Fun fact, Billy Idol was the lead singer of Generation X, who actually was the first to release the song "Dancing with myself" - but then Idol went solo and re-released it, and it's one of his biggest hits!
@TovaMacAffeller I love watching the old video of generation X on Top of the Pops from 1979. He was sooo nervous. It's so funny to look back on those times. Billy and Robert Smith from The Cure (and lots of other great bands/people used to always hang out with us at our local pubs and clubs where they'd get up and just start playing. we had a good laugh.Happy days. Of course I was only a baby then 😉😂 No, honestly !Okay, okay I ain't no spring chicken but still love music. My latest favourite since 2020 (ish) is local guy called Ren. He and his ex band The Big Push are definitely worth checking out. Anyway sorry for going on but you mentioning Generation X gave me a burst of energy.✌
A friend of mine back in high school, a girl I knew used to talk about how her older brother, “He was such a loner. He would come home every day and listen to “Dancin with Myself” on repeat really loud.” I was like “🤦♀️ That’s not what that song is about, girl. I hate tell you, but…*explains*” “…oh… 😬 “
Billy and Steve created a sound of their own. Straight great Punk Rock that became mainstream rock. Billy is a true rock icon...and he worked hard to get there!
I used to work at this one place that would let us play Christmas music in December and I'd bring in the Billy Idol Christmas album every year. People were always so surprised at how good his singing voice actually is.
@@LHeyden-o6i No, Dee Snyder walked up to the table in the Senate hearing chamber wearing jeans, a jean vest, and a black t-shirt with no arms (singlet). He sat down, removed the jean vest, and unfolded his multi-page statement. A number of other artists like Frank Zappa and John Denver were neatly dressed in suits when they appeared before the Senate committee.
@@edwardlongshanks827 Thank you for the correction. I vividly remember Dee Snyder being one of the ones on the stand but I guess my memory grew a little bit foggy about the details, over the years. Lol😂🤷♀️
@@edwardlongshanks827 His dressing down of the senators was GLORIOUS. You could tell from their stunned expressions that they'd expected a brain-fried rocker, and instead got an articulate, highly intelligent, responsible parent! (His calling them out on not making time to be aware of what their kids were listening to and watching was the best. And he, he pointed out, was often on the road for the better part of the year, and STILL made sure he took the time to keep an eye on what his kids were consuming.)
There was the case with Al Gore's wife getting her panties in a bunch over a Dead Kennedys album cover (obscenity charges) and the judge, having reviewed the music, concluded that it has an anti-drug message. Which at the time, was hilarious, because one of the DK's songs was called "Too Drunk to Fxxx". So yeah, this didn't start with NWA or Eminem.
12:30 The banning of hiphop wasn't hard. You just missed it BP. We have been telling you to react to Dee Snyder in a senate hearing about censoring rock music. He tore the room up and basicly called Tipper Gore a freak to Al Gores face. It was legendary!
You really gotta react to Dee Snyder in that senate hearing, they picked him on purpose thinking he was just another "dumb rocker" and he tore them a new one with his brain.
@@t.l.c7481 I recently heard that if you play a recent Nickelback album (can't remember which one off hand) backwards, you will hear some seriously messed up satanic messages. ... even more scary, if you play the album forwards, you'll hear Nickelback!
OMG!! YES!!! 🙌🙌🙌 So much good music from this era! Cradle of love, Mony Mony, & Eyes without a face are a few good ones by him! And yes, Billy is the king of Punk Rock! And only 1 song comes to mind when I hear the name 2 Live Crew, and it's safe to say it's a little controversial! 😆
Billy wrote this song, the legend goes, hanging with some famous friends who were drinking Rebel Yell whiskey (bourbon?), inspired by the name. Extremely chill dude these days, but holy heck, he was one of the wildest rockers ever,
We just called it rock his fav of mine is dancing with myself heard him tell a story once about trying to become big in the states and sitting unrecognized in a little bar that was fairly quiet and then dancing with myself came on the sound system and everyone jumped up and danced
Billy Idol rocks. Also White Wedding, Flesh For Fantasy, Mony Mony, Eyes Without A Face, Cradle Of Love, Dancing With Myself... & more. He was a favorite choice to play in the strip clubs in the 80s.
Rebel Yell is generally regarded as belonging to the New Wave genre which is often described as a lighter more melodic development of punk. On the other hand some people regard it as heavier than the usual New wave songs and would call it hard rock.
I went to see a concert at a small venue in Florida to see someone, can't remember who. I had to use the restroom and the bouncer led me to this bathroom downstairs from the venue and as I was going to the bathroom someone walked into the room. I peeked out of the crack of the bathroom stall and it was Stevie Stephens!!! I am female so I freaked out because I didn't want to make him freak out that I was there so I picked my feet up off the floor and stayed super quiet. He changed his clothes right there 4 feet away for the next set. He never knew I was there. I came out after he ran out to go back to the stage. It is surreal thinking about it now.
Billy Idol is great fun. Rebel Yell, Hot in the City, Dancing with Myself, White Wedding, and Eyes Without a Face were always on my playlists for this era too from him.
Fun fact: James Marsters based his character of "Spike", one of the eventually redeemed vampires in "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer" TV series on Billy Idol. 🙂 Good memories all around, thanks!
Billy idol had his look well before the start of his career in 1982..Spike wasn't created until 1987, over five years later! Brits always lead the way.. Lol..🇬🇧✌
For all y'all below - yes, in real time: Billy Idol came before Buffy. But in the Buffyverse, Spike, William the Bloody, came before Billy Idol. He was made a vampire long before Idol existed and had that look when Billy met him and stole it. Now I'mma go back and hang out at The Bronze and wait for y'all to catch up.
