Back when "Eyes Without a Face" was popular, I was trying to convince my friends how great this song is and they just didn't get it. They enjoyed the song, but to them it was merely another enjoyable song. Steve Stevens is criminally underrated.
I'm one of those weirdos who loved 80s soft rock, New Wave, pop, hard rock, and pop metal pretty much equally. That's why I loved this song so much. It has that soft, haunting quality popular in the early 80s soft rock and New Wave, along with the edgy guitar which inspired the great hair bands especially at the end of the decade, with that punk feel that was signature Billy Idol.
Billy Idol was my first live concert. Snuck out of the house (I was 12) and I was blown away. Got grounded for a month but it was totally worth it. One of my favorite albums of the 80s.
Why is it that the most badass musicians always come across as the most centered, down-to-earth and nicest guys. So nice seeing this interview, ty for making it!
Billy Idol and Steve Stevens were the 80’s……when I hear their songs it takes me back to a wonderful time in my life growing up in the 1980’s in NYC….🙏🏻💪🏻
This is always been one of my favorites of Billy Idol! It’s just so sonically different than anything else he’s ever done and the female vocals just gave it an otherworldly sound!
I'd have to think really hard to find a rock song that I hate worst than this garbage song. Should have been a deep cut that was lost in the trash. Maybe "Love bites" is worse but it would be close.
When I was 26 or so, at my 64 year old mother's request, I took her to a Billy Idol concert with warmup band The Cult. She loved it. Now I'm 64. Time flies when you're rocking out.
Eddie Van Halen was his creative getting as many arpeggios and multiple notes into a movement as Steve Stevens was at completely rocking a solo and letting Billy stay out in front of it. Two totally different guitarists that were masters of their craft.
Every interview with Steve amazes me. How intelligently he can approach writing a song, but then pulls out an awesome blistering guitar. He is so talented , but so humble. And I saw he Billy singing in the basement last year, and neither has lost that fire!
Steve Stephens gives the best interviews! Love this song and how original it is. One of the little things he adds to it is a simple long, haunting sustained note that adds another layer that compliments Billy's vocals. The two are magic as a team. The background vocals really drive this song into your memory and are a delight
What I love about Steve Stevens is his focus on the song and how to get all the parts to fit together. He works for the music not his ego. He also avoids a lot of the notoriety of the guitar divas. Always love interviews with Steve. Rock On! 🎸😎
I can remember being 14 years old and hearing this song and thinking that Billy Idol just proved he's multi-faceted and not just solely the shallow bad boy image I perceived until then. And it wasn't so much the lyrics as it was the music that pushed that point to me. Hearing Stevens recount how it all came together is very cool. I love that Stevens also pays homage to his influences. And the thing I noticed the most...Humble...Stevens gave credit to everyone else. I don't know this guy personally, but I bet he would be one of those people that you are proud to know and always has a good word. Not just a great guitarist, but an incredible human as well. Thank you, Professor, for all that you do and most especially for this one!
Always loved Billy’s talents but did not know until this vid how deeply involved in creation of the tunes he was. Takes my appreciation for his talents to a higher level.
Steve Stevens is literally one of the most badass rockers to ever pick up a guitar. If you want to listed to the most underrated album ever recorded, listen to his work on Vince Neil's solo album titled "Exposed." Absolutely AMAZING writing and guitar work on that album.
The song The Edge gives a taste of his classical acoustic virtuosity. Great transition from acoustic to a sawing electric takeoff. Hes a great musician, interviewee and humble guy. Pleasure to watch.
This album, to me, is one of those albums that define the sound of the 80's. Also it's one of those albums that you can listen from beginning to end. Eyes without a Face I'd as iconic as Conder Lauper's Time after Time. They both take you back to a time that only a song can take you.
I was a bit of a snob as an 80s teen… not really a top 40 guy as a rule. But I wore my tape of Rebel Yell out… both sides on auto play in my cars cassette deck. it just epitomized a certain feeling. Every song ❤
With so many amazing songs in 1984, Billy Idol's "Eyes Without A Face" was definitely amongst my favorites. Steve Stevens is an incredible guitarist. Another great interview, Professor🤩
Every time I plug in I'm chasing Steve's tone. It never gets old. Life long fan! What a great interview. He's so humble and grateful. Truly a musician from a bygone era still rocking hard today.
Steve Stevens knocked it out on the whole Rebel Yell album! He is always a great interview down to earth with a great personality. He and Billy were a match for Steve's music and Billy's lyrics that shaped 80s music. I think Eyes without a Face is their most creative song. Stevens owns some of the best solos of the 80s too. Great episode professor
Billy is so much more dynamic than the "punk" status he has. Billy always thanks Steve for his work in making him the star he is to this day and it is legit, Steve's guitar work is excellent.
He's a great natural musician, not only technically great but as an arranger and riff magician, Idol wouldn't have been as successful without him. Thanks professor
The more I watch your interviews with Steve Stevens the more I respect and appreciate his talent. Very smart man and so linked to music genuinely it’s his soul he IS music. It’s great. I love these interviews with him.
I remember first listening ti "Eyes without a Face, and thinking that at some point after the first verses the song and Billy would explode. I was not disappointed.
Incredible cut from 'Rebel Yell'. You are right Professor!, on the first listen, it hits you between the ears. Guess what, forty years later, it still does! Love, 'Flesh for Fantasy also.
