We always had a bit of R&B really, so it was actually fun to revisit that. Back in the early days of Billy Idol, "Hot In The City" and "Mony Mony" had girls on the backgrounds. We really hadn't done anything like that since something like "Flesh For Fantasy" had a bit of an R&B thing about it. "Miss Nobody" comes out of nowhere with this pop/R&B flavor. "Cage" is a classic-sounding Billy Idol rocker, then "Running From The Ghost" is almost metal, like what the Devil's Playground album was like back in the mid-2000s. I could see whatever we needed to do, we could nail it. With someone like Steve, I knew what he could do. Then when I got into my solo career, that was the fun of it. We didn't stay doing just the Ramones two-minute music. Generation X actually did move around inside punk rock. With someone like Steve Stevens, and then back in the day Keith Forsey producing. But if they really listen to your catalog, it's vastly different. Steve has said that you like to mix up a variety of styles, yet everyone assumes you're the "Rebel Yell"/"White Wedding" guy. Idol discusses his musical journey, his desire to constantly move forward, and the strong connection that he shares with Stevens. While there is recognizable personnel and a distinguishable sound throughout a lot of his work, Billy Idol has always pushed himself to try different things. Their union remains one of the strongest collaborations in rock 'n roll history. The duo reunited in 2001 for an episode of " VH1 Storytellers " and have been back in the saddle for two decades. "Bitter Taste," from his last EP, The Roadside, reflects on surviving the accident.)Īlthough Idol and Stevens split in the late '80s - the skilled guitarist fronted Steve Stevens & The Atomic Playboys, and collaborated with Michael Jackson, Rick Ocasek, Vince Neil, and Harold Faltermeyer (on the GRAMMY-winning "Top Gun Anthem") - their common history and shared musical bond has been undeniable. (Idol's 2014 memoir Dancing With Myself, details a 1990 motorcycle accident that nearly claimed a leg, and how becoming a father steered him to reject hard drugs. Idol continues to reckon with his demons - they both grappled with addiction during the '80s - and the singer is open about those struggles on the record and the page. Other tracks on Cage incorporate metallic riffing and funky R&B grooves.
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The title track is a classic Billy Idol banger expressing the desire to free himself from personal constraints and live a better life. His latest release is Cage, the second in a trilogy of annual four-song EPs. He will play a five-show Vegas residency in November, and filmmaker Jonas Akerlund is working on a documentary about Idol’s life. Billy continues to produce vital Idol music by collaborating with producers and songwriters - including Miley Cyrus - who share his forward-thinking vision. They have racked up multiple GRAMMY nominations, in addition to one gold, one double platinum, and four platinum albums thanks to hits like "Cradle Of Love," "Flesh For Fantasy," and "Eyes Without A Face."īut, unlike many legacy artists, Idol is anything but a relic. In the '80s, he went on to a solo career combining rock, pop, and punk into a distinct sound that transformed him and his musical partner, guitarist Steve Stevens, into icons. Idol first made a splash in the latter half of the '70s with the British punk band Generation X. While some may think of Idol solely for "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding," the singer's musical influences span genres and many of his tunes are less turbo-charged than his '80s hits would belie. This week, spoke with Billy Idol about his latest EP, Cage, and continuing to rock through decades of changing tastes.īilly Idol is a true rock 'n' roll survivor who has persevered through cultural shifts and personal struggles.
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Living Legends is a series that spotlights icons in music still going strong today.
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