Every lady (and quite a few of the gents) in the 80s wanted to be with Billy in the midnight hour, calling "more!, more!, more!" - This is just plain old good rock and roll from Billy Idol who was a huge icon in the MTV generation. He was front man for the punk band Generation X in the late 70s. He's still rocking hard now. Check out his new tunes "Bitter Taste" and "Rita Hayworth". I've seen him in the 80s and I've seen him just a few years ago. He's still got it - the voice, the charisma, the sex appeal. His guitarist, Steve Stevens is still an incredible guitarist and a special talent in his own right.
Steve Stevens on guitar. His sound made him one of the greats. That's why Michael Jackson brought him in for his song Dirty Diana. The first album that made the index for its lyrics was, I think, Prince Controversy from 1981. At that time, it was more of a US phenomenon. The moral guardians were considered to be quite prudish.
I miss the original MTV. My mom...uptight christian woman LOVED Billy Idol! They should re-run the original MTV for a week to demonstrate you guys what you missed. His "White Wedding" music video is even better.
We need a new music video station. Not MTV and not VH1. Both went sideways. A newer updated music video channel that replays old and brings in new. They can have music blocks for everyone. As long as they keep it focused on music and artists, it would be great. Too bad I'm not a billionaire producer. I'd rock it all out. I'd also mix it up and have other genres at different times. I might show a few music documentaries and / or classic musicals. I'd have something for everyone.
They do reruns but, it is usually in the middle of the night. But, you are right. If they brought back, even for a few hours a day, the original MTV, I think many uptight religious people like your mom would remember her youth and rock out. Even if they brought in new VJs and did a cross of music today and yesterday it would have people ease up. And even help with the massive crankiness that the whole country is feeling these days. Everyone is so negative. They may smile.
when he had miley cyrus do rebel yell with him was pretty great. she fully embraced it and you could tell she was into it which made him get into it even more. its worth a watch as well.
OMG, Billy! Yes! Man oh man...I was 16 when he was blowing up MTV....I was soooo obsessed. Sitting on the floor in front of the tv watching the countdown, which of course, he was always on. Flesh for Fantasy made me lose my mind every morning 🥰 Hot in the City, LA Woman....all of them. He recorded Cradle of Love after a really bad motorcycle accident... You only see him from the waist up in the whole video because he wasn't able to stand yet. He was the only musician crush I ever had until Ren ❤
Dancing With Myself is one of my favorites by him. He's known for the snarl lip and oh my god did people flip the F out when he released the Cradle of Love video. I love that you just keep finding the music, from all genres & eras, of my growing up. Check out the congressional hearings that lead to the Parental Advisory sticker. Search PMRC Frank Zappa full, PMRC John Denver full, and PMRC Dee Snyder Full. You'll find the videos of the testimony they gave. and Yes a John Denver song was blacklisted from several radio stations because some people went *way* too literal with Rocky Mountain High . Dee is the lead singer of Twisted Sister.
Beat me to it lol I was gonna mention the PMRC trials too. Someone else has also mentioned the Ozzy and Judas Priest trials. I also remember watching some “Evangelical” guy trying to convince everyone of the backward masked “Satanic” lyrics in Stairway to Heaven. Gotta love the 80s 😂
@@Goddzi whew the “satanic panic”!! I don’t know about the Ozzy and Judas Priest trials, I’ll have to look for them, I do remember the news story about the teen, an Ozzy record playing and all that. AC/DC also got backlash because Ramirez (Night Stalker) left his hat at a crime scene, much like they tried to blame Tupac for someone sh00ting a trooper. I think Eminem had it right in Sing For The Moment.
@@AngB517 Ozzy and Priest were both tried because their music was found to be the last records listened to by teens who committed suicide, if memory serves me correctly. Ozzy’s was Suicide Solution and Priest’s was Better By You, Better Than Me. The funniest bit of the Priest one is whenRob Halford plays the supposed backward message on the record and proves that it’s all down to autosuggestion by making everyone think they hear it saying “I want a peppermint” 😂
@@maureen14 I understand that before he went pro, he would practice singing by belting out Elvis songs. You can still hear it in his tone and resonance.
He was inspired to write the song when he was drinking Rebel Yell whiskey. He was with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards at an event he was attending with The Rolling Stones.
2-Live crew weren’t “suggestive “. They said it straight out. I remember walking around with As Nasty as they Want to Be in my Walkman with my parents in the same room. I would think, “if they could hear what I was listening to they would freak the eff out”. No act has ever been more raunchy than 2-Live Crew. They came down hard on rock too. They’ve been trying to ban rock since Elvis. Ozzy got blamed and sued for a suicide .
Yeah, and Tipper Gore in particular was trying to come down hard on Rock and Roll, but then Dee Snider of Twisted Sister totally outclassed her while wearing his usual outfit, instead of the suit and tie that most of the other rock stars wore when they came to speak. 🤘😝🤣
Want a comparison? Break out your 2 live crew album and listen to "do waa diddy " there's your comparison between suggestive and straight up saying it.
My time when was in my twenties. Loved Billy Idol and the 1980s had so many good music. Loved the 1970s and the 1980s both were great for me. Good times 🎶🧡💙💛
New trends in music always face negative pushback. People used to vilify Elvis and The Beatles. My mom told me that when she was young, she went to a concert of The Mamas and the Papas. The opening act got booed of the stage. It was Jimi Hendrix. Jazz, rock, rap, punk, heavy metal, all got the same treatment. Some people just fear change. Props to you for opening your mind to new forms of musical expression.
I am 66 years old and when this came out I was in my late twenties, it was my favorite album at the time, I still listen to it once in awhile! Albums are forever unless you abuse them! Fabulous reaction!
