Collection: Billy Idol

Billy Idol first came through as a founding member of Generation X in 1976, bringing punk attitude into a career that would soon stretch well beyond its original scene. Born in Stanmore, London in 1955, he went on to build a solo catalogue that pulled together punk rock, hard rock and new wave with a sharp instinct for hooks and image.

Rebel Yell helped make that shift unmistakable. Released in 1983, it marked the point where Idol became an international star, with his early MTV presence pushing songs and persona together in a way that suited the era perfectly. Records including Whiplash Smile, Charmed Life and Don’t Stop show the same direct, high-gloss approach that made him such a distinctive figure in British and American rock culture.