The "laser" sound during the guitar solo was actually achieved by Steve Stevens the guitarist pulling the trigger on a toy laser gun placed over the guitar's pick-up. A technique he still uses today.
The combination of the words "most underrated/overrated" is one of the most overrated comments made on UA-cam, tempted as I am to give you a pass on this one. He rocks!
I believe he was a pioneer in using synth guitar technology. Robert Fripp and Andy Summers also were into this. The "keyboard" sounds you hear were actually played on synth guitar.
You can actually find videos of how he does it. It’s a toy laser gun he modifies into his rig. He actually was selling them at one point not sure if he still is. Steve Stevens is so underrated.
@@tristramcoffin926 I haven't heard it but that's good to know, maybe I'll check it out. Reminds me how Duran Duran cranked out some great music after their popularity (in the USA at least) dropped off.
@@tristramcoffin926 I listened to NFW. Might have heard it before, am not sure. Not a bad song. It has a lot of trademark Billy Idol feel but is a bit different than his prior hits in tone perhaps. I'm tempted to say that he might have tried too hard in his earlier days to stick to rebellious and snarky persona, and that maybe that's part of why he passed on Dont You Forget About Me, which Jim Kerr and Simple Minds did brilliantly but which Billy could also have likely done brilliantly.
That "Laser" is not a synth, sound-effect, or guitar pedal. It's played on the guitar. Michael Jackson hired Steve Steven's to replicate it on his song Dirty Diana.
It’s the spring reverb built into the bottom of the guitar amp - - in the pre-digital FX days, a physical spring that ‘echos’ the sound being put into it. But if you kick the amp (or accidentally knock the amp over as I often did), the spring goes crazy and makes that ‘laser sound’. For those of us who remember it, it didn’t make us think of lasers, it made us think "Steve Stevens will STOP AT NOTHING!".
Had never noticed how much Billy sounds like Jim Morrison. Really nails the inflections here and there. Always enjoyed singing along with these guys because my bass voice can do a falsetto baritone.
@@jgsrhythm100 I saw them (Ian + Robbie and Ray from The Doors) in Vegas a long time ago, and it was completely amazing. I already loved The Cult, but Ian was something else during those shows. I did get to meet Ray Manzerek backstage, he was totally on 'herbal supplements' :)
Andy hit the nail on the head - this is a timeless piece of the '80's. If you're going to define '80s music, this has to be included in the description.
This boomer agrees. The 80's were the decade when a lot of stuff sounded like just more of the same and it became boring. But you could still find some really great stuff. The 80's were the sunset decade. I personally don't listen to much 90's or beyond. I tried. I had teenagers in the 90's and I tried. Just doesn't stick.
@@danithompson1693 ,I'm a boomer ...mom of 5 1 gen x and 4 millennial's so I can listen to everything from Motown to rap . I stopped listening about 2015, when MTV became a reality station and my husband hogged the radio and only listens to Sinatra and Dean Martin, lol
@@leslierosenstrauch5182 I certainly agree that when VH1 stopped doing a weekly top 20 music video countdown, I didn't listen to any new music. About 2010? My own two millennials listened to mostly 60's to 80's. My son's favorite group? The Beatles. My daughter's? The Black funk and singer-songwriters of the 70's. Sure they listened to current to them things, but they were more drawn to older stuff.
@@danithompson1693 In the early 2000's I started listening to Americana almost exclusively. I'll listen to new rockabilly band's occasionally (tons of them) also some of the new space rock band's and the Black Keys type of band's. There is newer music I can listen to but I've yet to find anything that really grabs me like so many band's did in the late 60's early 70's. Age probably has something to do with it because I've heard a few songs from a fairly new rock band called Rival Son's and their pretty good much better imo than that Gretta band but I think if I was young I'd probably be into them but to me they're just retro
Billy Idol was a highly underrated talent of the new wave era. He had, arguably, the best voice of the 80s. This song really brought to the fore the subtlety and the growl of his vocal talents. He could write some pretty damn good lyrics, too.
I thought his cover of L.A. Woman was fantastic. He made it lively. All credit to the Doors, but I never liked L.A.Woman from them. To slow for my taste. Billy kicked it into high gear, as probably only Billy can do. Yes I am prejudiced, I am a huge Idol fan spanning 40 years now!