LOVE this song... definitely in my top two Billy Idol songs and both high on my list. "Dancing With Myself" and "Eyes Without a Face"... definitely two great 80s songs. The guitar in in "Eyes Without a Face", yeah, you know that part, is fantastic... always loved it.
I've always wondered about this particular guitarist. Steve's solo in this song is a one of a kind. I've never heard such an explosive and unique guitar solo in any song. Thank you Professor!
Great respect to Steve Stevens! Thanks Professor for featuring such a well crafted, creative song from a great duo. Your reminiscing with Steve about your Dads influences brought a tear to my eye. My dad was a big band guy too. We went to a few jazz concerts together. He exposed me to prog rock with an appreciation for great musicianship. Since my kids were children they were exposed to most all genre's of music and is something we will always share together.
Eyes Without a Face is my favorite song off the album, which I loved when it came out and still do today. The song is so atmospheric w/great musical composition; that bridge with Steve Stevens' guitar riff and Billy's haunting lyrics is just fantastic. How many albums better than Rebel Yell have come out over the past decade? Just crazy how packed with great music the '80s were.
I had just thought it's a time machine just a few seconds before you said it. That's the magic of music. An amazing song can actually take you back to several different moments in time
Steve is an amazing player/writer. Still love listening to Billy Idol. Saw him in concert when he was playin with Vince Neil. Most under rated player who made Billy’s songs what they are. Iconic.
Undoubtedly this is probably one of the best songs ever, I’ve heard it countless amount of times and it’s like I’m hearing it for the first time again when I listen to it. Billy Idol has been my favorite music artist of all time and he has always had a tremendous amount of talent (Steve as well 🎸) and persona. I will forever love this song 🖤.
Love this song form the hypnotic sounds to the eerie lyrics. Very atmospheric! And his voice in this is amazing, so is hers! Part of the magic. Even the crashing middle bit makes it work, it needed a complete break to stop from becoming too repetitive, and that guitar complements the other half of the song.
Rebel Yell did work as a complete album. Every song is pretty good. In 83/84, I was in college as an introverted person and the song on the album that hit me was (Do Not) Stand in the Shadow. It is the prescription for moving out of ones introverted ways. I don't hear it very often on the subsequent tours, but would love to hear it live again.
While I wouldn't say Billy Idol is forgotten, you do forget how many hits the guy had in the mid-80's. This song was fantastic but I hadn't listened to it in years. Stevens is a great interview.
One of the best duos and probably one of the most underrated duos in the biz. It's amazing he and Billy have been going strong for over 40 years. Steve is a very humble person and it is not surprising why so many artists have collaborated with him. I enjoy his sonic blends of structure and and textures that he achieves with his guitar, he is not your stereotypical shredder. What a great talent!
Billy Idol didn't thrill me when his singles came out. That fool take on the Elvis lip bothered me too. Then he played a set at an all day festival. I thought he might be ok, but I had no real desire to see him. Wow! I was wrong. Billy was a force in front and Steve amazed me with the sounds he got live. I was impressed
I listened to WCBS-FM New York's Oldies Station and am a major fan of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons and 50's Doo-Wop. I think it's a great story that it had an influence on the writing of "Eyes Without A Face" by Billy Idol. Also, Brian Wilson calling it his favorite song of the 80's is high praise. It's a terrific song that introduced me to Billy Idol's music.
Had a chance to meet Steve and Billy before a show In TO...got autographs and a few pics...nice guys. I think one of his best pieces is the Top Gun theme with Harold Faltermeyer...the whole song is epic...
I rarely ever really like a song the first time I hear it. They generally have to grow on me. I remember the first time hearing this song. It was about 2:00 a.m. I was watching a late night video music show. The lights were off in the room with the only the light from the TV. I was sitting in the middle of the sofa staring at the TV. This came on and I was immediately hooked. It was mesmerizing. I love it to this day.
I LOVE a great bridge in songs. It's pretty neat when they sound absolutely nothing like the rest of the song. You should ask for our favorite bridges. I have some great ones. 😎
“Eyes” has a great bridge. One of my all time favorite song bridges is from Nights on Broadway” by The Bee Gees. Beautiful. If you haven’t seen the film “Les Yeux Sans Visage (Eyes Without A Face)”, I highly recommend it. Eerie film.
Steve's contributions on Billies songs can not be underestimated . There is no "Steve Stevens" signature sound . It's alway something unique to each song that becomes it's own additional hook. This is rare for most players . They tend to stick to one thing. In fact when I was looking for a lead guitarist myself I said flat out I was looking for my Steve Stevens.
This guitar solo by Steve Stevens is just ear splitting. His style is so unique! Edit: Professor, how you do these interviews without fangirling is amazing! You ask great questions with class! Also, always thought Steve had an Edward Scissorhands look, or Edward Scissorhands had a Steve Stevens look, since the movie came out later.
As I recall at the time this song was the last Billy Idol to receive a lot of airplay - this is also a few years before Duran Duran had their last charting song which was also a ballad - it seemed like a number of acts of that era delivered some of their best work when they were winding down. Maybe a new ‘Swansong’ category?
As I recall (with a Google assist) the last top ten Duran Duran song was Come Undone in April 1993 - and this Billy Idol song Eyes Without a Face came out in 1983 but I swear I didn’t hear it on the radio that much until later in the decade like 1988 or so. Must be a Mandela effect.
