Billy Idol

Billy Idol (born William Michael Albert Broad on November 30, 1955 in Middlesex, England) is a British-born hard rock musician and American superstar. Idol attended Sussex University[?] for only a year before joining the Bromley Contingent of keen Sex Pistols fans. During this period, Idol decided to become a musician and formed a band called Generation X in 1976 (see 1976 in music).

Generation Z signed to Chrysalis Records and released three albums before breaking up. Idol moved to New York City and began working as a solo artist and began working with Steve Stevens[?], soon becoming MTV staples with "White Wedding" and "Dancing with Myself". Idol's first LP, Rebel Yell (1984, 1984 in music) was a blockbuster success and established Idol's superstar status in the United States.

Idol didn't release a new album until 1987 (see 1987 in music); Whiplash Smile[?] sold well, but failed to live up to expectations. Stevens soon left for a solo career and Idol continued. A cover of Tommy James' "Mony Mony" did well on MTV and Idol playing Cousin Kevin in a performance of Tommy. Just before the release of Charmed Life[?] in 1990 (see 1990 in music), Idol was in a motorcycle accident in which almost lost his leg. The album sold extremely well, but Idol decided to take a break and acted in The Doors[?], directed by Oliver Stone. The follow-up to Charmed Life was 1993's Cyberpunk[?] (see 1993 in music), which was a flop, and Idol sank into drug addiction, nearly dying of an overdose in 1994.

Idol returned to the popular eye in 1998, when he played himself in The Wedding Singer[?], an Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore romantic comedy. Idol appeared on VH1 Storytellers[?] and issued a Greatest Hits CD in 2001.