@@davidbooth7778 , I saw The Fixx in the 80s when they either opened for The Police or Rush; I'll have to go back and check, but they were a decent band back then. I thought most music from that decade was crap.
I kinda have to disagree with a couple of you guys. I grew up in the 80’s and wasn’t a big fan of the synth-pop sound. Howard Jones and Thomas Dolby each had their one big hit but then what?
Billy is a rocker. He released this song when I was 23. He's still jamming his butt off at 65 yrs old. His guitarist Steve Steven's is his secret weapon. Dude is legit. REQUEST PLEASE: Tommy Bolin-Post Toastee
as with most 80s rockers, this is improved dramatically by listening to an entire stadium of people roaring "more! more! more!" Very bread and circuses.
I always get so excited when that Andy & Alex notification hits! It's pure joy watching someone not only discover, but appreciate, the music of my early teens 💜
Idol's first two albums were produced by percussionist and songwriter Keith Forsey. Forsey co-wrote "Don't You (Forget About Me)" for the movie the Breakfast Club, recorded by Simple Minds.
Yes, you heard that the song was pitched to Billy Idol first, and he said No? Then it was pitched to a second person, who also said No. Simple Minds was the third choice. When Billy heard the Simple Minds version, I heard he said that he had made a mistake in passing on the song.
@@susanklasinski1805 The Simple Minds version is one of my favorite songs from the entire ‘80s, but I sure would love to hear a Billy Idol or Bryan Ferry version of that song!
I was 20 turning 21 in 83. Loved Billy Idol. My best mate, Harri, would put this cassette on in his car whenever we went anywhere. Sad.y he passed away last year. Forever missed😢Can’t hear BI without thinking of him.
Billy Idol has earned his stripes the hard way and has been in the game much longer than most think. His discography is deep and full of bangers, he has always had top notch people playing with him If Iggy were British ;)
Believe it or not, they reacted to “The Stroke” already. I believe it was for a Music Share Monday. Alex had heard it before, and shared it with Andy. I’d love for them to react to more from Billy Squier!
GREAT REACTION A&A! Billy Idol had a lot of hits from the 80"s and early 90's. Also, he played the role of Jim's party buddy "Cat" in the film The Doors. Check out other songs, and MTV hits such as "Mony Mony", "Cradle Of Love" and "Eyes Without A Face" and "Dancin' With Myself." Cheers!
Cool how Billy Idol named the song after partying with The Rolling Stones, might have been Keith Richards drinking a bottle of Rebel Yell whisky, Billy asked what he was drinking, this was mentioned in the super cool Billy Idol VH1 live episode of Storytellers.
Probably his best song, but one of the few songs that is better with the video. Super high energy. The wife and I saw him in 2015 and he was on top of his game. Cheers!
Idol’s lead guitarist is Steve Stevens. He has a few UA-cam videos teaching how to play some of these songs. More interestingly, he won a Grammy for his instrumentation on the theme to the movie “Top Gun”
Steve Stevens actually made the laser noise with his guitar, effects and a sick whammy. I used to have a guitar magazine that explained how he did it. AND I know he did it with his guitar because I saw him do it at the very first concert I ever attended, which was the Billy Idol Rebel Yell tour!
"I don't really like the 80s stuff". Alex you say that all the time but yet you do like a fair amount of songs. Perhaps you just have not heard enough?
Yeah I have been trying to decipher that for awhile. I think he means he doesn't like over the top cheesy computer overproduction, and the 80's is where we first see wide usage of computers introduced into production, but for every bad 80's sample, there are probably an equal number of great examples of production that worked out. The first time I heard him say it was for Yes, "Owner of a Lonely Heart", but what he doesn't realize is that the album 90125 brought Yes to an entire new generation of listeners and had some other great songs.
Back in the day, it used to be a thing to have lip synch contests in clubs. *Every* guy came dressed as Billy Idol. I’ve seen guys of all shapes and colors do Billy Idol. Hysterical. Thanks for bringing back the memory. I almost unsubscribed so I could subscribe again but I was good and liked it instead. Keep up the good work!
Andy, I hope your big day is going really well and exceeding all of your expectations! Love this song, and love that y'all enjoyed it, too! Other Billy Idol songs to check out are "Eyes Without a Face", "Dancing With Myself", "Catch My Fall", "Flesh for Fantasy", and "To Be a Lover".
I envy you guys. You've got the taste to appreciate all these songs from a long while back and you've got a zillion of them to enjoy for the first time.
