Reader Leah writes in:
The last thing Billy Idol needs right now to kick start his career is a video that looks like it was made w/ photoshop.
Haa. That was way harsh, Tai. Er, Leah. But I agree it could use more Jennifer Love Hewitt. You gotta admit he looks pretty good for 60.
I saw Mr. Idol film VH1 Storytellers a few years ago. He did every song three times, but it was fun. Last night Springsteen taped a Storytellers in South Jersey, but Stereogum couldn’t score a ticket [frowny emoticon]. I’ll ask my executive peeps for a review though, and post the setlist here later.
Didjaknow: Breakfast Club theme “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” was originally offered to Billy Idol? He turned it down, as did Bryan Ferry. And the Pretenders. Chrissie Hynde instead recommended her husband’s band Simple Minds. They almost turned it down as well (Jim Kerr didn’t like the lyrics). It became Minds’ only American #1, and the most awesomest ’80s movie song, like, ever!! Promise I won’t mention John Hughes movies anymore this week.
Billy’s new album Devil’s Playground is in stores now.
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“We’re gonna get extreeeeme!”
He’s edgy, he’s “in your face.” You’ve heard the expression “let’s get busy”? Well, this is a singer who gets “biz-zay!”
Though I think if Billy really wanted to get pro-active with this comeback he should have Rasta-fied his image by about 10 percent or so.
i gotta a request for you. could you give a step by step explanation of how you go about finding mp3’s on the internet. i’ve been looking for that BOC song since forever ago.
I remember the story at the time was that “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” was offered to Roxy Music, but hadn’t heard the Billy angle before. That song became truly an albatross around the necks of what had been a very good band. Years later they were still lip-syncing it on syndicated tv shows.
Hubs, you really need a step by step explanation as to how to find MP3s?
Are you new to this here internet?
This video represents a Has Been nexus.
Motley Crue could swap their singer for Billy to successfully storm arenas and minor league ballparks, and Billy’s band could enlist Vince Neil to more properly showcase their wares at 12:30 on a Tuesday nite at Any Dive Bar, USA.
Only then will order be restored to the universe.
I love Billy Idol, but I would like him to remain in the 80s so I will not watch this video.
come now jeff. be friendly. i’m asking stereogum, knowing that he has a nack for it, and that he might be able to give me a few ideas i haven’t yet come across. but thanks for asking (please read into this)!
Billy’s gtr player, Steve Stevens, actually backed Vince Neil on his solo LP and tour. Funny, eh?
Does anyone remember when he did that foreign ikea commercial where he was rapping?? Man, that was GREAT, does anyone still have a copy of that?
“…I wanna get extreme…
take a slice of my lemon pie
one slice will get you high
one more will make you high….”
Ugh. A lyrical depth and breadth matched only by Kip Winger.
Billy Idol is 50 not 60.
hmmm…
the story as I always heard it was that the song was originally offered to .38 Special…
which would’ve probably made me a southern rock kid instead of a new wave kid…
so that’s the scary version of the story I like to believe anyway…
M
What a bunch of haters. If you liked his music in the 80s then why slag his music now? It’s like finding out there was a lost Billy Idol album. Hell, he looks *exactly* the same, so maybe there *was* a lost album. Shoot, I’d kill to look that good now, let alone 18 years from now.
If yo hated his music then, then game on, I guess.
Billy ended up doing “Don’t You…” – it’s on his greatest hits
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000059QYB/002-8773521-0834432?v=glance
Actually his eyes look brighter. I wonder if he’s doing a bit less o’ da drugs these days?