Billy Idol recalls the 'exciting' yet 'weird' times of the 1980s
The rock icon chats to Absolute Radio's Leona Graham
Last updated 19th Oct 2021
Rock icon Billy Idol has told Absolute Radio’s Leona Graham that the 1980s was an “exciting” yet very “weird” time for him.
Following the dissolution of his punk band Generation X, Billy Idol moved to New York in 1981 and released his debut solo EP ‘Don’t Stop’ that year followed by his eponymous debut album a year later.
Part of the MTV driven Second British Invasion of the US in 1982, Billy Idol was propelled to instant global stardom when ‘White Wedding’ became a permanent fixture on MTV.
Reflecting upon the early eighties, Billy Idol told Leona: “It was just really exciting. I mean (it was) a little weird too because over time, with MTV getting bigger and bigger, you’re in everybody’s front room - everybody felt they knew you.
“So, it got a little crazy just ‘cos if you stepped outside your door, everybody couldn’t help but go, ‘IT’S BILLY IDOL!’ They just couldn’t help it!”
Billy continued: “You wanted that because you wanted people to love the music and you wanted your music to get to them, but it did drive me a little… it just made you a little bit insular cos you had to live in little rooms all the time and that’s a little weird.
“It was fun making the videos, we used to call it ‘Video Hell’ but it still was fun, because they were my ideas and we were watching them come to life. I worked with great people and it was a fun time and sort of a crunch time, where everything was like ‘wow’ one thing after another. Like the Rebel Yell tour, we went from playing in clubs to theatres to arenas, you know it’s like ‘wow!” in ten months.
Billy added: “It was exciting, very exciting and just coming up, writing the songs… it was just fun, you know? Just always exploring things and then, of course, it was still at the age of the sexual revolution, so it was still pretty wild out there. We had a lot of fun, yeah. Absolute 80s... Absolute lot of fun, yeah!”
Listen to Billy Idol on Absolute Radio:
You can head Leona Graham chatting to Billy Idol every night this week from 7pm on Absolute Classic Rock.
Billy Idol discusses how a horrific motorbike accident inspired his recently released ‘The Roadside EP’, his 40+ years in the music industry, and how he got the name for his second album ‘Rebel Yell’ from a beer that he saw The Rolling Stones drinking at a party.
Don’t forget, Billy Idol hits the road in June 2022 on a six-date UK arena tour with special guests The Go-Gos. Tickets are on sale from Absolute Radio Tickets now.
See Billy Idol at the following shows:
JUNE 2022
Glasgow The SSE Hydro – Sat 11th
Manchester AO Arena – Mon 13th
Birmingham Resorts World Arena – Wed 15th
London The SSE Arena, Wembley – Sat 18th
Cardiff Motorpoint Arena – Sun 19th
Leeds First Direct Arena – Tue 21st