One of my guilty pleasures! Only below Status Quo, who are really worth checking out. (and I don't just mean Andy and Alex, you do it too, you won't be disappointed!)
I saw a lot of concerts in the 80's, and I will forever remember Billy Idol as the headliner to the only concert that was so bad our entire party wanted to leave early.
This is probably my favorite Billy Idol song and from my day. He was king of the Punk Rock genre and you could do the 80's dance to it perfectly (now called The Carlton Dance lol). The video to this song is so much fun to watch between him and his lead guitar, Steve Stevens. My other favorite is his great cover of, "Mony, Mony". Great reaction again, guys!
Fun fact, you mentioned The Doors, Billy idol originally had a sizable role in The Doors movie but broke his leg right before filming so his role was downsized to a cameo role in a house party scene, but he's in there! 🔥
Check out his old band Generation X. They had a great tune called 'Kiss Me Deadly' that is well worth checking out, get to hear a bit of his Punk rock/ Rockabilly origins.
My favorite video of yours to date. I think people have a preconceived notion about Billy Idol and don't realize what an amazing talent he is. I read his book and was truly blown away by how smart he is.
Billy Idol has a few scenes in the Doors movie. He was supposed to have a bigger role but had a motorcycle accident before filming so he played the character Cat instead.
I'm somewhat surprised you don't get more (any?) requests for John Cougar Mellencamp. He's kind of a poor man's John Fogerty. Had a ton of enormous hits. Not like Billy Idol so much but same era (I think?). Speaking of Fogerty, an underrated song is Long As I Can See The Light.
I don't know that I'd call JCM a poor man's John Fogerty, but I thumbed up for including him more. I saw him (JCM) in concert and he was great, had a great touring band but also did well at times with just himself solo with acoustic guitar and vocal and harmonica. Fogerty is great too. I just never thought to compare the two together.
@@paulsiebeneicher4536 Yeah, just a thought that occurred. Interestingly, I did a search after I sent that and found this - ua-cam.com/video/JXhaWtRBwdg/v-deo.html Pretty cool.
@@ralphdyer4471 yeah nice, thanks. Ironically perhaps, Green River is the one CCR or Fogerty tune which I remember playing, back when I was bassist in the Johnny Elliott Band (local NJ act). That song was always one of my favorite parts of the set.
It’s an interesting comparison. Both gravelly voiced folksy types. But yeah JCM deserves a look see. Sold a crap load of records in the day. I’d hazard a guess a bunch more than Billy Idol , although that’s not everything.
when hearing and watching this performed live, it is a must that the crowd participates with every "MORE MORE MORE!!!" lyric drop and also do fist pumps in the air while yelling.
After White Wedding we HAD to swing back quick to hit some more Billy Idol! Loving it, what’s next from him?! 🔥
His version of L.A. Woman is pretty good. Hit Flesh for Fantasy
Dancing With Myself
Cradle of Love, but you sort of have to watch the music video to it (it's absolutely iconic).
Dead end Justice by the runaways at next plssss...
Its a 7 min song. ....
Eyes Without A Face, Hot In The City, and Cradle Of Love. Saw Billy live in 1983. Awesome. This song rocked live.
Anyone else reflexively throwing punches in the air when they hear this?
😂🤣😂
hahaha
You mean people do not? What is wrong with them?
I sure as hell do and so do my neighbors.
Always! Lol They really need to watch the music video and how he gets the crowd going!
"Eyes Without A Face" should be next. Did you know that Billy Idol played himself in the movie The Wedding Singer?
That would be a great song to do!
He was great in that
He acted in the Doors movie that they're going to watch as well (not playing himself of course).
Co-signed.
Great song! Eyes should be the next one. Maybe some INXS too? Have they done any yet?
The "laser" sound during the guitar solo was actually achieved by Steve Stevens the guitarist pulling the trigger on a toy laser gun placed over the guitar's pick-up. A technique he still uses today.
Whammy
Nope, @@savage_skirt5386- I thought so too but Steve Stevens showed how it works in an interview.
@@savage_skirt5386He has said many times that it was a toy laser gun
I love how you explain " Technique" Steve was the one of the last whammy bar technicians that actually understood how to use it❤❤😅
This is one of those songs that’ll get ya a speedin ticket
Hah true
Steve Stevens, Billy's guitar player is one of the most underrated players.