I always thought Billy Idol has a very under-rated voice. I like the Jim Morrison comparison by Stevens, I always loved Jim's voice too. Steve Stevens probably doesn't get the credit he deserves as a guitar player as well.
One of the best songs of 1984. I loved it then and still do. Billy Idol always comes across so well in interviews; intelligent, modest, thoughtful and humorous. Ably assisted to this day by Steve Stevens. It is a pop song but does have a dark undercurrent. There's an alchemy at play in the finished product- it is a track that now sounds timeless. I am sure it will be played in years to come. Billy's rise from minor success with Generation X to megastar by the mid eighties is impressive. Love his sense humour and tongue in cheek approach. He perfected the sneer like nobody else!
@@ProfessorofRock I thought 1984 was something special at the time and by the end of the eighties too. Almost forty years later the longevity and quality of the the hits that year is beyond doubt. Hard to believe it was so long ago, I remember it so well. Dylan Jones, who wrote a book about the eighties called Shiny And New, about ten songs that defined the eighties, says that the further away from the decade we are, the closer it seems due to the lasting legacy of the music. I wholeheartedly agree.
@@maxaroni2004 It was great. I was 14 in February '84- there is academic research that shows that the music from when people were that age tends to be their favourite. It may not always apply but there seems to be some truth in it judging by the comments on You Tube about different decades. Never mind the research; 1984 was amazing as indeed was most of the decade! Just a few of my favourites that spring to mind: China Crisis Wishful Thinking (one of my favourite groups and listening to them this evening). Paul Young Love Of The Common People John Waite Missing You Queen Hammer To Fall Freddie Mercury- Love Kills Limahl Never Ending Story Howard Jones What is Love? The Pointer Sisters- Jump Michael Jackson Farewell My Summer Love ( one of his best) Paul McCartney No More Lonely Nights Human League-The Lebanon Special AKA Free Nelson Mandela Blancmange The Day Before You Came Plus many more!
I listened to Rebel Yell lp first thing in the morning ever day all through high school. I saw Billy and Steve live last month. I got same elated chills I always got since seeing them live the first time 40 years ago. Steve had 2 solo sets that were just as amazing as he's always been. The interlude in Eyes without a face is my all time favorite riff. Loved this Revelation. Well done Prof!
For all his talent, I love hearing him acknowledge all the others who were important in the creation of their music. Seems like a really cool dude you'd love to have a beer with and trade stories...
I went to see Billy Idol about 10 years ago and my friend wanted us to stand in front Steve Stephens so he could watch him playing up close. I've been listening to Billy since the early 80s but always took the guitar parts for granted. I finally was able to really appreciate the fantastic SS guitar playing up close and was blown away.
Sadly, I was never allowed to go to concerts when I was growing up. Billy Idol was the first concert I ever went to. Saw him back in ‘92, and I brought my younger sister in law with me to see it. It was amazing. Everything I imagined a good concert to be.
After 2 months on the road as Bill Idol's guitar tech and Bass tech (2006)I couldn't listen to an Idol song for months afterward, I just had overkill in my brain from 2 straight months of it. EXCEPT for "Eyes Without a Face". That song is my all time favorite from Billy Idol and always will be. I could listen to that song on a loop and each time enjoy it fully. It is put together so well and when Steve Steven's comes diving in with the heavy rhythm of the middle section it's like a warship cutting through a thick fog ! Frikkin' brilliant !!!
Enjoyed the interview, the creativity is incredible, the average person (myself) doesn't realize the nuance's that go into creating a great song. Steve's comments on working towards melding with Billy's vocals was humbling and show's his professionalism and humility. love it...
I just started watching your channel, and I’m completely enthralled! The music, the stories behind the music … I’m 53 years old and I’m taking an entirely new and fresh look at the songs my generation loved. I’m learning so much! I’m especially enjoying your memories of your father, and how he handed down to you his appreciation of the music. My Dad sang 50’s doo-wop. I remember my family having barbecues that would go on all night, and sitting at my window after being sent to bed, listening to him and his friends sing well into the wee hours of the morning. It was magic! My favorite band has always been GnR. I remember seeing WTTJ playing on MTV for the first time. A group of family and friends were hanging out in the living room with MTV on in the background. When that song came on, everyone stopped what they were doing to stare, slack jawed, at the screaming, snarling deranged creature before them. I never looked back. I was hooked. My favorite GNR song has always been Rocket Queen. It never topped the charts, but it’s a favorite of any true fan. Not one concert goes by that they haven’t performed it. The story behind it is typical of the rock lifestyle .. an amazing story. I’d love to see you cover it one day.
My older brother would come home on the weekends from going to college and bring all the billy idol tapes he had along with led zeppelin 3 and u2. I would listen to billy idol on a cheap walkman driving my dirtbike along the capes by home. Never knew who played the guitar on those songs. still love that sound
In a day and age dominated by social media and pop-up influencers Steve Stevens is the REAL DEAL. He’s not just a talented writer and guitar player, he’s a genuine link to the development of the guitar and rock music in general. If you played jazz or blues music to kids today they’d think they were listening to something ancient, they don’t understand how swing or bubble-gum music or (what we used to call) “oldies radio” STILL effects how songs are written. Steve Stevens is that bridge. Maybe, just maybe one kid out of one thousand will see this video and listen to him explain the process and then listen to something recorded BEFORE 2020 (😅😅😅)… and maybe THAT kid will be the one to bring it all forward one more generation. Thank you for these videos - they are not just fascinating but also valuable.