@@MommaOsoIrish67 You got that right! And some of my neighbors didn't appreciate Billy Idol very much when I played him, loud! Ha!Ha!Ha! Is there any other way?
@@debbers Mony, Mony, or Rebel Yell, on any thing but full volume would not be the same... Only Eyes without a Face could possibly be enjoyed with less volume! Haha!
Billy was HUGE in the 80's. My first concert was him at the age of 14. Craaazzee!! He was so smashed and sang amazing. When he sang this song, he went crazy on the stage and fell hard on his back under the smoke on the stage. Couldn't see him. He was DOWN... and NEVER missed the More More More part. 😂🤘keep repeating it until he could get up. The band was totally following the lead. Fabulous all the way!! Rock STAR!!
Thank you, I figured the true line is 'gives me head' I swear he is saying this in this video. They really tried to censor music back then. Shocking just shocking. Today, compared to what I hear in what I call raunchie rap, you hear a lot worse -- no censoring now. Also, during this time, which was my youth -- I am 63 now, it was said that the word dance was a metaphor for sex. In his song dancing with myself, replace dance with sex. What does he say, "I be dancing with myself," what is sex with ones self? Listen to the other lyrics, "girls pass him by; I'll be dancing with myself -- nothing to lose, nothing to prove..." You can do this with other songs from other artists at this time. It was fun for us to listen to the songs and do the substitution. My generation was and could be very 'playful'. We were defiant, strong headed and independent. No one was going to tell us what to think, what to do, how to speak and what to listen to. What happened? At some point I fell asleep, life did a fast forward, and I woke up to madness.
@@reesaserik3759 He is definitely not saying that in the video. This is the official music video so while it looks like a live audience it's all staged and he's not singing live, it's the studio track.
Saw Billy Fu**in Idol last year in Brooklyn (Sept 2023 at Kings Theater)- he still puts on a phenomenal show and sounds amazing!! So much talent and swag - and although he’s in his 60s now - he looks and performs like he’s at least 25 years younger. Try to catch a show if you can - you’ll love it!! Love him!! 🎶💕
❤ Billy There was also a lot of protesting against rock music back then, mostly by religious mothers that thought the music was corrupting there children, even Elvis made devils music because the way he moved, so it's not just rap or hip hop, it's all sorts of music that was protested against.
I love Billy Idol. I loved listening on the radio, but then I heard it is in The Legend of Billie Jean. I loved the movie and song. I still listens to Billy. White Wedding, Cradle of Love, Rebel Yell, Dancing with myself, etc...
He definitely kept the punk aesthetic...but he was post-punk new wave with a heavy dose of rock with Steve Stevens at guitar...a proper shredder who was friends with Eddie Van Halen...great 80s icon
Sweet Sixteen has a great back story. To Be A Lover, Catch My Fall, all the ones already mentioned....and some newer stuff like Can't Break Me Down, Save Ne Now, Love and Glory...all great. I still have vinyl LPs.....and now, 40 years later, he'll be in my city and I've got tickets!!! I am so excited! His book is narrated by himself on Audible. Crazy! Sex, drugs, and rock and roll was his life. Very intelligent, well-read, and interesting man.
Eyes without a Face… my favorite Billy Idol song. Also note his guitar player… Steve Stevens, very accomplished guitarists has played with a number of other artists including Michael Jackson on the song Dirty Diana.
They put warning labels " Parental Advisory" on albums starting 1985. It backfired a bit cuz those were the albums we all definitely wanted to hear then.
I listen to everything. From 50s music to disco, to rock, country, classical, and opera. I love it all. Yes, Billy was in the wedding singer. He's awesome.
Billy is still touring !!! Rock on Billy…❤ I’ll be flying from Australia to Europe to see him this year PS as a teenager I was banned by my parents from his music. Punk was the naughty precursor to rap for being hated by parents universally 😂
Shawty on the keyboards is Judy Dozier, a friend of my sister's from high school. She sang the lead in the school play "Oklahoma" and I was transfixed by her voice. She lives in Myrtle Beach now and still performs. She admits she left the band when the drugs got way out of control.
I was in high school in the 80’s. This was part of my youth!! I gotta say I feel so bad for the young folks today. The music I grew up with was just the best!! She much FUN!!!
William Broad, aka Billy Idol was part of the Bromley Contingent in the London punk scene hanging out with The Sex Pistols early 70s. He was part of his own band mid 70s called Generation X who did a song Dancing With Myself which was their hit single, amongst some other notable good tracks. He went solo and moved to USA after the punk scene starting dying out in the UK. I highly recommend his book, absolutely fantastic read and his early days to rising in the 80s with classics such as White Wedding, Rebel Yell, Eyes Without A Face, To Be A Lover, Mony Mony and many many many more hits :)
Siouxsie Sioux was another member of the Bromley Contingent that went on to musical fame. She was on TV with the Sex Pistols with the infamous Bill Grundy interview that shocked the UK and led to the Daily Mirror newspaper headline "The Filth And The Fury".
This song really brings me back to my 20's when the only thing we watched on TV was MTV. Back when MTV was all about the music and music videos. I miss those days!
The song is about his time as he works as a rowdy/assistant of a rock band. The band members drinks a lot of this Whiskey (Rebel Yell) and shouted him: gimme more more more. This Bourbon Whiskey is original from Kentucky.
Was lucky enough to see Generation Sex (Billy/Generation X with members of the Sex Pistols) last year. He is still rocking hard and it was great to see all of the hits from both groups (and some of Billy’s solo stuff) performed live. Epic 🇦🇺🤘
I think sometimes the difference between the suggestive or sexual content in rock/pop and some hip hop, was sexual violence, for instance Billy's singing about a consensual situation, not a violent one, whereas some hip hop content was/is about non- consensual situations.