Stevens was the secret sauce that made this stuff great.
He's not under rated, he's a fucking legend.
The combination of the words "most underrated/overrated" is one of the most overrated comments made on UA-cam, tempted as I am to give you a pass on this one. He rocks!
He certainly knows how to coax some gnarly sounds out of his instrument, I think that much can safely be said
He reminds me of Neil Geraldo, another underrated guitarist of the "synth era."
The Idol snarl is one of the quintessential sounds of the '80s.
^^^THIS^^^
And looks!
That wasn't a laser effect... it was the sonic genius Steve Stevens finding a yet to be found new guitar sound manipulation.
I believe he was a pioneer in using synth guitar technology. Robert Fripp and Andy Summers also were into this. The "keyboard" sounds you hear were actually played on synth guitar.
Sounded more like a machine gun to me.
@@michaelconnors8525 Billy Idol always carried a keyboardist in his band
You can actually find videos of how he does it. It’s a toy laser gun he modifies into his rig. He actually was selling them at one point not sure if he still is. Steve Stevens is so underrated.
@@biskygiver that’s Stevens bombing the whammy bar ala EVH but with his own style. Well that the laser part, but he does it in other parts of the song
"Eyes Without a Face" -- it's a ballad but has a really great rock breakdown in it. Great tune, and probably my favorite by Billy Idol.
Good call.
And a great bassline!
That's a good one. One of his best songs is actually far after his popularity waned. New Future Weapon will surprise you if you haven't heard it, yet.
@@tristramcoffin926 I haven't heard it but that's good to know, maybe I'll check it out. Reminds me how Duran Duran cranked out some great music after their popularity (in the USA at least) dropped off.
@@tristramcoffin926 I listened to NFW. Might have heard it before, am not sure. Not a bad song. It has a lot of trademark Billy Idol feel but is a bit different than his prior hits in tone perhaps. I'm tempted to say that he might have tried too hard in his earlier days to stick to rebellious and snarky persona, and that maybe that's part of why he passed on Dont You Forget About Me, which Jim Kerr and Simple Minds did brilliantly but which Billy could also have likely done brilliantly.
That "Laser" is not a synth, sound-effect, or guitar pedal. It's played on the guitar. Michael Jackson hired Steve Steven's to replicate it on his song Dirty Diana.
Yep....
Yep
Yep
It’s the spring reverb built into the bottom of the guitar amp - - in the pre-digital FX days, a physical spring that ‘echos’ the sound being put into it. But if you kick the amp (or accidentally knock the amp over as I often did), the spring goes crazy and makes that ‘laser sound’. For those of us who remember it, it didn’t make us think of lasers, it made us think "Steve Stevens will STOP AT NOTHING!".
He does it with an actual toy laser gun next to the pickups on the guitar
Alex: “Sounds kinda like The Doors”. Check out Billy’s version of L.A. Woman that was released with the Doors movie.
Omg YES! Love that version!
Had never noticed how much Billy sounds like Jim Morrison. Really nails the inflections here and there. Always enjoyed singing along with these guys because my bass voice can do a falsetto baritone.
Yeah, plus Billy was in the movie as well.
While your at it.,check Ian Asturbury of " The Cult) on tour with the Doors, also doing L.A Woman.
@@jgsrhythm100 I saw them (Ian + Robbie and Ray from The Doors) in Vegas a long time ago, and it was completely amazing. I already loved The Cult, but Ian was something else during those shows. I did get to meet Ray Manzerek backstage, he was totally on 'herbal supplements' :)
She cried MORE, MORE, MORE. One of Billy's best!
That's ridiculous. 38 years later and this track still gives me the chills. God bless Billy and apparently, he's still doing it!
Billy is a great hook writer and under rated vocalists.
Don' t forget Steve Stevens. He & Billy co-wrote this song, and every track on 'Rebel Yell' album except one.
So underrated! Some have more range or whatever, but his voice is addictive.
Andy hit the nail on the head - this is a timeless piece of the '80's. If you're going to define '80s music, this has to be included in the description.
"Eyes Without a Face" and "Flesh For Fantasy" are two of his best songs.
Both will give good representations of Billy's very under-rated voice.
@@redarmysoja More Truth
Truth
He was HUGE back in the '80's! You had to love him.
Played this in a band in the 80's and the crowd would go freakin' NUTS!
That was not a laser sound effect, that was Steve Stevens' Ray-Gun sound produced by him and his guitar!
