PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Undoubtedly Punk Rock King of the sneer. Billy Idol, born William Michael Albert Broad, released his new album Kings & Queens Of The Underground, on his own BFI Records, via Kobalt Label Services on 20th October 2014. Kings & Queens Of The Underground is Billy’s first new album in almost a decade. The album was produced mainly by Trevor Horn, with Greg Kurstin co-producing on a couple of songs including the first single Can’t Break Me Down. The album artwork was designed by Shepard Fairey, street artist and graphic designer. As well as releasing the album Billy released his autobiography ‘Dancing With Myself’ on 7th October 2014 which is also available on Amazon here.
Even though this is his eighth album I have to confess that I haven’t listened to any of his earlier releases, although I love a lot of his hits like White Wedding and Rebel Yell so I can’t compare this to any of other albums. I was probably expecting an album packed with ‘more, more, more’ of songs like those I mentioned but this album was much mellower with more of the Eyes Without a Face style songs with some very haunting and obviously cathartic lyrics. This album starts with a Bitter Pill and ends with Whisky and Pills and there are several references to drugs, an addiction which he admits he still struggles with see here
Bitter Pill with it’s powerful riffs has an alternative vibe reminiscent of eighties band The Alarm and leads nicely into the first single from this album Can’t Break Me Down an uplifting song with the lyrics ‘You shot me to the ground but you can’t break me down’ autobiographical perhaps? Billy may not be able to break his addiction but he’s not going to be broken. Save Me Now a more melodic number which started very Vienna by Ultravox before quickly becoming more akin to Simple Minds’ Don’t You Forget About Me. One Breath Away another mellow song with some added powerful vibrating riffage towards the end. Postcards From The Past with it’s siren start has a lot of White Wedding Come On’s and refers to ‘yesterday is history, it’s there for all the world to see’ which leads nicely onto the title track Kings and Queens Of The Underground the lyrics refer to a couple of Billy’s historic moments for example 1977 when he co founded Generation x and 1984, which was when one of his most popular songs Rebel Yell was released as a single following the album of the same name.
Eyes Wide Shut actually reminded me of new romantic band Spandau Ballet I’m thinking Through The Barricades. More ballads followed in Ghosts In My Guitar and Nothing To Fear and the slightly more upbeat Love and Glory and the final track Whiskey And Pills, which is my favourite track and a great one to end on with it’s Dogs D’Amour Gypsy Blood vibe. Highlight tracks for me have to be Whiskey and Pills and Can’t Break Me Down the two most rocking tracks on the album. If you’re a fan of Billy’s Rebel Yell type songs then you’re likely to be disappointed although I would recommend you listen to the two highlight tracks , whereas if you are a lover of Eyes Without a Face then this latest album is chock full of similar ballads and I reckon you will love it. This latest album may or not be your cup of tea but it’s well produced and there are some good, autobiographical lyrics in there. Billy Idol and his band will be touring the UK and Europe next month, confirmed dates below with more to be announced.
Track List
1. Bitter Pill
2. Can’t Break Me Down
3. Save Me Now
4. One Breath Away
5. Postcards From The Past
6. Kings & Queens Of The Underground
7. Eyes Wide Shut
8. Ghosts In My Guitar
9. Nothing To Fear
10. Love And Glory
11. Whiskey And Pills
Band members:
Billy Idol – Vocals
Steven Stevens – Guitar
Billy Morrison – Guitar
Stephen McGrath – Bass Guitar
Erik Eldenius – Drums
Paul Trudeau – Keyboards
BILLY IDOL 2014 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES (more to be announced)
NOVEMBER
Wed 5th Birmingham, UK O2 Academy
Sun 9th London, UK Eventim Apollo Hammersmith
Mon 10th Manchester, UK 02 Apollo
Wed 12th Stuttgart, DE Porsche Arena
Thur 13th Frankfurt, DE Jahrhunderthalle
Sun 16th Amsterdam, NL Heineken Music Hall
Tue 18th Dusseldorf, DE Mitsubishi Electric Halle
Wed 19th Brussels, BE Royal Circus
Fri 21st Nuremberg, DE Arena
Sat 22nd Lucerne, CH Messe Lucerne
Sun 23rd Milan, IT Fabrique
- £10.99
