Billy Idol was seven when he fell in love with rock 'n' roll and began dreaming of writing songs and playing in a band. At 70, the British rocker is celebrating 50 years in music with a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction alongside Steve Stevens, the guitarist and songwriting partner who helped shape his biggest hits.
"I would have thought I wouldn't even be here, let alone rocking!" Idol told Billboard ahead of the Nov. 14 ceremony at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. He said he could scarcely imagine as a boy that he would still be making music five decades into his career, or that fans would still want to hear it. Having Stevens inducted with him, he said, was "the icing on the cake."
Idol got his start in 1976 with Generation X, becoming one of the recognizable voices of the London punk scene. His solo career took off in the early 1980s as "Dancing With Myself" and "White Wedding" carried his punk attitude onto MTV. Working with Stevens, he brought hard-rock guitar and dance rhythms together on songs such as "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without a Face." The Rock Hall traces his influence through artists including Green Day, Foo Fighters and Miley Cyrus.
The pair marked the occasion a day early with a free acoustic set on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall. The city proclaimed Nov. 13 "Billy Idol Day," and Idol and Stevens played "Rebel Yell" for fans after receiving recognition from the city.
Idol also has another album in the works. He told Billboard that the new material uses more electronic sounds while drawing on the '80s rock style he and Stevens established together. An edited broadcast of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ceremony is set for Dec. 9 on ABC and Disney+.