About freaking time , all 80's music doesn't suck....sincerely a boomer❤
Even when 80s tunes do suck, they're still far more original than the majority of music released in the last 30 years.
This boomer agrees. The 80's were the decade when a lot of stuff sounded like just more of the same and it became boring. But you could still find some really great stuff. The 80's were the sunset decade. I personally don't listen to much 90's or beyond. I tried. I had teenagers in the 90's and I tried. Just doesn't stick.
@@danithompson1693 ,I'm a boomer ...mom of 5 1 gen x and 4 millennial's so I can listen to everything from Motown to rap . I stopped listening about 2015, when MTV became a reality station and my husband hogged the radio and only listens to Sinatra and Dean Martin, lol
@@leslierosenstrauch5182 I certainly agree that when VH1 stopped doing a weekly top 20 music video countdown, I didn't listen to any new music. About 2010? My own two millennials listened to mostly 60's to 80's. My son's favorite group? The Beatles. My daughter's? The Black funk and singer-songwriters of the 70's. Sure they listened to current to them things, but they were more drawn to older stuff.
@@danithompson1693 In the early 2000's I started listening to Americana almost exclusively. I'll listen to new rockabilly band's occasionally (tons of them) also some of the new space rock band's and the Black Keys type of band's. There is newer music I can listen to but I've yet to find anything that really grabs me like so many band's did in the late 60's early 70's. Age probably has something to do with it because I've heard a few songs from a fairly new rock band called Rival Son's and their pretty good much better imo than that Gretta band but I think if I was young I'd probably be into them but to me they're just retro
Billy Idol was a highly underrated talent of the new wave era. He had, arguably, the best voice of the 80s. This song really brought to the fore the subtlety and the growl of his vocal talents. He could write some pretty damn good lyrics, too.
That laser sound during the guitar solo is the guitarist using a toy near his guitar pickup.
Yep, Steve Stevens used a Japanese toy ray gun to get that sound.
Didn't know that. Very cool!
Yes, a toy laser gun against the guitar pickup the same way Eddie Van Halen used a drill again the pickup for the opening of Poundcake.
His remake of Mony Mony is one of the few remakes that I like even better than the original.
Same, I agree 100%
Absolutely fabulous. If the guys would watch the video at the same time it would be even better too.
I thought his cover of L.A. Woman was fantastic. He made it lively. All credit to the Doors, but I never liked L.A.Woman from them. To slow for my taste. Billy kicked it into high gear, as probably only Billy can do. Yes I am prejudiced, I am a huge Idol fan spanning 40 years now!
La woman by idol was better than the original. As was Don’t You Forget about me - better than the original as well.
@@moneymusicmindset He passed on it till after Simple Minds recorded it, then made it his own. Think a rare incident for him. (Glad he did do it)
Billy idol is a legendary artist in my opinion… glad you guys are keeping epic music alive! Love the content, keep em coming!
You should see Billy Idol live. With his wattage and charisma, the songs take on a whole new level of intensity.
More Alex liking 80s music he says he doesn’t like.
Alex tends to like music that's in the pocket. This song grooves.
I love a lot of the 80's music...
Thomas Dolby, Howard Jones...some great keyboard, synth players...a lot of fun music, IMO.
Ya, wonder if they will ever do some FIXX. Alot of great 80's tunes if you hunt thru the crap.
@@davidbooth7778 , I saw The Fixx in the 80s when they either opened for The Police or Rush; I'll have to go back and check, but they were a decent band back then. I thought most music from that decade was crap.
I kinda have to disagree with a couple of you guys. I grew up in the 80’s and wasn’t a big fan of the synth-pop sound. Howard Jones and Thomas Dolby each had their one big hit but then what?
Billy is a rocker. He released this song when I was 23. He's still jamming his butt off at 65 yrs old. His guitarist Steve Steven's is his secret weapon. Dude is legit. REQUEST PLEASE:
Tommy Bolin-Post Toastee
Yes! What old Skool said! Post Toastee! Straight up banger
Hey Old Skool - A&A did Bolin's "Post Toastie" on a live stream 2-3 months ago and loved it. You should go looking for it.
@@garyschill7923 thanks Gary, sure wish they'd do it straight up. Their subs would love it. I'll look for it.
this song was on a 45 record in the 70s ...
as with most 80s rockers, this is improved dramatically by listening to an entire stadium of people roaring "more! more! more!" Very bread and circuses.
