the 14th April. His band would involve Stevens, bassist Steve McGrath and CHER / FOREIGNER drummer Mark Schulman. Fans breathed a sigh of relief when Idol walked away with just minor injuries after crashing his Mercedes.

Capitol would mark Idol's return with an obligatory 'Greatest Hits' package. Among the predictable slew of hits would be added a version of SIMPLE MIND's 'Don't You Forget About Me'. A newly written track 'Bitter Pill' was slated to appear also but would be kept back for a future album. Oddly the collection included Idol's unsuccessful studio stab at 'Mony Mony' and not his live no. 1 version.

The singer's status would also soon be recognised by the industry in general with Idol invited to appear at the mammoth MTV 20th Birthday ceremonies in August. A summer campaign of touring would see a 15th June Las Vegas show opening up a three month run of dates. Retaining Stevens and McGrath new face on the drum stool would be the highly rated journeyman former OZZY OSBOURNE and FOREIGNER drummer Brian Tichy.

Another all star event would see him rubbing shoulders with PEARL JAM, REM and NEIL YOUNG at the October 15th annual Bridge School benefit gig at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View, California. Idol put in a strong acoustic performance which included the BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD anti war tune 'For What It's Worth'.

BILLY IDOL's North American Summer 2002 'Kiss The Skull' tour would see DEREK SHERINAN, a veteran of YNGWIE MALMSTEEN's band, ALICE COOPER and DREAM THEATER, taking over the keyboard role. The Australian leg of the tour would see Joe Travers taking temporary command of the drums, Tichy stepping aside for a short break to tend his pregnant wife. Idol kicked off another mammoth US tour in August of 2003.

In mid 2004 Idol commenced work with guitarist Steve Stevens and drummer Brian Tichy on a new studio, his first in over a decade. Working titles included 'Devil's Playground' and 'World Comin' Down'.

BILLY IDOL plus band members guitarist Steve Stevens and drummer Brian Tichy all featured on a metalized version of THE BEATLES 'Tomorrow Never Knows' for the Restless Records tribute album 'Butchering The Beatles' released in October, this track also involving OZZYOSBOURNE bassist Blasko.