Loved Billy and Steve has always been so underrated. Love the work he did on Vince Neil's solo album back in the 90's as well! "The Edge" is incredible.
Slept overnight on a concrete step at Red Rocks to get front row for Billy Idol in 84. Got a high five from Steve - still the best concert I've ever been to.
Four chords, lyrics scribbled on a yellow pad, three guys come together and again a cool dad into different music genre. Another recipe for the best no matter the music. Eyes Without a Face very nice.
Poll: What is your pick for the most explosive guitar solo of the rock era?
For Those About To Rock We Salute You --- AC/DC
Michael Schenker Rock Bottom
Eruption 🎸😄
Ain't Too Proud to Beg! Keith Richards at his peak
I'm sure there is more explosive but I like Billy Zooms solo on X's remake of Breathless.
Steve Stevens seems such a down to earth guy. Humble and oozing with talent.
Back when "Eyes Without a Face" was popular, I was trying to convince my friends how great this song is and they just didn't get it. They enjoyed the song, but to them it was merely another enjoyable song.
Steve Stevens is criminally underrated.
I'm one of those weirdos who loved 80s soft rock, New Wave, pop, hard rock, and pop metal pretty much equally. That's why I loved this song so much. It has that soft, haunting quality popular in the early 80s soft rock and New Wave, along with the edgy guitar which inspired the great hair bands especially at the end of the decade, with that punk feel that was signature Billy Idol.
Billy Idol was my first live concert. Snuck out of the house (I was 12) and I was blown away. Got grounded for a month but it was totally worth it. One of my favorite albums of the 80s.
This is definitely one of Billy Idol's best songs-Steve Stevens is incredibly talented!
It just blows you away.
They both killed it.
That solo just gives you chills. Steve Stevens loves to use that whammy bar when he plays a solo.And he made it sound so haunting in this song.
Why is it that the most badass musicians always come across as the most centered, down-to-earth and nicest guys. So nice seeing this interview, ty for making it!
The bass groove in that masterpiece of a song is a huge part of what makes it so good.
The Bass is killer no shred just in the pocket
Loved the review Adam. Just wish you would have asked Steve about that meaty bass line.
Billy Idol and Steve Stevens were the 80’s……when I hear their songs it takes me back to a wonderful time in my life growing up in the 1980’s in NYC….🙏🏻💪🏻
This is always been one of my favorites of Billy Idol! It’s just so sonically different than anything else he’s ever done and the female vocals just gave it an otherworldly sound!
It's so HAUNTING! Awesome song.
I'd have to think really hard to find a rock song that I hate worst than this garbage song. Should have been a deep cut that was lost in the trash. Maybe "Love bites" is worse but it would be close.
It’s so otherworldly that I didn’t even believe it was him at first.
@@robsim4692 no accounting for taste, everyone's is different.
@@robsim4692 Love Bites is great, dude.
Eyes Without a Face still give me goosebumps after all these years!
When I was 26 or so, at my 64 year old mother's request, I took her to a Billy Idol concert with warmup band The Cult. She loved it. Now I'm 64. Time flies when you're rocking out.
1 of my all time fave songs!!!!!!
Steve Stevens is a perfect example of a brilliant guitarist that never got the credit he was due. One of the best of that era, up there with EVH.
For sure. He and Eddie were friends.
They are both on my list of Top 10 Guitar Lords.
No..Steve..EVH and Slash all got to solo
on MJ song.
@@barbaradascalos4411 Michael Jackson knew guitar talent when he heard it. Janet as well with Nuno from Extreme on Black Cat.
Eddie Van Halen was his creative getting as many arpeggios and multiple notes into a movement as Steve Stevens was at completely rocking a solo and letting Billy stay out in front of it. Two totally different guitarists that were masters of their craft.
I love hearing seasoned professionals speak and reveal the secrets of their craft. As a musician I am humbled by their skill.
It never ceases to amaze me how musicians can come up with ideas and create something so incredible, it really requires so much vision.
The power of great music.
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I think you have to be born with a 'music brain'. Everyone appreciates melodies and rhythms but very few people can actually make them.
It's easy for some of us...
SO glad you covered this song! As a guitar player i'd ALWAYS tell people how awesome this solo is, it is so different, no one plays like that.
Every interview with Steve amazes me. How intelligently he can approach writing a song, but then pulls out an awesome blistering guitar. He is so talented , but so humble. And I saw he Billy singing in the basement last year, and neither has lost that fire!
Very cool. Ya he has such great perspectives.
They’ve been doing this for years and are still alive and kicking.
Steve Stephens gives the best interviews! Love this song and how original it is. One of the little things he adds to it is a simple long, haunting sustained note that adds another layer that compliments Billy's vocals. The two are magic as a team. The background vocals really drive this song into your memory and are a delight
He is a great interview. He is so amazingly talented.
You can’t have Billy Idol without Steve Stevens!
My favorite Billy Idol tune. Amazing to see the man who helped contribute to it strongly. Timeless classic indeed
He’s dope.