You really need to see the live video of this even better, eyes without a face good rock ballad from Billy
Oh hell yes! I had to stop when I was watching to come watch this immediately.
Me too lol!!
Ditto
Billy Idol undoubtedly has the best sneer in rock.
Billy Idol in the 80's was magic.
One of my favorites.
This album is a top 10 for me.
"Eyes Without a Face" ... love that guitar solo.
A song and vocal that leaves you almost speechless. Simply beyond grading
Good reaction, I was lucky seeing Billy Idol in the 80’s, absolutely brilliant on stage, great memories
Eyes Without a Face would be a great change of pace to do next from Billy Idol. Then back to some others like Dancing With Myself and Cradle of Love.
I like Shock to the System. Talk about speeding in the car because of the song playing! I got to put the cruise control on for that one.
"Even Billy Idol gets it" Wedding Singer!
Amazing song. Billy was so cool back in the day, cruising in his own lane.❣️🎶🎼
Solid A+ . And if you'd see the "Billy Idol sneer"....and guitarist's hair...that might push it to an 'S' . A stereo gem!!
This was top-level '80s party music.
One of the songs that pushed Billy Idol into super stardom. A true kick ass track.
I always get so excited when that Andy & Alex notification hits! It's pure joy watching someone not only discover, but appreciate, the music of my early teens 💜
Saw him live that year in a small venue…it was great!!!! Lots of boys there. 😉
Idol's first two albums were produced by percussionist and songwriter Keith Forsey. Forsey co-wrote "Don't You (Forget About Me)" for the movie the Breakfast Club, recorded by Simple Minds.
Yes, you heard that the song was pitched to Billy Idol first, and he said No? Then it was pitched to a second person, who also said No. Simple Minds was the third choice. When Billy heard the Simple Minds version, I heard he said that he had made a mistake in passing on the song.
🥰
@@paulsiebeneicher4536 Exactly what happened, and the second person was Bryan Ferry.
@@susanklasinski1805 The Simple Minds version is one of my favorite songs from the entire ‘80s, but I sure would love to hear a Billy Idol or Bryan Ferry version of that song!
@@paulsiebeneicher4536 It's funny that Billy ended up recording a cover of it.
I was 20 turning 21 in 83. Loved Billy Idol. My best mate, Harri, would put this cassette on in his car whenever we went anywhere. Sad.y he passed away last year. Forever missed😢Can’t hear BI without thinking of him.
Billy Idol has earned his stripes the hard way and has been in the game much longer than most think.
His discography is deep and full of bangers, he has always had top notch people playing with him
If Iggy were British ;)
If Iggy were British I think he still would have written "Trouble with the Sweet Stuff". Just that Iggy's wasn't sweet from Peru like Idol's.
PHUC YEAH! Billy Idol's, "Rebel Yell"! Definitely an A++ 😻
That bit where Alex looked puzzled for a second, was guitar.
Not a machine gun! 🤣👍
The looks on both of your faces at the lasers are a perfect representation of your different personalities. That should be a meme for your channel.
I friggin' love this song, especially the break.
One of the best car stereo songs.
Wife here..Will always blast this Awesome 80's Banger!!
Try "the Stroke" from the other early 80s Billy ... Billy Squire. You'll love it.
ua-cam.com/video/FCtAQbRjz_E/v-deo.html
Believe it or not, they reacted to “The Stroke” already. I believe it was for a Music Share Monday. Alex had heard it before, and shared it with Andy. I’d love for them to react to more from Billy Squier!
@@allisonreed7682 Oh, thanks for the info. Also, thanks for correcting my spelling error with Billy's last name.
@@mirisreacts1742 Thanks for the link. I noticed that A & A also spelled his last name incorrectly.
I thought that 'In The Dark ' was his best song.
Billy’s now a grandpa to Poppy Rebel. Time chugs on.
That is one VERY COOL grandpa!!!
Great song very underrated guitarist Steve Stevens
Billy named the song after Keith Richards’ bourbon of choice “Rebel Yell”. Oh, guitarist Steve Stevens is a bad bad man.
wdym by “bad bad man” Barry ?
@@capalottyb2886 Great, fierce guitar player.
@@capalottyb2886 He means a bad, bad man!
@@57mab No. He said in an interview it was after the bourbon.
