First time I’d heard him in decades. I remember him setting rock on fire during my college years. We’re both a bit older today. Idol is 62.
He didn’t seem to be in full voice last night. I remember him delivering stunning power ballads. I know it’s hard for rockers to come in completely cold and perform just one song. They are geared more towards long sets at arenas.
Idol appeared last night with Chloe, this seasons winner. I assume that’s his guitarist and bass player with him on stage.
Anyone very familiar with Idol’s current work? Is this how he performs these days?
Chloe is on a mission to revive rock. I hope she can write some new ballads and get it played.
Well, he’s 62. He’s no had some health and drug problems all his life, self-sabotaging whatever later career triumphs he may have had. Do you think he has always been a serious career musician who wanted to keep on working doggedly into old age like the Rolling Stones? Frankly, I’m amazed he’s still alive at all.
I thought he sound really good. Granted he is old and his voice is not what it was when he was a 20-year-old punk, but that happens to every singer. They also had an arrangement the both allowed him to harmonize with Chloe and not overpower her so that she could shine on the rocking out parts without having to compete with Billy.
That was definitely Steve Stevens on guitar. The rest of his band are more session players so I am not sure if the bassist and drummer were his regular touring band, but I would guess so. They are not as iconic and Billy and Steve.
Seriously, though, he had a major motorcycle accident, a weird experimental album, some drug problems, and trouble with his label. I can’t look at madsircool’s link while I’m at work, but my assumption is that it goes to VH1’s Behind The Music, which is what Billy Idol was born for.
I remember seeing Idol perform probably 5 or 10 years ago and while the effort was there, his voice sounded rather weak. Still impressive that he’s still performing at his age.
This is completely ridiculous. He was a prime shape with a six pack in his 50s on his appearance on Viva la Bam. He is highly professional and still tours.
It was a clip of him making a sunroof on a Lamberghini. He was is better shape than 99.5% of men his age. How many 50 year olds can perform shirtless without eliciting derision?
This was my experience when I saw him at Loufest in 2015. Of course your voice changes as you age but he was still powering through his hits for 90 minutes while being very active on stage. And yeah, still shirtless and lean. Nothing about him screamed “old” to me.
Funny, I happened upon the same show last night and was happy to see him sounding and looking so good. I didn’t care for the girl singing with him but since she won, I’m assuming that simply wasn’t one of her better performances.
He’s played here at least twice in the last couple of years. Too bad I couldn’t find anyone who wanted to see him with me
I saw him in 2016 in Santa Ana (the Observatory) for the Kings and Queens of the Underground tour and he ROCKED! He even had Steve Stevens back with him! He looked alittle tired (i put it down to his age) but it was still a great show. And I saw him in 2002 during the Kiss the Skull tour in Albuquerque - so he’s definately not been in hiding!
Mr. H likes that show with Ozzy Osborne and his son Jack. I think it’s called Detour something. Anyway, last week Ozzy was visiting a friend who plays in Billy’s band (the friend was also Billy something, he was a guitarist in addition to Stevens). He was on only briefly, but Billy sounded GREAT. I think they were rehearsing for a stint in Vegas.
Idol is 62.