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This is my all time favorite Idol song. Can listen to it over & over & often do when I skate 🤘😺♥️
What I love about Steve Stevens is his focus on the song and how to get all the parts to fit together. He works for the music not his ego. He also avoids a lot of the notoriety of the guitar divas. Always love interviews with Steve. Rock On! 🎸😎
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Well said.
I can remember being 14 years old and hearing this song and thinking that Billy Idol just proved he's multi-faceted and not just solely the shallow bad boy image I perceived until then. And it wasn't so much the lyrics as it was the music that pushed that point to me. Hearing Stevens recount how it all came together is very cool. I love that Stevens also pays homage to his influences. And the thing I noticed the most...Humble...Stevens gave credit to everyone else. I don't know this guy personally, but I bet he would be one of those people that you are proud to know and always has a good word. Not just a great guitarist, but an incredible human as well. Thank you, Professor, for all that you do and most especially for this one!
Just like another great guitarist who contributed to Michael Jackson, EVH.
Always loved Billy’s talents but did not know until this vid how deeply involved in creation of the tunes he was. Takes my appreciation for his talents to a higher level.
Steve Stevens is literally one of the most badass rockers to ever pick up a guitar. If you want to listed to the most underrated album ever recorded, listen to his work on Vince Neil's solo album titled "Exposed." Absolutely AMAZING writing and guitar work on that album.
You remember! I asked him about that.
What an album man the work on top gun Anthem and with Michael Jackson also what a guitarist
I have heard that album and agree.
The song The Edge gives a taste of his classical acoustic virtuosity. Great transition from acoustic to a sawing electric takeoff. Hes a great musician, interviewee and humble guy. Pleasure to watch.
The Atomic Playboys album is killer too.
This album, to me, is one of those albums that define the sound of the 80's. Also it's one of those albums that you can listen from beginning to end. Eyes without a Face I'd as iconic as Conder Lauper's Time after Time. They both take you back to a time that only a song can take you.
I was a bit of a snob as an 80s teen… not really a top 40 guy as a rule. But I wore my tape of Rebel Yell out… both sides on auto play in my cars cassette deck. it just epitomized a certain feeling. Every song ❤
Steve Stevens is an unbelievable musician. And he and Billy are perfect together!
They are! One of the best guitarists ever.
They stick together like birds of a feather!
This is definitely is one of the old time great songs of all time. Steve Stevens is a true guitar master. 👍😎🎸
With so many amazing songs in 1984, Billy Idol's "Eyes Without A Face" was definitely amongst my favorites. Steve Stevens is an incredible guitarist. Another great interview, Professor🤩
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Every time I plug in I'm chasing Steve's tone. It never gets old. Life long fan! What a great interview. He's so humble and grateful. Truly a musician from a bygone era still rocking hard today.
Steve Stevens knocked it out on the whole Rebel Yell album! He is always a great interview down to earth with a great personality. He and Billy were a match for Steve's music and Billy's lyrics that shaped 80s music. I think Eyes without a Face is their most creative song. Stevens owns some of the best solos of the 80s too. Great episode professor
I think you're right... It's their most creative song and really innovative. Thanks My Name.
He is a very entertaining guy. I don’t think Billy would have hits at all if it weren’t for Steve.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 there is no doubt without Steve there would be no Billy idol hits
@@MyName-pl7zn A duo of fist pumping perfection.
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 more more more!!!
Eyes without a face is so timeless.
Always loved the bassline in "Eyes Without A Face". Another song off Rebel Yell that I like, that does not get much attention is "Blue Highway".
Love the whole album.
Yup! I purchased the album many years ago, and "Blue Highway" was definitely one of my favourite tracks from it...
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My favorite of the non singles, easily.
sal cuevas
Steve Stevens... one of the greatest of all time... can blaze but also such a great writer
Billy is so much more dynamic than the "punk" status he has. Billy always thanks Steve for his work in making him the star he is to this day and it is legit, Steve's guitar work is excellent.
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One of my absolute favorite songs by Billy Idol!
He's a great natural musician, not only technically great but as an arranger and riff magician, Idol wouldn't have been as successful without him. Thanks professor
I agree. A perfect foil for Billy.
The more I watch your interviews with Steve Stevens the more I respect and appreciate his talent. Very smart man and so linked to music genuinely it’s his soul he IS music. It’s great. I love these interviews with him.
I remember first listening ti "Eyes without a Face, and thinking that at some point after the first verses the song and Billy would explode. I was not disappointed.
You got it right. It went off the rails!
You were right on the money!
Simply awesome! Billy idol and Steve Stephens had a phenomenal run in the 80's.
Incredible cut from 'Rebel Yell'. You are right Professor!, on the first listen, it hits you between the ears. Guess what, forty years later, it still does! Love, 'Flesh for Fantasy also.
Great album and perfect song to show case Billy Idol's voice. Guitar work is iconic and Steve just nailed it.
LOVE this song... definitely in my top two Billy Idol songs and both high on my list. "Dancing With Myself" and "Eyes Without a Face"... definitely two great 80s songs. The guitar in in "Eyes Without a Face", yeah, you know that part, is fantastic... always loved it.
It's mind blowing. Thanks Shane.
Same here. "Rebel Yell" gets the 🥉
They both rock!
I absolutely love that song. And the French chorus is just haunting. It's amazingly beautiful.
