Inspired by Albumism, I’m doing my own version of Flying Solo with individual tracks. Band breakups and hiatuses are never fun, but these solo jams were defining moments in my life’s soundtrack.
Before and after Billy Idol, there was nothing else like him. With Rebel Yell, he fused together two genres that almost had no business being on the same track together: hard rock and new wave. On their own, these genres stood in opposition to one another. But on Idol’s second solo album — and with his title track , in particular — they came together like long lost souls.
“Rebel Yell” laid the groundwork for other bands that also brought elements of these two divergent music styles together, most notably The Cult and INXS. Two likable genres often enjoyed on their own — but not often together. That’s the simple genius of Billy Idol. Every bit a rebel in both his persona and in his music, but equally relatable and likable with the masses.
“He lives in his own heaven.”