And a lot of times rock depicts a longing for a certain person, wheras, in rap, the people are dispensable... "on to the next one," etc. In other words the sexual acts depicted are enjoyable but meaningful, as opposed to just a sport. That is my opinion. Prime example is NIN's "closer," where the lyrics say, "you get me closer to God." Key word being "You," one person, a special person to the singer. Then listen to "Hey Ya". Although the melody is a banger, I would rather listen to NIN any day because the lyrics to Outcast's "Hey Ya" are depressing as F.
I would like to add that some of the hip hop content that is about sex or contains lyrics about sexual situations also has very derogatory language and narratives about women. However pop and rock songs that contained lyrics about sex, no matter how respectful and consensual, also often caused controversy simply because some people think you shouldn't include such things in songs. Anyone suggesting that hiphop songs containing sexual lyrics get backlash whilst pop/rock songs containing sexual lyrics don't get backlash because of r4cism is simply ignorant.
His real name is William Broad. His teachers called him Billy Idle because he was lazy. He changed it to Idol.
Haha didn’t know that, that’s funny
Yes. William Michael Albert Broad.
That’s just awesome!!❤
Oh that is a great bit of info. Thanks!
I'm 76, I grew up on this stuff. Billy Idol was one of my favorites.
Fun fact, Billy Idol was the lead singer of Generation X, who actually was the first to release the song "Dancing with myself" - but then Idol went solo and re-released it, and it's one of his biggest hits!
That's funny since Billy's a boomer.
@TovaMacAffeller I love watching the old video of generation X on Top of the Pops from 1979. He was sooo nervous. It's so funny to look back on those times. Billy and Robert Smith from The Cure (and lots of other great bands/people used to always hang out with us at our local pubs and clubs where they'd get up and just start playing. we had a good laugh.Happy days. Of course I was only a baby then 😉😂 No, honestly !Okay, okay I ain't no spring chicken but still love music. My latest favourite since 2020 (ish) is local guy called Ren. He and his ex band The Big Push are definitely worth checking out. Anyway sorry for going on but you mentioning Generation X gave me a burst of energy.✌
@@emmafrench7219 lol You should actually check out my Ren playlist, I have a handful of reactions from him!
A friend of mine back in high school, a girl I knew used to talk about how her older brother, “He was such a loner. He would come home every day and listen to “Dancin with Myself” on repeat really loud.”
I was like “🤦♀️ That’s not what that song is about, girl. I hate tell you, but…*explains*”
“…oh… 😬 “
If Billy had not met Steve Stevens we may have never had all of that great music with him and Billy!!!
I'm an old bag now but this was our music! From a time when almost all music was "bangers". Thanks for keeping it alive!
Ditto
Old bag 😂 I've not heard that for years
No! most music was awful. Your brain just filters out the 99% of the crud. You just remember the 1% of the good stuff 😂
"Old Bag" here, too!! Billy Idol was the man!!!! Love hearing it again and seeing people introduced to it!
@@rickb.4168 Music is objective not subjective so just because you say so doesn't make it true.
I never thought a rapper reviewing music from my childhood would be on my bingo card this year. Love it!
Billy and Steve created a sound of their own. Straight great Punk Rock that became mainstream rock. Billy is a true rock icon...and he worked hard to get there!
Billy can sing! Eyes without a face, White Wedding, two bangers
He was almost killed in his motorcycle accident.
I used to work at this one place that would let us play Christmas music in December and I'd bring in the Billy Idol Christmas album every year. People were always so surprised at how good his singing voice actually is.
Eyes without a face is one of the few rock ballads I can still really enjoy without thinking its cheesy
@@lauraland3433 he has a Christmas album ????
He still sings pretty damn good too!
They tried to censor rock guys too. It went to Congress & bunch of rock stars came & testified. It was crazy
I remember that! Wasn’t Dee Synder all gussied up in a suit, testifying on stand, against the anti ‘explicit lyrics’ moms?
@@LHeyden-o6i No, Dee Snyder walked up to the table in the Senate hearing chamber wearing jeans, a jean vest, and a black t-shirt with no arms (singlet). He sat down, removed the jean vest, and unfolded his multi-page statement.
A number of other artists like Frank Zappa and John Denver were neatly dressed in suits when they appeared before the Senate committee.
@@edwardlongshanks827 Thank you for the correction. I vividly remember Dee Snyder being one of the ones on the stand but I guess my memory grew a little bit foggy about the details, over the years. Lol😂🤷♀️
@@edwardlongshanks827 His dressing down of the senators was GLORIOUS. You could tell from their stunned expressions that they'd expected a brain-fried rocker, and instead got an articulate, highly intelligent, responsible parent! (His calling them out on not making time to be aware of what their kids were listening to and watching was the best. And he, he pointed out, was often on the road for the better part of the year, and STILL made sure he took the time to keep an eye on what his kids were consuming.)
There was the case with Al Gore's wife getting her panties in a bunch over a Dead Kennedys album cover (obscenity charges) and the judge, having reviewed the music, concluded that it has an anti-drug message. Which at the time, was hilarious, because one of the DK's songs was called "Too Drunk to Fxxx".
So yeah, this didn't start with NWA or Eminem.
12:30 The banning of hiphop wasn't hard. You just missed it BP. We have been telling you to react to Dee Snyder in a senate hearing about censoring rock music. He tore the room up and basicly called Tipper Gore a freak to Al Gores face. It was legendary!
😂 I just mentioned this too. I remember the craziness over playing rock music backwards and they thought satanic messages were there.
he should react to megadeth- hook in mouth.
You really gotta react to Dee Snyder in that senate hearing, they picked him on purpose thinking he was just another "dumb rocker" and he tore them a new one with his brain.
