PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Hot on the heels of his first album release in over ten years. Billy Idol, King of the Punk Rock sneer graced three UK venues with his ‘King Rocker’ presence. I was lucky enough to catch him at Manchester, O2 Apollo on his last night in the UK before he headed off to Europe with dates to follow in the USA, Canada and Australia – tour dates here.
It was a packed out Apollo for Billy when he hit the stage, if not sold out then certainly not far off! As I looked down all I could see was a sea of cameras and phones all trained on Mr Billy Idol when he bounded on to the stage clad from head to toe in black, with braces, like chains hanging off his zipped jeans. His cool blonde looks and trim physique belying his age, most men nearing sixty are balding with a spreading waistline but not Billy, Idol by name, Idol by nature!
Opening with the biographical Postcards from the Past one of the tracks from the new album ‘Kings & Queens of the Underground’ with reference to many of his hits included in the lyrics, which was a good way to open as he went on to play a mix of his hits, tracks from the new album and some Generation X songs, the band which started his Punk Rock career nearly forty years ago. Cradle of Love came next, a bit gothic in places reminding me of Sister of Mercy’s Temple of Love and Billy’s long term guitarist Steve Stevens, also looking very youthful in black velvet flares and a patterned shirt, was at the front of the stage playing some mean riffs with his guitar held behind his head. Billy then said to us (in the audience) that it was ‘Fantastic to be here in Manchester. We all play music that’s what we love doing’ then he said to Steve ‘Steve Stevens! How are you doing? Are you jet lagged?’ Steve answered, quick as a flash ‘No just lagged!’ and then the next song ‘Can’t Break Me Down‘ the first single from the album started, and true to his word you can’t break Billy down, he wasn’t happy with the start so he stopped the rest of the band with ‘Start again! I didn’t do it right!’ and this time he got it right! He was struggling to reach some of the higher notes, in places, and sounded a bit off key, again only in places, but it wasn’t any detriment to the show, and many fans didn’t seem to mind, if they even noticed as a woman to my right shouted ‘Love You Billy!’ then, not to be outdone another woman to my left yelled ‘Yes I do too’ and despite his female admirers he was still Dancing with Myself for the next song. Steve Stevens and Billy Morrison, rhythm guitarist were at the front of stage trying to out riff one another! The Idol even included Manchester in one of the chorus lines ‘If I had the chance I’d ask Manchester to dance’ and I noticed the Apollo staff handing cups of water to people down at the front of stage who must have been wilting in the heat.
Flesh for Fantasy had Billy stripping off to his waist and flashing his pecs before donning a sexy leather waistcoat. Steve Stevens (The Rebel) had a cigarette dangling from his mouth! A change back into his black jacket before two more from the new album, Save Me Now, which reminds me of Don’t You Forget About Me by Simple Minds followed by the rousing Whiskey & Pills then Billy told us the next song really did have a story about a guitar that didn’t work and a singer who didn’t sing, about a guy called Ed from Latvia, who was jilted at the alter by his sweetheart, the song being Sweet Sixteen. Kings and Queens of the Underground the title track of the new album followed, and when he sang the words ‘Golden Years’ the lighting was a fitting yellow gold. Next came one of his most well known and classic songs Eyes Without a Face before a cover of The Doors L.A. Woman which is possibly a biographical addition to the set list, as Billy appeared in the film ‘The Doors’ as Jim Morrison’s drinking buddy Cat.
Steve took centre stage for a Dick Dale Misirlou style guitar solo before two Generation X songs, King Rocker and Ready Steady Go during which Billy retrieved some drum sticks from his drummer, Erik Eldenius, and handed them to some lucky fan on the front row. A bit of Black Sabbath Paranoid style riffage was incorporated into the song. Billy took his jacket off to reveal a Billy Idol tour t-shirt, acquired some white Frisbees from somewhere at the back of the stage which he threw out into the crowd before Blue Highway, I seem to think he was singing grey highway and he looked up and waved his arms to the people in the circle upstairs, who waved back to him, and then alas it was time to (Ready, Steady) Go and Billy announced ‘It’s been nice playing for you this evening. I’ve just got two words ‘Rebel Yell‘ and he took his ‘Billy Idol’ t-shirt off and threw it into the audience. Leaving him showing off a very buff torso! Everyone was singing along to the ‘More, More, Mores’ and shouting ‘I feel alright’ when Billy asked ‘Do you feel alright?’ and that was the end of a great set from Billy Idol and the band left the stage which only resulted in more shouts for ‘More, More, More’ and some shrill whistles. Result! Billy came back on stage with a ‘Thank you. I just want to say Thank You Manchester for making my life so f**king beautiful’ ‘Steve Stevens. Thank you for making my life great’ ‘Steve Stevens – show them what a hit song sounds like’ and Steve and Billy performed the start of White Wedding acoustically before the rest of the band came on stage and finished off with a brilliant full electric White Wedding. Billy took copies of the set list down into the photo pit where he signed them before handing out to fans at the front. Then came the grand final Mony Mony and Billy put his shirt back on and was bouncing around, clapping and star jumping to the beat, there’s no wonder he manages to stay so trim!
Introductions to the band were then made. On drums from Gothenburg, Sweden – Erik Eldenius. On rhythm and lead guitar from London – Billy Morrison. From Venice Beach, California on bass – Stephen McGrath. On keyboard from Boston, Massachusetts – Paul Trudeau. In a Hey You (Madness – One Step Beyond) big voice, from New York City – Steve Stevens. Then ‘I’m on guitars. My name’s Billy ‘F**king Idol’ Then ‘Right, see you next time. Hope you have a great year. See ya!’ I don’t think anyone really cared that he didn’t quite reach the high notes as they left the Apollo on a high after two hours of lip curls, sneers and Punk, Rock ‘n’ Roll. It was my first Billy Idol gig and I enjoyed it and I wasn’t the only one. I overheard people on the bus home saying that it had been much better than last time, better songs, very good and definitely worth paying (nearly £40) for!
Set List:
Postcards from the Past
Cradle of Love
Can’t Break Me Down
Dancing With Myself (Generation X song)
Flesh for Fantasy
Save Me Now
Whiskey & Pills
Sweet Sixteen
Kings and Queens of the Underground
Eyes Without a Face
L.A. Woman (The Doors cover)
Guitar Solo
King Rocker (Generation X song)
Ready Steady Go (Generation X song)
Blue Highway
Rebel Yell
Encore:
White Wedding
Mony Mony (Tommy James & the Shondells cover)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BillyIdol
[flickrapi user=”planet mosh” get=”photoset” id=”72157649252306961″ size=”z” count=”100″]Review by Louise Swift for PlanetMosh. Official Photos by David Farrell for PlanetMosh. One topless picture by Louise Swift (there’s a surprise!)
