ShareBilly Idol performing his Billy Idol Live Tour at The 02 Academy Birmingham on Thursday 21st June 2018.
Images and Review by Kevin Cooper
It is four years since Billy Idol toured the UK and last night it was a packed O2 Academy in Birmingham that welcomed him back.
Commanding the stage like someone half his age, Idol is that rare breed of musician who has successfully managed the transition from his raw punk days with Generation X into full blown pop stardom as a solo artist, and yet still manages to cause a stir.
Dressed in trademark black leather and sporting his iconic bleached blonde spiked hair, he immediately exuded energy, sweat and charm in equal measures as he took to the stage and kicked off the evenings show with his 1993 number, Shock To The System.
With his trademark sneer and raised lip, attitude, sex appeal and swagger, the rock idol stormed through his set, treating his fans to timeless favourites such as Generation X’s Dancing With Myself, Flesh For Fantasy, and the darkly seductive Eyes Without A Face.
Accompanying him on stage was long time collaborator Steve Stevens, who is the very epitome of rock as he plays his guitar behind his ears and thrashes about as he jumps onto the amplifiers in true rock fashion.
Newer songs also featured in the set, including Can’t Break Me Down and Whiskey And Pills from Idol’s 2014 album, Kings & Queens Of The Underground, but it was the older songs which had this crowd singing along. Finishing this rock spectacular with the raucous Rebel Yell, the night had come to an end too soon.
Back for the encore he thanked the audience for “making life so fucking great”, before Stevens strummed out the distinctive opening to White Wedding and the crowd went wild in appreciation.
Finishing with his beloved cover of Tommy James And The Shondells, Mony Mony, the triumphant night ended with Idol taking centre stage, standing in a pose with his fists held high as the crowd cheered, and most certainly cemented his place in rock history.