I've always wondered about this particular guitarist. Steve's solo in this song is a one of a kind. I've never heard such an explosive and unique guitar solo in any song. Thank you Professor!
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Steve Stevens is one of the greatest guitar players ever. His Flemenco playing is off the charts
Have you ever heard his CD Flamenco A Go-Go? It is wonderful. I also love the work that he did with Terry Bozzio and Tony Levin.
@@johnlopez3996 I’ll check that album out… not sure if I’ve heard that one…
A buddy of mine turned me onto Steve’s brilliance a few years ago.
Great respect to Steve Stevens! Thanks Professor for featuring such a well crafted, creative song from a great duo. Your reminiscing with Steve about your Dads influences brought a tear to my eye. My dad was a big band guy too. We went to a few jazz concerts together. He exposed me to prog rock with an appreciation for great musicianship. Since my kids were children they were exposed to most all genre's of music and is something we will always share together.
Steve Stevens is an incredibly creative and intelligent guy. Always enjoy his guitar virtuosity
Eyes Without a Face is my favorite song off the album, which I loved when it came out and still do today. The song is so atmospheric w/great musical composition; that bridge with Steve Stevens' guitar riff and Billy's haunting lyrics is just fantastic. How many albums better than Rebel Yell have come out over the past decade? Just crazy how packed with great music the '80s were.
There are so many great 80s albums to choose from. This is just one of them.
This is my favorite Billy Idol song. The song has a haunting melody and the bridge is unreal. Steve Stephens has my utmost respect as a musician.
I had just thought it's a time machine just a few seconds before you said it. That's the magic of music. An amazing song can actually take you back to several different moments in time
For sure. Thanks Erik.
Just 10 seconds will flood your brain with memories.
Steve is an amazing player/writer. Still love listening to Billy Idol. Saw him in concert when he was playin with Vince Neil. Most under rated player who made Billy’s songs what they are. Iconic.
Undoubtedly this is probably one of the best songs ever, I’ve heard it countless amount of times and it’s like I’m hearing it for the first time again when I listen to it. Billy Idol has been my favorite music artist of all time and he has always had a tremendous amount of talent (Steve as well 🎸) and persona. I will forever love this song 🖤.
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It’s such a banger.
This song has it all, I keep coming back to listen to this ethereal , rock, pop, melodic ballad.
Love this song form the hypnotic sounds to the eerie lyrics. Very atmospheric! And his voice in this is amazing, so is hers! Part of the magic. Even the crashing middle bit makes it work, it needed a complete break to stop from becoming too repetitive, and that guitar complements the other half of the song.
That French verse is so haunting and beautiful, and it has one of the coolest bridges ever!
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This was buy far my favorite song from the 80's. The arrangement along with the MTV video takes me back to my childhood.
Rebel Yell did work as a complete album. Every song is pretty good. In 83/84, I was in college as an introverted person and the song on the album that hit me was (Do Not) Stand in the Shadow. It is the prescription for moving out of ones introverted ways. I don't hear it very often on the subsequent tours, but would love to hear it live again.
Thanks for sharing. Great song. Great reminder.
It is a perfect song for introverts.
While I wouldn't say Billy Idol is forgotten, you do forget how many hits the guy had in the mid-80's. This song was fantastic but I hadn't listened to it in years.
Stevens is a great interview.
One of the best duos and probably one of the most underrated duos in the biz. It's amazing he and Billy have been going strong for over 40 years. Steve is a very humble person and it is not surprising why so many artists have collaborated with him. I enjoy his sonic blends of structure and and textures that he achieves with his guitar, he is not your stereotypical shredder. What a great talent!
I'm going to be interviewing the two of them for a live event in the spring! Very excited about it.
@@ProfessorofRock That is awesome! That will be a great show.
He’s one of my 10 Guitar Lords. GOATs.
Billy Idol didn't thrill me when his singles came out. That fool take on the Elvis lip bothered me too.
Then he played a set at an all day festival.
I thought he might be ok, but I had no real desire to see him.
Wow! I was wrong.
Billy was a force in front and Steve amazed me with the sounds he got live.
I was impressed
@@ProfessorofRock ... Will it be the three of you together in one place, or will you have to do it Skype style?
I listened to WCBS-FM New York's Oldies Station and am a major fan of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons and 50's Doo-Wop. I think it's a great story that it had an influence on the writing of "Eyes Without A Face" by Billy Idol. Also, Brian Wilson calling it his favorite song of the 80's is high praise. It's a terrific song that introduced me to Billy Idol's music.
So cool. Ya I've heard it mentioned in several interviews I've done. High praise indeed.
You know you’re a legend when The Beach Boys love your song.
Thanks guys- lovely memories ❤
Had a chance to meet Steve and Billy before a show In TO...got autographs and a few pics...nice guys. I think one of his best pieces is the Top Gun theme with Harold Faltermeyer...the whole song is epic...
What's TO?
@@mournblade1066 Toronto....
He is one of the best of his time.
@@ProfessorofRock agreed...
Top Gun anthem is epic.
When it comes to Steve Stevens and Billy Idol, we need More More More!
I rarely ever really like a song the first time I hear it. They generally have to grow on me. I remember the first time hearing this song. It was about 2:00 a.m. I was watching a late night video music show. The lights were off in the room with the only the light from the TV. I was sitting in the middle of the sofa staring at the TV. This came on and I was immediately hooked. It was mesmerizing. I love it to this day.
