Billy Idol

Billy Idol (born William Michael Albert Broad) is a British-American singer, songwriter, and actor who rose to prominence as a central figure of the punk rock movement before becoming a global pop-rock icon. His stage name was famously inspired by a schoolteacher's critique, where he was described as "idle."

Idol began his musical journey in late 1976 as a guitarist for the punk band Chelsea. His tenure with the group was brief, as he soon departed to co-found Generation X with bassist Tony James. As the frontman, Idol led the band to significant success within the United Kingdom's burgeoning punk scene. Generation X released three studio albums through Chrysalis Records, blending high-energy punk with a melodic sensibility that set the stage for Idol’s future solo endeavors.