@@t.l.c7481 I recently heard that if you play a recent Nickelback album (can't remember which one off hand) backwards, you will hear some seriously messed up satanic messages.
... even more scary, if you play the album forwards, you'll hear Nickelback!
@@ZoneXV Dee Snyder, I think Frank Zappa, and John Denver of all people were the stars of that show. What a combination. They were heroes!
I’m a 64 year old grandmother and still have a crush on Billy Idol. He still gets my blood moving 😛.
We just saw him last week in concert for the first time. He was awesome! Oh, and I'm 59! Lol
Love Billy Idol! He started off in a British punk rock band! Over the years he evolved into his own thing! He still rocking! Great reaction!❤️🔥✌🏻🫶🏻
Steve Stevens on guitar is a punk legend. Also did a great job with Michael Jackson in dirty Diana
OMG!! YES!!! 🙌🙌🙌 So much good music from this era! Cradle of love, Mony Mony, & Eyes without a face are a few good ones by him! And yes, Billy is the king of Punk Rock! And only 1 song comes to mind when I hear the name 2 Live Crew, and it's safe to say it's a little controversial! 😆
Eyes Without A Face is in my top three fave songs ever, other two are Prince and George Michael so very different 😂
Blue Highway is my favourite.
"Flesh For Fantasy"
Catch My Fall, Blue Highway, Don’t Stand in the Shadows, Flesh for Fantasy Crank Call, White Wedding, Save Me Now, etc.
Billy wrote this song, the legend goes, hanging with some famous friends who were drinking Rebel Yell whiskey (bourbon?), inspired by the name. Extremely chill dude these days, but holy heck, he was one of the wildest rockers ever,
Take a chance with " Dancing with myself " a súper hit!!
We just called it rock his fav of mine is dancing with myself heard him tell a story once about trying to become big in the states and sitting unrecognized in a little bar that was fairly quiet and then dancing with myself came on the sound system and everyone jumped up and danced
You can never go wrong with abit of Billy Idol, very lucky to have seen him in Dublin many many many years ago ❤
I love Ireland 😁
Billy Idol rocks. Also White Wedding, Flesh For Fantasy, Mony Mony, Eyes Without A Face, Cradle Of Love, Dancing With Myself... & more. He was a favorite choice to play in the strip clubs in the 80s.
Mony Mony was played at every dance ever growing up lol; must check that one next
It won't show the extra lyrics, though! Lol
A great cover of a great band- Tommy James and the Shondells.
Rebel Yell is generally regarded as belonging to the New Wave genre which is often described as a lighter more melodic development of punk. On the other hand some people regard it as heavier than the usual New wave songs and would call it hard rock.
Little trivia fact: the guitarist you see in the video is Steve Stevens, the one who played the iconic guitar parts in the Top Gun Anthem.
I went to see a concert at a small venue in Florida to see someone, can't remember who. I had to use the restroom and the bouncer led me to this bathroom downstairs from the venue and as I was going to the bathroom someone walked into the room. I peeked out of the crack of the bathroom stall and it was Stevie Stephens!!!
I am female so I freaked out because I didn't want to make him freak out that I was there so I picked my feet up off the floor and stayed super quiet. He changed his clothes right there 4 feet away for the next set. He never knew I was there. I came out after he ran out to go back to the stage.
It is surreal thinking about it now.
One of my favorite guitarists. He played guitar with Billy on and off for years. I think he produced some Billy Idol records too.
Thank you for mentioning Steve Stevens! Very accomplished guitarists! Love him!!
@@Ontheroxxwithsaltthat's cool. If people only knew right 😊
He also played guitar on Michael Jackson's "Dirty Diana"
Billy Idol is great fun. Rebel Yell, Hot in the City, Dancing with Myself, White Wedding, and Eyes Without a Face were always on my playlists for this era too from him.
Fun fact: James Marsters based his character of "Spike", one of the eventually redeemed vampires in "Buffy, The Vampire Slayer" TV series on Billy Idol. 🙂 Good memories all around, thanks!
It is also canon that Billy stole his look from Spike 😂
Billy idol had his look well before the start of his career in 1982..Spike wasn't created until 1987, over five years later! Brits always lead the way.. Lol..🇬🇧✌
@@lynnhamps7052 That's what I thought. 😅 I mean, it's been a while so my memory may be fuzzy, but I was fairly sure Billy came before Spike. 😈
For all y'all below - yes, in real time: Billy Idol came before Buffy. But in the Buffyverse, Spike, William the Bloody, came before Billy Idol. He was made a vampire long before Idol existed and had that look when Billy met him and stole it. Now I'mma go back and hang out at The Bronze and wait for y'all to catch up.
@@auntieevil9324 it’s why I used the word ‘canon’ rather than, say, fact. There is a running joke about it. See y’all at the Bronze 🤘
Every lady (and quite a few of the gents) in the 80s wanted to be with Billy in the midnight hour, calling "more!, more!, more!" - This is just plain old good rock and roll from Billy Idol who was a huge icon in the MTV generation. He was front man for the punk band Generation X in the late 70s. He's still rocking hard now. Check out his new tunes "Bitter Taste" and "Rita Hayworth". I've seen him in the 80s and I've seen him just a few years ago. He's still got it - the voice, the charisma, the sex appeal. His guitarist, Steve Stevens is still an incredible guitarist and a special talent in his own right.
Steve Stevens on guitar. His sound made him one of the greats. That's why Michael Jackson brought him in for his song Dirty Diana. The first album that made the index for its lyrics was, I think, Prince Controversy from 1981. At that time, it was more of a US phenomenon. The moral guardians were considered to be quite prudish.