Funny Steve mentions WCBS-FM, it was the first radio station I found on my transistor radio at about age 10. Started off on the right foot!
That's SO cool!
Really?
@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 yes, really. first music radio station.
@@surlechapeau You made an amazing discovery!
Always enjoyable to hear Steve who's such a genuine passionate and nice person. Best of all, he hasn't aged a day
I LOVE a great bridge in songs. It's pretty neat when they sound absolutely nothing like the rest of the song. You should ask for our favorite bridges. I have some great ones. 😎
Very true. Good point.
“Eyes” has a great bridge. One of my all time favorite song bridges is from Nights on Broadway” by The Bee Gees. Beautiful.
If you haven’t seen the film “Les Yeux Sans Visage (Eyes Without A Face)”, I highly recommend it. Eerie film.
@@Beachgirl1 I should look for it on my ROKU stick.
@@Beachgirl1 "Fire" by The Pointer Sisters has a great bridge. It just comes out of nowhere. 🙂
@@BillGraper Agreed. Love it!
Steve's contributions on Billies songs can not be underestimated . There is no "Steve Stevens" signature sound . It's alway something unique to each song that becomes it's own additional hook. This is rare for most players . They tend to stick to one thing. In fact when I was looking for a lead guitarist myself I said flat out I was looking for my Steve Stevens.
This guitar solo by Steve Stevens is just ear splitting. His style is so unique!
Edit: Professor, how you do these interviews without fangirling is amazing! You ask great questions with class!
Also, always thought Steve had an Edward Scissorhands look, or Edward Scissorhands had a Steve Stevens look, since the movie came out later.
Oh, there's definitely a little fangirling going on there.
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The whole Rebel Yell album has a great sound. One of the best from the 80’s
As I recall at the time this song was the last Billy Idol to receive a lot of airplay - this is also a few years before Duran Duran had their last charting song which was also a ballad - it seemed like a number of acts of that era delivered some of their best work when they were winding down. Maybe a new ‘Swansong’ category?
Duran Duran were charting well into the early 90s.
As I recall (with a Google assist) the last top ten Duran Duran song was Come Undone in April 1993 - and this Billy Idol song Eyes Without a Face came out in 1983 but I swear I didn’t hear it on the radio that much until later in the decade like 1988 or so. Must be a Mandela effect.
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Billy & Steve. Rocks Dynamic Duo still kicking it today! 🎶👊🏻
February 3rd, 1959
The Day the Music Died
R.I.P
Buddy Holly
Ritchie Valens
The Big Bopper - J.P. Richardson
and pilot Roger Peterson.
And I didn't even mean to do that... Wow. I film some of these weeks in advance. Wow.
@@ProfessorofRock oh you're good, I'm just raising a glass and saying cheers to my ol Rock N Roll heroes!
64 years! Hard to believe, right?
I always thought Billy Idol has a very under-rated voice. I like the Jim Morrison comparison by Stevens, I always loved Jim's voice too. Steve Stevens probably doesn't get the credit he deserves as a guitar player as well.
I thought they were really good comps. He is the rock crooner of the 80s for sure.
The 80s Jim Morrison indeed.
Some of the collaborations are simply incredible, RY, Eyes Without a Face, Blue Highway, White Wedding…..epic chapter of rock n roll history
All time greatest guitarist and one of my favorite Billy Idol song!
Eyes without a Face was part of my college days, great song and fantastic interview.
I was in High School from '83-'86...I cry HARD when I hear this..
Steve Stevens is awesome, way underrated, a wicked classical guitar player also
I was still around kindergarten age, maybe younger, when I first heard this song. It always takes me back to those simple/awesome times.
One of the best songs of 1984. I loved it then and still do. Billy Idol always comes across so well in interviews; intelligent, modest, thoughtful and humorous. Ably assisted to this day by Steve Stevens. It is a pop song but does have a dark undercurrent. There's an alchemy at play in the finished product- it is a track that now sounds timeless. I am sure it will be played in years to come. Billy's rise from minor success with Generation X to megastar by the mid eighties is impressive. Love his sense humour and tongue in cheek approach. He perfected the sneer like nobody else!
No question. 1984... the greatest year in music history.
@@ProfessorofRock I thought 1984 was something special at the time and by the end of the eighties too. Almost forty years later the longevity and quality of the the hits that year is beyond doubt. Hard to believe it was so long ago, I remember it so well. Dylan Jones, who wrote a book about the eighties called Shiny And New, about ten songs that defined the eighties, says that the further away from the decade we are, the closer it seems due to the lasting legacy of the music. I wholeheartedly agree.
Like lots of '84's songs, "Eyes Without A Face" has aged really well. Definitely in my top 3 for that incredible year.
@@maxaroni2004 It was great. I was 14 in February '84- there is academic research that shows that the music from when people were that age tends to be their favourite. It may not always apply but there seems to be some truth in it judging by the comments on You Tube about different decades. Never mind the research; 1984 was amazing as indeed was most of the decade! Just a few of my favourites that spring to mind:
China Crisis Wishful Thinking (one of my favourite groups and listening to them this evening).
Paul Young Love Of The Common People
John Waite Missing You
Queen Hammer To Fall
Freddie Mercury- Love Kills
Limahl Never Ending Story
Howard Jones What is Love?
