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Billy Idol
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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.
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Dr. Billy Idol (Born William Fredrick-Sanchez Idol V) is a world-reknown monster hunter, and guardian of punk rock, and prominent scientist studying theoretical physics. He is most notatble for working alone in dark basements during thunderstorms, and he is well known for dancing at weddings, especially the first wedding for his little sister (presumably a shotgun wedding on a nice day). He has covered numerous subjects, including what happens when rock stars get interested in cyber punk and do a poor job at it, and he is ... known for introducing the letter l to the English language. Most people misunderstood this and thought he was in fact saying Rebel "Yell". However, he was noting the rebellious nature of this new letter.
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On his new LP, Cyberpunk, Billy Idol has re-defined his approach to creating music without really changing the music itself. The album was created in Idol's home studio, which is controlled by a Macintosh computer and makes extensive use of other electronic gear. But despite the samples, dance beats, and strange electronic noises, Cyberpunk is musically more in tune with Idol's early work than his last few albums. The electronics have enabled Idol to re-embrace the DIY ethic of the punk era and come up with his best album is years. Idol does not allow himself to be overcome by the electronics, as all of the songs on Cypberpunk would be strong enough to stand up with more traditional instrumentation. Idol's fascination with technology does not end with the music, as he is ... put out a limited edition Cyberpunk computer disk and is getting into computerized video.
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One of the legends of the alternative rock music industry, Billy Idol has established his name beyond compare. Born as William Michael Albert Broad, Idol became a punk rock musician in the 1980s. Idol was born on November 30, 1955 in Middlesex England.
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Billy Idol represents the bridge between punk rock and hard rock/metal, a logical enough connection that somehow seemed unlikely until he made the transition. Idol left Sussex University in 1976 to join the punk movement, specifically the group of rabid Sex Pistols fans called the Bromley Contingent. Many of the members formed their own bands, and Idol began Generation X with Tony James. Generation X became a moderate success during the punk heyday of the late '70s, especially in England, with Idol on snarling lead vocals. When the band split in 1981, Idol went to New York and hooked up with manager Bill Aucoin (who had handled Kiss, among others). This resulted in Idol's grooming as more of a mainstream rock figure.
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Billy Idol is back! On tour for most of the summer of 2001, Idol wound up the year with a three-night stand at The Roxy in Los Angeles and New Year's Eve shows in Las Vegas. Touring with a seasoned band that includes original guitarist Steve Stevens, Idol has been playing clubs, theaters, casinos and “one-offs,” including a VH-1 special and Neil Young's annual Bridge School benefit (where Idol reportedly stole the show). Traveling light, with FOH and monitor gear supplied by Sound Image (Escondido, Calif.), the tour has been using a variety of P.A. systems, including JBL VerTec, Electro-Voice X-Array and L-Acoustic V-DOSC line arrays. Mix caught the second of two late-December shows at the House of Blues in Anaheim, Calif.
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Billy Idol