I do believe that Sir William of Idol is one of the great lost voices of the 80s.


Surely Rebel Yell, Flesh for Fantasy and the rest stand up to anything Prince did?????
[Edited 8/7/08 9:26am]

quick
fix the title

PANDURITO said:

Done! Thnks

U done lost your mind to compare Billy to Prince. And I love Billy. But come on!

Funny, Billy Idol is on one of the threads "Blackguitaristz Goes To Willy Wonka's Machine" or something like that. I believe it's on the Pt2 thread. Anyway, Idol's video Eyes Without A Face is on that thread and other pics of Billy right along with pics of Prince. It maybe on the Purple Rain Premire Ticket thread as well. Anyway, there's talk of love for Idol on those threads. I've seen Billy twice in concert. My first time was in 84 on the Rebel Yell Tour. Dez opened up for that show. I've been hip to Billy when he was in the band Generation X. They were very popular out here in L.A. So when he went solo, I was already familiar with him. But my fave album by him is Rebel Yell...that whole album is great. Flesh For Fantasy is bangin..So is Daytime Drama. I still play that album in my car today. Compared to Prince? Totally two different artists. Talent wise, there is no comparison. Prince, hands down. But I've always dug Billy.

Sir William! Should be knighted eh? Yes, I posted a couple of vids on the Premiere Part 3 thread... Eyes without a Face is a fantastic song, White Wedding I LOVE too. Hey eireboy! I used to do a dance number to that one.... I loved it, because I didn't have to smile sweetly, I could be MEAN and wild and give the audience dirty looks!! He's a Sexy MF Billy Idol..... love him! Love the whole Rebel Yell album too!

Jeffiner said:

Hmmmmm, would have LOVE to have seen THAT!

You're being silly now... William Broad is just a wanker from Bromley

Handel said:

Is he from Bromley? That's where I used to live until a couple of years ago!!!

blackguitaristz said:

Jeffiner said:

Bromley ? Isn´t that where the apples are from ?

My basketball coach in 1984 never shared my appreciation for Prince. He told me not to listen to "that faggot" and rather listen to Billy Idol instead.

KoolEaze said:

His expertise obviously lay in basketball.

eireboy34 said:

I listened to "Rebel Yell" almost as much as "Purple Rain" (trying to learn guitar parts on both albums). I even bought the remastered version of "Rebel Yell" on CD. I liked Idol's "Devil's Playground" disc from a few years ago, too.

I liked the "Flesh" remix even better than the original....

Yuck!

[Edited 8/7/08 15:04pm]

Funny one this, only about two weeks ago, I was watching a few Idol vids on U-tube, and started to reflect on days gone by, but I was startled to see reflections of princes videos and style, in Idols videos, Rebel yell and white wedding in particular. Rebel Yell, the album, is a must, and the white wedding album or EP thingie is brilliant as well, but look up your U-tubes, and see the similarities in vision and sound

Whitnail said:

Especially on the Rebel Yell album. But I see this in reverse. I know Stevie Stevens was a big Prince fan and he loved Dez. Anyway, I've always heard a certain 1999 album "sound" on some of the Rebel Yell album. Like on cuts like "Daytime Drama". It has a simialr "dark" vibe that the 1999 album has. I call it a "blue" sound. I know that doesn't make a lick of sense to anybody else, but that's the only way I can describe it. But Billy and Prince both had a very strong "singular" image in the early 80's.

blackguitaristz said:[quote]

Whitnail said:

Especially on the Rebel Yell album. But I see this in reverse. I know Stevie Stevens was a big Prince fan and he loved Dez. Anyway, I've always heard a certain 1999 album "sound" on some of the Rebel Yell album. Like on cuts like "Daytime Drama". It has a simialr "dark" vibe that the 1999 album has. I call it a "blue" sound. I know that doesn't make a lick of sense to anybody else, but that's the only way I can describe it. But Billy and Prince both had a very strong "singular" image in the early 80's.[/quote)

Yeah, I think you have hit the point there, a certain sound and vibrance in performance, both def have a very strong persona, especially on stage, should also not be forgotten, Rebel Yell was one of the biggest selling albums of the 80´s, also spent something like 13 weeks at no.1, in the US at least. It may be also credited with opening punk music up to a much wider audience, as Billy Idol was catogerized at the time as a punk artist, it is actually then, that you can see where the whole Dirty Mind era, can be seen more punk influenced or simply rebellious

Jeffiner said:

actually, billy idol grew up in worthing & went to the same school as my son did!
oh yes, worthing's full of wildness & anachy

i was a big fan of rebel yell&white wedding..fantastic songs
but can't say i ever saw a comparison between him & p..!
firstly they couldn't look more different & idol was a caveman..all tht lip curling shit - but he was gritty & dirty earthy!
but hey what the heck's he doing these days? is he still alive?

lottielooloo1968 said:

Now I've heard that he came from Beckenham, which isn't far from Bromley, the same as Bowie - will need to do some research

eireboy34 said:

His voice isn't lost friend, it's better than ever. Seriously.
His voice is richer and more powerful. I'll be seeing him locally next Saturday.

First saw him perform a few years ago on Devil's Playground Tour...went with friends to check out Steve Stevens the guitar wizard. Billy Idol was in 80's guy who did some hits, so we initially expected.

We were blown away by the band's performance and Billy's charisma. One of my friends has been to a zillion Kiss shows, rock shows, pop shows, literally. He said that was one of the best shows he ever saw. Billy Idol has an intensity and charisma that's really larger than life. It's one of traits that make somebody a star like Madonna or of course Prince. You're not going to see these people in a 9 to 5 job. Society couldn't handle it nor could they. They're destined for something else and it's gotta be a lonely walk too. But screw it if that's what it takes.

Also wanted to mention the best sound quality I've ever heard of a live concert. Anyway Prince definitely influenced Billy Idol especially in his live performances.

I like Billy Idol...Love Prince is what I do best..vs. anybody.

blackguitaristz said:

Dez opened for Billy back in the 80s (I think it was the Whiplash Smile tour, but I'm not sure).

I took my sister to see Prince at Earl's Court. After the most amazing gig my sister said "He was OK, but not as good at Billy Idol" Everyone around us, just stared at her in disbelief



No accounting for taste
[b][Edited 8/8/08 1:19am]

KoolEaze said:

Apples is from Bromley?!

Jeffiner said:

U O me !!!!!

eireboy34 said:

Nice thread eireboy...!

Man I love Billy's music and style. Rebel yell is one of the best albums ever.

Yeah Prince had an influence on him. Go get the expanded version of Rebel Yell and play the demo to Catch My Fall. Its practically When you were mine with different lyrics. I forgot what he said, but in the storytellers video he said something about Prince inspiring him for Flesh for Fantasy.

Seen him a couple times live, one at the HOB in New Orleans. great show and Steve Stevens is off the chain. I was actually talking to some of the guys in the Time about him a couple months ago

and for a good laugh, check out his Christmas album

I always wanted to see a duet of Billy and prince. That would have been a great combo back in the day