GREAT REACTION A&A! Billy Idol had a lot of hits from the 80"s and early 90's. Also, he played the role of Jim's party buddy "Cat" in the film The Doors. Check out other songs, and MTV hits such as "Mony Mony", "Cradle Of Love" and "Eyes Without A Face" and "Dancin' With Myself." Cheers!
Cool how Billy Idol named the song after partying with The Rolling Stones, might have been Keith Richards drinking a bottle of Rebel Yell whisky, Billy asked what he was drinking, this was mentioned in the super cool Billy Idol VH1 live episode of Storytellers.
I love the intensity and chaos of Steve Stevens little solo in the middle... and his crunchy percussive rhythm guitar pretty much carries the song
"Hot In The City" is another side of Billy
Probably his best song, but one of the few songs that is better with the video. Super high energy. The wife and I saw him in 2015 and he was on top of his game. Cheers!
Have to see the video because the video was more important than the song. That's the eighties. Thank You MTV.
Idol’s lead guitarist is Steve Stevens. He has a few UA-cam videos teaching how to play some of these songs.
More interestingly, he won a Grammy for his instrumentation on the theme to the movie “Top Gun”
Eyes Without A Face (LIVE) with Slash on lead guitar , is a great choice!!
Steve Stevens actually made the laser noise with his guitar, effects and a sick whammy. I used to have a guitar magazine that explained how he did it. AND I know he did it with his guitar because I saw him do it at the very first concert I ever attended, which was the Billy Idol Rebel Yell tour!
Beers, whiskey and this tune belting out from the speakers.... a perfect night...😎🍺🍺🍺🍺🥃🥃
Good times
Fellas, go back and watch this video, watch you heads...the song is doing exactly what is was intended for.
He used an actual toy laser gun to make that sound. They talked about it on Howard Stern.
You guys should have watched the video because it's so full of energy above and beyond just the song.
"I don't really like the 80s stuff". Alex you say that all the time but yet you do like a fair amount of songs. Perhaps you just have not heard enough?
I hope that, between Billy Idol and The Police, he'll at least soften that opinion.
Alex's own music totally sounds 80s too. It's hilarious.
Yeah I have been trying to decipher that for awhile. I think he means he doesn't like over the top cheesy computer overproduction, and the 80's is where we first see wide usage of computers introduced into production, but for every bad 80's sample, there are probably an equal number of great examples of production that worked out. The first time I heard him say it was for Yes, "Owner of a Lonely Heart", but what he doesn't realize is that the album 90125 brought Yes to an entire new generation of listeners and had some other great songs.
He's probably talking about hair metal crap
There was some great music in the eighties as well as some crappy music. I guess you can say that for every decade though.
Back in the day, it used to be a thing to have lip synch contests in clubs. *Every* guy came dressed as Billy Idol. I’ve seen guys of all shapes and colors do Billy Idol. Hysterical. Thanks for bringing back the memory. I almost unsubscribed so I could subscribe again but I was good and liked it instead. Keep up the good work!
Forgot the name of Van Halen's lead singer David Lee Roth. OUCH. Having grown up in the 80's, that really hurts. ; )
Or Sammy Hagar?
TAKE OFF MY SHIRT BEFORE YOU BREAK UP THE BAND! 🤣
@@HamiltonRb I can't drive 55!!!!!
@@HamiltonRb
No.
Andy, I hope your big day is going really well and exceeding all of your expectations! Love this song, and love that y'all enjoyed it, too! Other Billy Idol songs to check out are "Eyes Without a Face", "Dancing With Myself", "Catch My Fall", "Flesh for Fantasy", and "To Be a Lover".
🥰
Hey, @@Shadowrider1872! Happy Monday!
Billy Idol does a good version of LA Woman, speaking of The Doors.
I envy you guys. You've got the taste to appreciate all these songs from a long while back and you've got a zillion of them to enjoy for the first time.
One of my guilty pleasures! Only below Status Quo, who are really worth checking out. (and I don't just mean Andy and Alex, you do it too, you won't be disappointed!)
“Oi mate, got any Quo?”
Status Quo - "Is There A Better Way?"
I saw a lot of concerts in the 80's, and I will forever remember Billy Idol as the headliner to the only concert that was so bad our entire party wanted to leave early.
Billy Idol is the punk version of Elvis.This is such a great rock song,with great guitar by Steve Stevens.