The Pointer Sisters- Jump
Michael Jackson Farewell My Summer Love ( one of his best)
Paul McCartney No More Lonely Nights
Human League-The Lebanon
Special AKA Free Nelson Mandela
Blancmange The Day Before You Came
Plus many more!
There are a plethora of layers to this song that add to the haunting vibe.
I listened to Rebel Yell lp first thing in the morning ever day all through high school. I saw Billy and Steve live last month. I got same elated chills I always got since seeing them live the first time 40 years ago. Steve had 2 solo sets that were just as amazing as he's always been. The interlude in Eyes without a face is my all time favorite riff. Loved this Revelation. Well done Prof!
For all his talent, I love hearing him acknowledge all the others who were important in the creation of their music. Seems like a really cool dude you'd love to have a beer with and trade stories...
The guitar in this song is fantastic, I also really like the BI spoken word section. Great work on that song. BI fan 4ever
I went to see Billy Idol about 10 years ago and my friend wanted us to stand in front Steve Stephens so he could watch him playing up close. I've been listening to Billy since the early 80s but always took the guitar parts for granted. I finally was able to really appreciate the fantastic SS guitar playing up close and was blown away.
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I can remember the first time I heard this as a 14-year-old. It captivated and mesmerized me.
Steve Stevens was/is Billy Idol's secret weapon. Without Steve Stevens Billy would not have had the success.
This band holds a place in my memories for sure so this was an amazing interview to watch!
Hall of Fame guitarist no question. Thank you for this interview.
Sadly, I was never allowed to go to concerts when I was growing up. Billy Idol was the first concert I ever went to. Saw him back in ‘92, and I brought my younger sister in law with me to see it. It was amazing. Everything I imagined a good concert to be.
After 2 months on the road as Bill Idol's guitar tech and Bass tech (2006)I couldn't listen to an Idol song for months afterward, I just had overkill in my brain from 2 straight months of it. EXCEPT for "Eyes Without a Face". That song is my all time favorite from Billy Idol and always will be. I could listen to that song on a loop and each time enjoy it fully. It is put together so well and when Steve Steven's comes diving in with the heavy rhythm of the middle section it's like a warship cutting through a thick fog ! Frikkin' brilliant !!!
Enjoyed the interview, the creativity is incredible, the average person (myself) doesn't realize the nuance's that go into creating a great song. Steve's comments on working towards melding with Billy's vocals was humbling and show's his professionalism and humility. love it...
I saw Billy Idol in concert with Steve Stevens last summer and it was an amazing show!
I just started watching your channel, and I’m completely enthralled! The music, the stories behind the music … I’m 53 years old and I’m taking an entirely new and fresh look at the songs my generation loved. I’m learning so much!
I’m especially enjoying your memories of your father, and how he handed down to you his appreciation of the music. My Dad sang 50’s doo-wop. I remember my family having barbecues that would go on all night, and sitting at my window after being sent to bed, listening to him and his friends sing well into the wee hours of the morning. It was magic!
My favorite band has always been GnR. I remember seeing WTTJ playing on MTV for the first time. A group of family and friends were hanging out in the living room with MTV on in the background. When that song came on, everyone stopped what they were doing to stare, slack jawed, at the screaming, snarling deranged creature before them. I never looked back. I was hooked.
My favorite GNR song has always been Rocket Queen. It never topped the charts, but it’s a favorite of any true fan. Not one concert goes by that they haven’t performed it. The story behind it is typical of the rock lifestyle .. an amazing story. I’d love to see you cover it one day.
My older brother would come home on the weekends from going to college and bring all the billy idol tapes he had along with led zeppelin 3 and u2. I would listen to billy idol on a cheap walkman driving my dirtbike along the capes by home. Never knew who played the guitar on those songs. still love that sound
In a day and age dominated by social media and pop-up influencers Steve Stevens is the REAL DEAL. He’s not just a talented writer and guitar player, he’s a genuine link to the development of the guitar and rock music in general. If you played jazz or blues music to kids today they’d think they were listening to something ancient, they don’t understand how swing or bubble-gum music or (what we used to call) “oldies radio” STILL effects how songs are written. Steve Stevens is that bridge. Maybe, just maybe one kid out of one thousand will see this video and listen to him explain the process and then listen to something recorded BEFORE 2020 (😅😅😅)… and maybe THAT kid will be the one to bring it all forward one more generation. Thank you for these videos - they are not just fascinating but also valuable.
Eyes without a face and flesh for fantasy are my favorite billy idol songs.
Great songs. I also love Hot in the City. thanks Wayne!
Flesh for Fantasy is my absolute favorite Billy Idol song.
I love his lead on "catch my fall" underrated song!
Loved Billy and Steve has always been so underrated. Love the work he did on Vince Neil's solo album back in the 90's as well! "The Edge" is incredible.
One of the best songs of the 80s. When the bridge guitar riff kicks in you cannot help but pump your fist.
You get it!
It’s one of my top 10 greatest bridges in a song.
Slept overnight on a concrete step at Red Rocks to get front row for Billy Idol in 84. Got a high five from Steve - still the best concert I've ever been to.
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Four chords, lyrics scribbled on a yellow pad, three guys come together and again a cool dad into different music genre. Another recipe for the best no matter the music. Eyes Without a Face very nice.
Well said!
Great story of how it all came together.