![]() ![]() The band released two more LPs, Valley of the Dolls in 1979 and Kiss Me Deadly two years later before splitting up.ĭisappointed with Generation X's demise, Idol relocated to New York City, where he pursued a career as a solo artist. An appearance on Top of the Pops helped propel the single and their 1978 self-titled debut into the spotlight the latter was produced by Martin Rushent. Named after a 1960s paperback, the band signed a recording contract with Chrysalis shortly thereafter (Towe was replaced with new drummer Mark Laff) and released the anthemic "Your Generation" late in 1977. After a stint playing guitar in a group called Chelsea (interestingly, the group featured future Clash guitarist Mick Jones and future Damned guitarist Brian James), Idol put down the guitar and picked up the mike he then recruited bassist Tony James, drummer John Towe, and guitarist Bob Andrews to form Generation X in 1976. It wasn't long before Broad realized that he too could be the frontman of a punk band, and assumed the name Billy Idol shortly thereafter. (Another member of the group was Siouxsie Sioux, eventual leader of Siouxsie & the Banshees.) After a stint at Sussex University only lasted a year, Broad found himself part of a group of teen punk rockers who befriended and followed the Sex Pistols, informally known as the Bromley Contingent. At the start of the 2020s, Idol began issuing a series of EPs including Roadside and The Cage.īorn William Michael Albert Broad on Novemin Middlesex, England, he relocated with his family for a brief spell to New York before returning to England. Having already established himself in the late-'70s London punk scene as the frontman for Generation X, Idol was primed for pop stardom and spent the next decade churning out huge hits like "Dancing with Myself," "White Wedding," "Rebel Yell," and "Eyes Without a Face." A near-fatal motorcycle accident kept Idol out of the spotlight for the latter half of the '90s, but he staged a comeback in the 2000s with well-received efforts like Devil's Playground and Kings & Queens of the Underground. Mixing his bad-boy good looks with an appealing blend of pop hooks, punk attitude, and dance beats, Idol quickly rocketed to stardom before hard living briefly derailed his career. The August 24th,1989 show at the Universal Ampitheater in Los Angeles featured Steve Winwood (“Eyesight to the Blind”), Patti Labelle (“The Acid Queen”), Billy Idol (“Cousin Kevin”), Phil Collins (“Uncle Ernie”) and Elton John (“Pinball Wizard.”) The show was broadcast on Pay-Per-View for $19.95, but you can watch it for free right here.Along with Duran Duran, Billy Idol was one of the first young pop/rock artists to achieve massive success in the early '80s due to the advent of MTV. Most shows began with a slightly-truncated version of Tommy, but a few special gigs contained a nearly-complete take on the album packed with guest stars. It’s kind of authenticated because of our presence, but that’s all, really.” It’s a bunch of session musicians brought together to play Who material. ![]() “It’s wrong, really, to call it the Who, because it isn’t the Who. ![]() “There is no band,” he told Rolling Stone. In typical fashion, Pete Townshend gave a very frank assessment of the situation. It was the 20th anniversary of Tommy, which seemed like a good excuse to book a bunch of stadiums and play the album along with a healthy dose of Who classics, aided by a mere 12 other musicians. Just seven years after wrapping up one of rock’s first farewell tours, The Who returned to the stage in 1989 with another first: the classic album show. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |