Billy Idol
Wikimp3 information about the music of Billy Idol. On our website we have 66 albums and 70 collections of artist Billy Idol. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Billy Idol represents Rock genres.
Biography
[Edit]Along with Duran Duran, Billy Idol was one the first pop/rock artists to achieve massive success in the early '80s due to a then brand-new U.S. television network, MTV. Mixing his bad-boy good looks with an appealing blend of pop hooks, punk attitude, and a dance beats, Idol quickly rocketed to stardom, before hard living derailed his career and almost proved fatal. Born William Michael Albert Broad on November 30, 1955, in Middlesex, England, the youngster relocated with his family for a brief spell to New York, before returning back to England. After a stint at Sussex University only last a year, Broad found himself as part of a group of teen punk rockers who befriended and followed the Sex Pistols, known as "the Bromley Contingent" (a member of this colorful group of characters was Siouxsie Sioux, eventual leader of Siouxsie & the Banshees).
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. After a stint playing guitar in a group called Chelsea didn't pan out (interestingly, the group featured future Clash guitarist Mick Jones and future Damned guitarist Brian James), Idol put down the guitar and picked up the mic, and recruited bassist Tony James, drummer John Towe, and guitarist Bob Andrews, forming Generation X in 1976. Named after a 1960s paperback book, the band signed a recording contract with Chrysalis shortly thereafter (Towe was replaced with new skinsman Mark Laff) — resulting in such releases as 1978's self-titled debut, 1979's Valley of the Dolls, and 1981's Kiss Me Deadly — before splitting up.
Disappointed with Generation X's demise, Idol relocated to New York City, where he pursued a career as a solo artist. Hooking up with Kiss manager Bill Aucoin, Idol issued the 1981 EP Don't Stop (comprised of a cover of Tommy James' '60s hit "Mony Mony" and a pair of remixed Generation X tracks), which helped the singer score another record deal with his former band's label, Chrysalis. Idol found the perfect collaborator and partner in guitarist/Johnny Thunders look-alike Steve Stevens, and issued a self-titled debut in July of 1982. A pair of eye-catching videos for the tracks "White Wedding" and "Dancing With Myself" (the latter a remake of a Generation X composition) scored major air time on MTV, with both clips focusing in on Idol's spiky, peroxide blonde hair, and Elvis-like sneer. The debut eventually obtained gold certification, and set the stage perfectly for Idol's big commercial breakthrough, 1984's Rebel Yell.
Rebel Yell became the singer's best-selling album of his career (eventually going double platinum), spawning such big-time MTV/radio hits as the album's anthemic title track, "Eyes Without a Face," and "Flesh for Fantasy," establishing Idol as an arena headliner stateside. But with massive success came its many distractions, which prevented Idol from issuing a new studio album until three years after Rebel Yell. 1987's Whiplash Smile was another sizeable hit on the strength of such hits as "To Be a Lover" and "Sweet Sixteen," but failed to live up to the lofty expectations set by his previous releases. Stevens jumped ship shortly thereafter to launch his own band, Steve Stevens' Atomic Playboys (and eventually was a member of Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil's solo band), leaving Idol to fend for himself.
An eight-track best-of set, Vital Idol, was issued later the same year, spawning one of the year's most heavily played MTV videos — a live version of the previously recorded cover of "Mony Mony" — which helped keep Idol in the spotlight. Idol spent the next few years working on his fourth studio release, but reappeared in the summer of 1989 as part of an all-star rendition of the Who's Tommy, with Idol playing the role of the sadistic character Cousin Kevin. Around the time of Idol's next release, 1990's Charmed Life, the singer was involved in a serious motorcycle accident (in which he almost lost his leg), forcing the singer to walk with a cane for a period of time; the video for the album's lead-off single, "Cradle of Love," featured the singer filmed from the waist up. The ploy worked, as the single (which was also used as the theme song in the failed Andrew "Dice" Clay movie Ford Fairlane) was another smash hit, making Charmed Life the fourth Idol album in a row to achieve at least reach platinum sales.
Expectedly, several years passed before the release of Idol's next album, during which time he tried his hand at acting with a bit part in Oliver Stone's motion picture The Doors. By the time 1993's Cyberpunk surfaced, Idol had dropped his spiky peroxide hairstyle in place of dreadlocks, and experimented with techno beats. The move proved to be an unwise one, as the album tanked and sank from the charts. At the same time, Idol was knee deep in drug addiction, resulting in another close brush with death when he overdosed and had to be treated in a Los Angeles hospital in 1994. Not much was heard from Idol until 1998, when he made a cameo appearance (as himself) in the hit Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore comedy The Wedding Singer, which resulted in renewed interest. Idol teamed up once again with Stevens, was the subject of a VH1: Behind the Music special (as well as a VH1 Storytellers episode for the channel, which was ultimately issued as a CD), and issued a more extensive Greatest Hits set in 2001; the latter of which sold 500,000 copies in the U.S. alone. Next up was his first studio album since Cyberpunk, Devil's Playground, released on Sanctuary in 2005 and this was swiftly followed by the seasonal Happy Holidays for which he retained Brian Tichy and Derek Sherinian from the previous album's sessions.
2008 brought The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself, which was notable for including two previously unreleased tracks: "John Wayne" and "New Future Weapon." A worldwide tour on the same bill as Def Leppard ensued, before 2009 brought In Super Overdrive Live, a video release of a performance in Chicago; Idol appeared at Donnington Park's Download Festival in 2010. A relatively quiet spell in his career was followed by a period of songwriting with Stevens and Circus Diablo frontman Billy Morrison. In time, recording sessions took place which led to the announcement of a seventh studio album of original material. Produced by Trevor Horn and preceded by Idol's memoir Dancing with Myself, Kings & Queens of the Underground appeared in October 2014.
Title: Kings & Queens of the Underground (Bonus Track Version)
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Title: Hot In The City (Vinyl, 12'') (Maxi-Single)
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Pop Rock
Title: 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection
Artist: Billy Idol
Title: The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself (Remastered)
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Title: Club Wedding (Trashcan Jack vs. Billy Idol) [Remixes]
Artist: Billy Idol, Trashcan Jack
Genre: Electronica, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Charmed Life
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Title: Billy Idol
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Title: Rebel Yell
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Title: 100% Billy Idol 2CD (CD2)
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Punk Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Pop Rock, Dance Pop
Title: Devil's Playground
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Alternative Rock, Hard Rock, Metal, Heavy Metal, Pop, Pop Rock
Title: Vital Idol
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Title: FM Broadcast Billy Idol & Alice Cooper
Artist: Alice Cooper, Billy Idol
Title: Your Birthday Present - Generation X
Artist: Billy Idol, The Generation
Genre: Rock, Punk, Pop, Alternative
Title: Deep Cuts: Billy Idol
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Title: Billy Idol: Greatest Hits
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Title: Essential: Billy Idol
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave, Punk Rock, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Title: Rebel Yell - Single
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Title: VH1 Storytellers: Billy Idol
Artist: Billy Idol
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, New Wave, Heavy Metal, Pop, Alternative
Collections
Title: Amphetanarchy: Hard Rock Cafe (CD1)
Genre: Rock, Punk Rock, Alternative
Title: Rock Factory 2020 (CD4)
Genre: Rock, Punk Rock, World Music, Alternative, Folk
Title: Not Dead Yet: Modern Rock (CD3)
Genre: Rock, Punk Rock, Alternative
Title: Fetenhits Rock Classics-Best Of (CD2)
Genre: Rock, Punk, Punk Rock, Metal, Alternative
Title: 101 Power Ballads 2020 (CD1)
Title: Monarchs Of Oblivion Rock Collection 2019 (CD2)
Genre: Rock, Punk, Punk Rock, Alternative
Title: VH1 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs (CD2)
Genre: Blues, Hard Rock, Power Pop, Psychedelic Rock, Punk, Heavy Metal
Title: Just The Hits - Rock (CD2)
Title: The # 1 80s Love Album (CD2)
Title: Mastermix DJ Beats Volume 89
Genre: Garage, Eurobeat, Euro House, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, New Wave, Disco, Pop, Synth Pop, Funk
Title: VH1100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs 2020 (CD2)
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, Punk Rock, Heavy Metal
Title: The # 1 Dad 3CD (CD3)
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Punk, Heavy Metal, Alternative
Title: Classic Pop-Rock Hits 2020 (CD1)
Genre: Rock, Punk, Punk Rock, Alternative
Title: I Heart 80s (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, New Wave, Disco, Synth Pop, Alternative, Funk
Title: NOW 80s Generation Hits
Title: 100 Greatest Wedding Classics 2020 (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Punk Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: NOW Rock Air Guitar Anthems
Genre: Rock, Punk, Punk Rock, Metal, Alternative
Title: 100 Greatest Wedding Classics 2020 (CD1)
Genre: Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: 80s Alternative 2020 (CD1)
Genre: Rock, Punk Rock, Alternative
Title: NOW 80's Generation Hits 2020
Genre: Pop
Title: 80s And 90s Hits (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Hard Rock, Punk, Heavy Metal, Reggae, Pop, Alternative, Funk
Title: Best Love Songs 70s & 80s (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Indie Rock, Punk Rock, Disco, Pop, Alternative, Funk
Title: NOW That's What I Call Music Always 80s (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Jazz, Rock, New Wave, Disco, Synth Pop, Theatre/Soundtrack, Funk, Indie
Title: 80s & 90s Super Hits (CD1)
Genre: Pop
Title: 185 DJ Loaded Continued Romance (CD2)
Genre: House, Electro, Dancehall, Latin, Nu Disco, Progressive, Indie, Trap
Title: 80s & 90s (CD1)
Title: I Love Rock'n'Roll!
Title: 230 DJ Loaded Superstars Balance (CD1)
Genre: House, Electro, Hip Hop/R&B, Dancehall, Reggaeton, Dubstep, Trap
Title: Hot Party 80 Classics (CD1)
Genre: Soul, Blues, Jazz, Rock, New Wave, Country, Pop, Synth Pop, Smooth Jazz
Title: We Will Rock You 2020
Title: 100 Party Hits - The Sound Of My Life (CD4)
Genre: Freestyle Music, Hard NRG, Post Disco, Hip Hop/R&B, New Wave, Power Pop, Disco, Funk
Title: The Best 80s Car Songs In The World Ever (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Punk Rock, Dancefloor, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: 80s & 90s UMG Recordings 2020 (CD1)
Genre: Hard Rock, New Wave, Power Pop, Punk, Heavy Metal, Country, Pop, Alternative
Title: Mastermix DJ Edits Volume 16
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, World Music, Country, Disco, Pop, Synth Pop, Funk, Indie, Folk
Title: Super Mashup Mix 2021
Title: New Music Releases Week 06 Of 2021 (CD1)
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Dancefloor, Latin, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Best Of Rock Classics (CD1)
Title: Rock Classics 60s-80s: Remastered Version (CD2)
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock, Punk Rock, Heavy Metal, Alternative, Indie
Title: Select Mix Retro Shock Vol. 03
Genre: Electropop, Soul, Blues, Rock, New Wave, Punk Rock, Reggae, Synth Pop, Alternative
Title: 80s Rock Down-The Ultimate Rock Anthems (CD2)
Genre: Rock
Title: Music Mix May The Hot Side (CD3)
Genre: Electro, Hip Hop/R&B, Dancehall, Reggaeton, World Music, Latin
Title: 100 Greatest 80s Classics (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, Dance Rock, New Wave, World Music, Country, Ska, Folk
Title: The Hits Album The Car Album Singalong (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Punk Rock, Pop
Title: Do Overs Vol. 13
Genre: Freestyle Music, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Grunge, Disco, Synth Pop, Alternative, Funk
Title: The Best Of The Rock Vol. 2 (CD1)
Genre: Rock, Instrumental Rock, Post Rock, Rock & Roll, Punk Rock, Pop Rock
Title: The Best Of The Rock Vol. 3 (CD1)
Genre: Electronica, Rock, Instrumental Rock, Post Rock, Rock & Roll, Punk Rock, Reggae, Pop Rock
Title: The Best Of The Rock Vol. 3 (CD1)
Genre: Electronica, Rock, Blues Rock, Instrumental Rock, Post Rock, Rock & Roll, Punk Rock, Reggae, Pop Rock
Title: The Best Of The Rock Vol. 2 (CD1)
Genre: Rock, Blues Rock, Instrumental Rock, Post Rock, Rock & Roll, Punk Rock, Pop Rock
Title: 100 Greatest '80s Songs (CD2)
Genre: Post Disco, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Blues, New Wave, Punk, Disco, Pop, Alternative, Funk
Title: Buried Treasure: The 80s (CD2)
Genre: Rock, Darkwave, Country, Alternative, Songwriter/Lyricist, Acoustic, Indie, Classical
Title: Feel Good Classic Hits 2021 (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Glam Rock, New Wave, Power Pop, Eurodisco, Pop, Alternative, Indie
Featuring albums
Title: Lust - Art & Soul. A Personal Collection By Louie Vega
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Electronica, House, Hip Hop/R&B, Dancefloor, Dance Pop
Title: Bodom Covers
Artist: Children Of Bodom
Genre: Alternative Rock, Metal, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Alternative
Title: Ministry Of Sound Anthems Electronic 80s (CD3)
Artist: Ministry Of Sound
Genre: Electronica, Club/Dance, Disco, Nu Disco, Pop
Title: Nostalgie Love Volume 3 (CD1)
Artist: The Young Professionals
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Dancefloor, Disco, Pop
Title: Fetenhits - The Rare Maxi Classics (CD1)
Artist: Fetenhits
Genre: Electro, Disco, Italo Disco, Pop, Synth Pop
Title: Best Of Lovesongs (CD2)
Artist: Die Hit Giganten
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, New Wave, Pop, Acoustic
Title: Mastermix DJ Beats Volume 97
Artist: DJ Beats
Genre: Garage, Post Disco, Hip Hop/R&B, New Wave, Disco, Synth Pop, Alternative