Steve Stevens also played on numerous movie soundtracks - the most famous being the iconic Top Gun theme tune. Excellent guitarist
Steve Stevens also has some great independent stuff.
I miss the original MTV. My mom...uptight christian woman LOVED Billy Idol! They should re-run the original MTV for a week to demonstrate you guys what you missed. His "White Wedding" music video is even better.
White Wedding!!! Ya!
THE REAL MTV! They missed it up!
We need a new music video station. Not MTV and not VH1. Both went sideways.
A newer updated music video channel that replays old and brings in new. They can have music blocks for everyone. As long as they keep it focused on music and artists, it would be great.
Too bad I'm not a billionaire producer. I'd rock it all out. I'd also mix it up and have other genres at different times.
I might show a few music documentaries and / or classic musicals. I'd have something for everyone.
They do reruns but, it is usually in the middle of the night. But, you are right. If they brought back, even for a few hours a day, the original MTV, I think many uptight religious people like your mom would remember her youth and rock out. Even if they brought in new VJs and did a cross of music today and yesterday it would have people ease up. And even help with the massive crankiness that the whole country is feeling these days. Everyone is so negative. They may smile.
when he had miley cyrus do rebel yell with him was pretty great. she fully embraced it and you could tell she was into it which made him get into it even more. its worth a watch as well.
also featured him on her track "night crawling"! it's a great track
Classic AND fantastic! Billy Idol is still kicking it!!!
When this song was really big Sesame Street had a Billy Idol puppet who sang "With The Letter L". It was hilarious!!!
Does anyone else remember this?
Yup, We're dating ourselves! That was back when Sesame Street was good.
Yessssssss
@@millahnna
With the letter L who sing LA LA LA!!! Hahahaha!! Unforgettable!!
So happy someone else remembers this!!!
@@PJAC1 I was prime sesame street age then....just about to age out of it soon but still hooked. 84 or 85 I think?
You're too loud, loud, loud.
OMG, Billy! Yes! Man oh man...I was 16 when he was blowing up MTV....I was soooo obsessed. Sitting on the floor in front of the tv watching the countdown, which of course, he was always on. Flesh for Fantasy made me lose my mind every morning 🥰 Hot in the City, LA Woman....all of them. He recorded Cradle of Love after a really bad motorcycle accident... You only see him from the waist up in the whole video because he wasn't able to stand yet. He was the only musician crush I ever had until Ren ❤
Dancing With Myself is one of my favorites by him. He's known for the snarl lip and oh my god did people flip the F out when he released the Cradle of Love video.
I love that you just keep finding the music, from all genres & eras, of my growing up.
Check out the congressional hearings that lead to the Parental Advisory sticker. Search PMRC Frank Zappa full, PMRC John Denver full, and PMRC Dee Snyder Full. You'll find the videos of the testimony they gave. and Yes a John Denver song was blacklisted from several radio stations because some people went *way* too literal with Rocky Mountain High . Dee is the lead singer of Twisted Sister.
Beat me to it lol
I was gonna mention the PMRC trials too.
Someone else has also mentioned the Ozzy and Judas Priest trials. I also remember watching some “Evangelical” guy trying to convince everyone of the backward masked “Satanic” lyrics in Stairway to Heaven. Gotta love the 80s 😂
@@Goddzi whew the “satanic panic”!! I don’t know about the Ozzy and Judas Priest trials, I’ll have to look for them, I do remember the news story about the teen, an Ozzy record playing and all that. AC/DC also got backlash because Ramirez (Night Stalker) left his hat at a crime scene, much like they tried to blame Tupac for someone sh00ting a trooper.
I think Eminem had it right in Sing For The Moment.
@@AngB517 Ozzy and Priest were both tried because their music was found to be the last records listened to by teens who committed suicide, if memory serves me correctly.
Ozzy’s was Suicide Solution and Priest’s was Better By You, Better Than Me.
The funniest bit of the Priest one is whenRob Halford plays the supposed backward message on the record and proves that it’s all down to autosuggestion by making everyone think they hear it saying “I want a peppermint” 😂
The year and attitude
The difference between punk and Billy Idol is that Billy can SING.
Facts! The most recent concert I saw of his was about fifteen years ago when he was in his fifties and his voice was incredible still! And live!
@@maureen14 I understand that before he went pro, he would practice singing by belting out Elvis songs. You can still hear it in his tone and resonance.
Classic! Billy has so many great songs and his guitarist Steve Stevens is amazing
Went to see Billy Oct 22 , waited 40 years to see him, and the show was fabulous
He was inspired to write the song when he was drinking Rebel Yell whiskey. He was with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards at an event he was attending with The Rolling Stones.
2-Live crew weren’t “suggestive “. They said it straight out. I remember walking around with As Nasty as they Want to Be in my Walkman with my parents in the same room. I would think, “if they could hear what I was listening to they would freak the eff out”. No act has ever been more raunchy than 2-Live Crew.
They came down hard on rock too. They’ve been trying to ban rock since Elvis. Ozzy got blamed and sued for a suicide .
So did Judas Priest
It's like when Manson was blamed for the Columbine shooting. Music has always been the scapegoat for people with small minds. Regardless of the genre.
Yeah, and Tipper Gore in particular was trying to come down hard on Rock and Roll, but then Dee Snider of Twisted Sister totally outclassed her while wearing his usual outfit, instead of the suit and tie that most of the other rock stars wore when they came to speak. 🤘😝🤣
I would love to see a review of when Dee Snider went to congress, I bet it would blow his mind
Want a comparison? Break out your 2 live crew album and listen to "do waa diddy " there's your comparison between suggestive and straight up saying it.
My time when was in my twenties. Loved Billy Idol and the 1980s had so many good music.
