There are few names that immediately conjure up the iconic rock star image. Spiky bleach-blond hair and lip twisted up in a snarl - there's only one Billy Idol!

In the synth-heavy eighties, Billy brought screaming punk metal to the forefront of the music scene.

Young, old or somewhere in between, you're just not a true rocker at heart if you don't know the wailings of Rebel Yell, Dancing With Myself and White Wedding.

Culturally, the Idolator has worked his way as a staple of receptions and events alike with fist shaking and lyrical shout outs while people shake their junk to Money, Money.

The man and his music are part of history - and he's still rockin' it!

Not even a major injury mid-way in his career could stop Billy Idol from making his mark. Though well documented, you'll never hear him go on some talk show and cry about almost losing his leg back in 1990. That wouldn't be very punk.

It happened last one night after he left the studio on his motorcycle. He was hit by a car, almost leaving him permanently crippled.

Raging against doctors orders, he continued his career and released one of my all-time favorite 90's rock anthems, Cradle of Love. When he filmed the iconic video, which featured a hot chick tearing up some geek's apartment, he had to be filmed from the waist up because he couldn't walk. He has since recovered fully.

Ahead of his time: He went on to release Cyberpunk, which although it was not as popular as previous albums, it is worth noting as one of the first commercial albums to be recorded in a home studio using a Mac - amazingly considered a new concept at that time (what a difference a decade makes!).

Out now, The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself is chock full of his hottest tracks from then and now. The master in action, catch it!

Word.
-Wes

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