William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), better known as Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. He first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X. He then embarked on a successful solo career, aided by a series of stylish music videos, making him one of the first MTV stars. Idol continues to tour with guitarist Steve Stevens and has a worldwide fan base.
Idol was born in Stanmore, Middlesex, the son o...
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William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), better known as Billy Idol, is an English rock musician. He first achieved fame in the punk rock era as a member of the band Generation X. He then embarked on a successful solo career, aided by a series of stylish music videos, making him one of the first MTV stars. Idol continues to tour with guitarist Steve Stevens and has a worldwide fan base.
Idol was born in Stanmore, Middlesex, the son of a salesman. He is the most famous ex-pupil of Tideway School in Newhaven, East Sussex. The name Billy Idol was inspired by a schoolteacher's description of Broad as "idle". His family emigrated to the United States in 1958, but returned to the U.K. in 1962. Idol lived in Worthing before attending Sussex University for only one year before joining the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans. Idol first joined the punk rock band Siouxsie & the Banshees (before the band had decided on that name) in 1976, but soon quit and joined Chelsea in 1977...
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