Loved the 1970s and the 1980s both were great for me. Good times 🎶🧡💙💛
New trends in music always face negative pushback. People used to vilify Elvis and The Beatles. My mom told me that when she was young, she went to a concert of The Mamas and the Papas. The opening act got booed of the stage. It was Jimi Hendrix. Jazz, rock, rap, punk, heavy metal, all got the same treatment. Some people just fear change. Props to you for opening your mind to new forms of musical expression.
I am 66 years old and when this came out I was in my late twenties, it was my favorite album at the time, I still listen to it once in awhile! Albums are forever unless you abuse them! Fabulous reaction!
Over and over until every neighbor knew every word too!!
@@MommaOsoIrish67 You got that right! And some of my neighbors didn't appreciate Billy Idol very much when I played him, loud! Ha!Ha!Ha! Is there any other way?
@@debbers Mony, Mony, or Rebel Yell, on any thing but full volume would not be the same... Only Eyes without a Face could possibly be enjoyed with less volume! Haha!
Yes, full volume was and still is the way to go. There's something about Billy that needs full volume, thank you for your most welcome reply!
You betcha' Ha!Ha!Ha! thanks again Momma!
Billy was HUGE in the 80's. My first concert was him at the age of 14. Craaazzee!! He was so smashed and sang amazing. When he sang this song, he went crazy on the stage and fell hard on his back under the smoke on the stage. Couldn't see him. He was DOWN... and NEVER missed the More More More part. 😂🤘keep repeating it until he could get up. The band was totally following the lead. Fabulous all the way!! Rock STAR!!
Keep playing classic rock and you will do well. The world can't get enough. Welcome to the best music the world has ever known dude.
I forgot how 🔥🔥🔥 this song is!! Got so tired of hearing it thru the early 90's, it was everywhere. Still holds up and actually sounds even better! ❤
He says "she sees me to bed" in the studio/video version. Live he would say "gives me head", and some covers kept that line, like Black Veil Brides'.
Thanks for the explanation. I was wondering what the hell lyrics he found for it
Thank you, I figured the true line is 'gives me head' I swear he is saying this in this video. They really tried to censor music back then. Shocking just shocking. Today, compared to what I hear in what I call raunchie rap, you hear a lot worse -- no censoring now. Also, during this time, which was my youth -- I am 63 now, it was said that the word dance was a metaphor for sex. In his song dancing with myself, replace dance with sex. What does he say, "I be dancing with myself," what is sex with ones self? Listen to the other lyrics, "girls pass him by; I'll be dancing with myself -- nothing to lose, nothing to prove..." You can do this with other songs from other artists at this time. It was fun for us to listen to the songs and do the substitution. My generation was and could be very 'playful'. We were defiant, strong headed and independent. No one was going to tell us what to think, what to do, how to speak and what to listen to. What happened? At some point I fell asleep, life did a fast forward, and I woke up to madness.
@@reesaserik3759 He is definitely not saying that in the video. This is the official music video so while it looks like a live audience it's all staged and he's not singing live, it's the studio track.
Billy got his start in the punk rock band Generation X in 1976! Punk pioneer! Oh the memories! 💜Taking me back to high school!
Steve Stevens, the guitar player is LEGENDARY. That effect he does, that sounds like a rapid-fire laser, is just amazing!!
Billy Idol was one of the best concert I have seen to. The crowd was crazy.
Punk Rock. So cool ❤😎. Love it. I♥️Billy Idol.
So good he was fantastic
Memories. 20 yrs old,New Years,naked,whiskey in 1 hand screaming more,more,more. It was a great start to the year. Love Billy!
Some amazing music came out of the 80's!! I've always loved this song. Such a banger!!
He's still going strong and performing live
1983...I was 19 yrs young and BI was played on the radio all the time. It was the time of my life!
Saw Billy Fu**in Idol last year in Brooklyn (Sept 2023 at Kings Theater)- he still puts on a phenomenal show and sounds amazing!! So much talent and swag - and although he’s in his 60s now - he looks and performs like he’s at least 25 years younger. Try to catch a show if you can - you’ll love it!!
Love him!! 🎶💕
Mony Mony, Dancing With Myself, Cradle of Love, Flesh For Fantasy. All excellent choices. Songs to get hype with.
❤ Billy
There was also a lot of protesting against rock music back then, mostly by religious mothers that thought the music was corrupting there children, even Elvis made devils music because the way he moved, so it's not just rap or hip hop, it's all sorts of music that was protested against.
Billys new album Kings & Queen of the underground 😍😍😍 loving Billy since 1986
Straight up 80’s rock. High energy and fun. It would make a good track to sample. It’s an iconic song.
I love Billy Idol. I loved listening on the radio, but then I heard it is in The Legend of Billie Jean. I loved the movie and song. I still listens to Billy. White Wedding, Cradle of Love, Rebel Yell, Dancing with myself, etc...
Love Billy Idol. Funny enough I grew up listening to him cause my mom had a crush on him.
He’s so GOOD!!!
Saw him like 4 years ago live FANTASTIC!!!!!
Idol Rules...I've seen him so many times live. Incredible shows. Saw him last year in Denver and he still rocks!
His sneer is EVERYTHING 🥰
He definitely kept the punk aesthetic...but he was post-punk new wave with a heavy dose of rock with Steve Stevens at guitar...a proper shredder who was friends with Eddie Van Halen...great 80s icon
Sweet Sixteen has a great back story. To Be A Lover, Catch My Fall, all the ones already mentioned....and some newer stuff like Can't Break Me Down, Save Ne Now, Love and Glory...all great. I still have vinyl LPs.....and now, 40 years later, he'll be in my city and I've got tickets!!! I am so excited! His book is narrated by himself on Audible. Crazy! Sex, drugs, and rock and roll was his life. Very intelligent, well-read, and interesting man.