Surprised you guys never heard this Iconic 80's mega hit !
Steve Stevens is a great player! His guitar work is AWESOMENESS
Love Billy Idol music! Loved him since 1983 and still listen to him. He’s one of the greats and still performs.
This is probably my favorite Billy Idol song and from my day. He was king of the Punk Rock genre and you could do the 80's dance to it perfectly (now called The Carlton Dance lol). The video to this song is so much fun to watch between him and his lead guitar, Steve Stevens. My other favorite is his great cover of, "Mony, Mony". Great reaction again, guys!
Steve Stevens is an absolute beast on the guitar!!! And this song is still amazing. Love Billy!
AT 07:42 A FLY LANDS ON ANDY'S NOSE AND HE BLOWS IT OFF WITH A KISS. OH YEAH,GOOD SONG TOO.
These are especially fun watching his official videos too!
Fun fact, you mentioned The Doors, Billy idol originally had a sizable role in The Doors movie but broke his leg right before filming so his role was downsized to a cameo role in a house party scene, but he's in there! 🔥
And he did a great cover of LA Woman
Billy Idol killing it again and again and again
"World's Forgotten Boy" is rocking and "To Be a Lover" is smooth.
The acoustic version of this song is also pretty awesome
Check out his old band Generation X. They had a great tune called 'Kiss Me Deadly' that is well worth checking out, get to hear a bit of his Punk rock/ Rockabilly origins.
Ready Steady Go
Thanks for doing reaction to Billy Idol. I'm just gonna say I can't get enough of Billy Idol....Love his music!
My favorite video of yours to date. I think people have a preconceived notion about Billy Idol and don't realize what an amazing talent he is. I read his book and was truly blown away by how smart he is.
I don't know if I would really consider Billy Idol a New Wave artist.
Maybe a post-punk, new wave influenced, pop rocker. New Wave was more like B-52's, Devo, The Cars, Duran Duran, The Human League, Yaz, etc
Billy Idol has a few scenes in the Doors movie. He was supposed to have a bigger role but had a motorcycle accident before filming so he played the character Cat instead.
I'm somewhat surprised you don't get more (any?) requests for John Cougar Mellencamp. He's kind of a poor man's John Fogerty. Had a ton of enormous hits. Not like Billy Idol so much but same era (I think?). Speaking of Fogerty, an underrated song is Long As I Can See The Light.
I don't know that I'd call JCM a poor man's John Fogerty, but I thumbed up for including him more. I saw him (JCM) in concert and he was great, had a great touring band but also did well at times with just himself solo with acoustic guitar and vocal and harmonica. Fogerty is great too. I just never thought to compare the two together.
@@paulsiebeneicher4536 Yeah, just a thought that occurred. Interestingly, I did a search after I sent that and found this - ua-cam.com/video/JXhaWtRBwdg/v-deo.html Pretty cool.
@@ralphdyer4471 yeah nice, thanks. Ironically perhaps, Green River is the one CCR or Fogerty tune which I remember playing, back when I was bassist in the Johnny Elliott Band (local NJ act). That song was always one of my favorite parts of the set.
It’s an interesting comparison. Both gravelly voiced folksy types. But yeah JCM deserves a look see. Sold a crap load of records in the day. I’d hazard a guess a bunch more than Billy Idol , although that’s not everything.
@@paulsiebeneicher4536 very cool!
Oooh yes the 80"s. Love Billy Idol ❤️ This is his most Rockin song !! WATCH THE VIDEO!!!
I never really liked the production on this record but this band live? fucking smokin. Steve Stevens phenomenal live guitar player.
when hearing and watching this performed live, it is a must that the crowd participates with every "MORE MORE MORE!!!" lyric drop and also do fist pumps in the air while yelling.
Gotta do Mony Mony, his only #1, and Eyes Without A Face, while being a ballad, still has a killer guitar solo.
This is 100% S tier for me. Probably my favorite Idol song and encompasses that era for me in the best ways.
His guitar player Stevie Stevens is one of the greats of the 80s👍🏼🔥
I wouldn't know if I would call Billy Idol "new wave". For true New Wave, try a Flock of Seagulls' "I Ran" if you haven't already
Yeah he started out in the punk scene so if anything post punk would be more accurate.
They will need new haircuts if they listen to Flock of Seagulls
@@garyschill7923 I would pay money to see those guys get the Flock of Seagulls hairdo