Eyes without a Face… my favorite Billy Idol song.
Also note his guitar player… Steve Stevens, very accomplished guitarists has played with a number of other artists including Michael Jackson on the song Dirty Diana.
Sweet Little Sixteen, whoa!
They put warning labels " Parental Advisory" on albums starting 1985. It backfired a bit cuz those were the albums we all definitely wanted to hear then.
Love how you are seriously expanding your music genres! So much art out there :)
One of my favs. I love a banger
❤❤❤ I love Billy Idol's music. This song is a favorite. It gets you pumping.
I listen to everything. From 50s music to disco, to rock, country, classical, and opera. I love it all. Yes, Billy was in the wedding singer. He's awesome.
Thats Steve Stevens on guitar, he is a standout player. Total badass! The 80s were a blast, I partied hard!!
Billy Idol always my Idol ❤ loved him in Generation X and saw him in Vegas just a couple of years ago.
BP, Billy Idol owned MTV . you couldn't wait for the next video to come out !
Billy Idol rocks!!!ks
I love your reactions.
I'm so glad to have been born in 1960. I got to see all the good stuff live and for about $20, Lol
Classic rock
Billy is still touring !!! Rock on Billy…❤
I’ll be flying from Australia to Europe to see him this year
PS as a teenager I was banned by my parents from his music. Punk was the naughty precursor to rap for being hated by parents universally 😂
I've seen Billy Idol in concert three times & he's always had this high energy! Love his shows & the MTV videos from back then.
Shawty on the keyboards is Judy Dozier, a friend of my sister's from high school. She sang the lead in the school play "Oklahoma" and I was transfixed by her voice. She lives in Myrtle Beach now and still performs. She admits she left the band when the drugs got way out of control.
I'm really liking that you are reacting to alot of different music at the moment. It's great. And Billy Idol is such a cool singer
Best workout song ever.
Mony Mony is my fave Billy Idol song. Any of his songs are fire!
It's PURE ROCK AND ROLL, COME ON NOW.
I was in high school in the 80’s. This was part of my youth!! I gotta say I feel so bad for the young folks today. The music I grew up with was just the best!! She much FUN!!!
Hansome fella he rocked in the 80,s ❤🖖😎
Another fun Billy Idol video and song is 'To Be A Lover'.
William Broad, aka Billy Idol was part of the Bromley Contingent in the London punk scene hanging out with The Sex Pistols early 70s. He was part of his own band mid 70s called Generation X who did a song Dancing With Myself which was their hit single, amongst some other notable good tracks. He went solo and moved to USA after the punk scene starting dying out in the UK. I highly recommend his book, absolutely fantastic read and his early days to rising in the 80s with classics such as White Wedding, Rebel Yell, Eyes Without A Face, To Be A Lover, Mony Mony and many many many more hits :)
Siouxsie Sioux was another member of the Bromley Contingent that went on to musical fame. She was on TV with the Sex Pistols with the infamous Bill Grundy interview that shocked the UK and led to the Daily Mirror newspaper headline "The Filth And The Fury".
@@andrewlaw yea was thinking of her name, thanks for the reminder (old boy that I am and memory loss) :)
I love classic rock and metal.... but Billy rules!
Oh boy, this takes me back! I loved this song and Billy Idol - always a bit of a wild child. 🤣 Really loved this reaction, thanks! #hog uk
This song really brings me back to my 20's when the only thing we watched on TV was MTV. Back when MTV was all about the music and music videos. I miss those days!
His long-time partner, Peri, is a dancer. I think she plays the bride in White Wedding. Awesome song and video.
The song is about his time as he works as a rowdy/assistant of a rock band. The band members drinks a lot of this Whiskey (Rebel Yell) and shouted him: gimme more more more. This Bourbon Whiskey is original from Kentucky.
Was lucky enough to see Generation Sex (Billy/Generation X with members of the Sex Pistols) last year. He is still rocking hard and it was great to see all of the hits from both groups (and some of Billy’s solo stuff) performed live. Epic 🇦🇺🤘
Pure Rock
I think sometimes the difference between the suggestive or sexual content in rock/pop and some hip hop, was sexual violence, for instance Billy's singing about a consensual situation, not a violent one, whereas some hip hop content was/is about non- consensual situations.
And a lot of times rock depicts a longing for a certain person, wheras, in rap, the people are dispensable... "on to the next one," etc. In other words the sexual acts depicted are enjoyable but meaningful, as opposed to just a sport. That is my opinion. Prime example is NIN's "closer," where the lyrics say, "you get me closer to God." Key word being "You," one person, a special person to the singer. Then listen to "Hey Ya". Although the melody is a banger, I would rather listen to NIN any day because the lyrics to Outcast's "Hey Ya" are depressing as F.
I would like to add that some of the hip hop content that is about sex or contains lyrics about sexual situations also has very derogatory language and narratives about women.
However pop and rock songs that contained lyrics about sex, no matter how respectful and consensual, also often caused controversy simply because some people think you shouldn't include such things in songs.
Anyone suggesting that hiphop songs containing sexual lyrics get backlash whilst pop/rock songs containing sexual lyrics don't get backlash because of r4cism is simply ignorant.
For more along the line of this hit, try "Christeen Sixteen" from KISS and / or another BIlly Idol banger, "White Wedding".
You should do 'Eyes Without a Face' by Billy Idol! That one is class! ❤
Boy did we dance our hearts out to Billy Idol and what a handsome man he is. He is a wonderful grandfather now. My how time flies…
Billy is a rock star fo sho! This is more of an 'official video' of the song than a real live performance.