Age, Biography, and Wiki
Billy Idol, born William Michael Albert Broad, is currently 69 years old. He rose to fame in the late 1970s as a member of the punk rock band Generation X, before embarking on a highly successful solo career. His wiki page provides detailed information about his life, music, and career milestones.
| Occupation | Rock Singer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 30 November 1955 |
| Age | 69 Years |
| Birth Place | Stanmore, England |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | England |
Height, Weight & Measurements
Billy Idol's physical measurements are not extensively detailed in public sources, but his iconic style and presence on stage are well-documented.
Charmed Life was released in 1990, and a video for the single "Cradle of Love" had to be shot. The song was featured in the Andrew Dice Clay film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane. Because Idol was unable to walk due to injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident, he was shot from the waist up. The video featured video footage of him singing in large frames throughout an apartment while Betsy Lynn George was trying to seduce a businessman. The video was placed in rotation on MTV. "Cradle of Love" earned Idol a third Grammy nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
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Dating & Relationship Status
Billy Idol has been involved in several high-profile relationships over the years. He has a son, Willem Wolf Broad, born in 1988, with his longtime partner, Perri Lister. However, recent relationship updates are not widely covered in mainstream media.
His mother was from Cork, while his father was from Birmingham; he qualifies for Irish citizenship through his mother, but it is unknown if he has ever applied for it. His parents attended Church of England services regularly. In 1958, at the age of two, he moved with his parents to the U.S. and settled in Patchogue, New York; they also lived in Rockville Centre, New York. The family returned to England four years later and settled in Dorking. In 1971, when Idol was 15, the family moved to Bromley, where he attended Ravensbourne School for Boys. His family later moved to Goring-by-Sea, where he attended Worthing High School for Boys. In October 1975, he began attending the University of Sussex to pursue a Philosophy with Literature degree, but left after year one in 1976. He later joined the Bromley Contingent, a loosely organised gang of Sex Pistols fans who travelled to see the band wherever they played.
Idol resides in Los Angeles. He has never married, but was previously in a long-term relationship with English singer and dancer Perri Lister. They have a son, Willem (born 1988), who has been a member of the rock band FIM. They separated in 1989. Idol also has a daughter named Bonnie from a relationship with Linda Mathis. As of 2024, he has three granddaughters.
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Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Billy Idol's net worth is estimated to be around $60 million. His wealth primarily stems from his successful music career, including album sales and royalties, lucrative touring activities, and various acting roles.
Business Ventures
Billy Idol has engaged in various business ventures, including lucrative touring and merchandise sales. His income is also supplemented by royalties from his extensive music catalog.
William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Idol achieved fame in the 1970s on the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of Generation X. He later embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made him a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in America.
Idol began his music career in 1976 as a guitarist in the punk rock band Chelsea, but left the group after a few weeks and formed Generation X with his former Chelsea bandmate Tony James. With Idol as lead singer, the band achieved success in the UK and released three studio albums on Chrysalis Records before disbanding. In 1981, Idol moved to New York City to pursue his solo career in collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens. His debut studio album Billy Idol (1982) was a commercial success, and Idol became a staple of the then-new television channel MTV with the music videos for his singles "Dancing with Myself" and "White Wedding".
Idol's second studio album Rebel Yell (1983) was a major commercial success, featuring hit singles "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without a Face". The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 2 million copies in America, and he then released Whiplash Smile (1986). He released the greatest hits album Idol Songs: 11 of the Best (1988), which went platinum in the UK, and then released Charmed Life (1990) and the concept album Cyberpunk (1993).
Social Network
Billy Idol maintains an active presence on social media platforms, engaging with fans and promoting his music and upcoming projects.
The stage name "Billy Idol" was coined after a chemistry teacher described Idol as "idle" on his school report card. Idol has stated that he had hated chemistry and underachieved in it. In an interview on 21 November 1983, he said of the name, "It was a bit of a goof, but part of the old English school of rock. It was a 'double thing', not just a poke at the superstar-like people... It was fun, you know?" In another interview for BBC Breakfast in October 2014, he said that he wanted to use the name "Billy Idle", but thought the name would be unavailable due to its similarity to the name of Monty Python star Eric Idle and chose Billy Idol instead.
Idol moved to New York City in 1981 and became a solo artist, working with former Kiss manager Bill Aucoin. Idol's punk-like image worked well with the glam rock style of his new partner on guitar, Steve Stevens. Together they worked with bassist Phil Feit and drummer Gregg Gerson. Idol's solo career began with the Chrysalis Records EP titled Don't Stop in 1981, which included the Generation X song "Dancing with Myself", originally recorded for their last album Kiss Me Deadly, and a cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' song "Mony Mony". Idol's debut solo album Billy Idol was released in July 1982.
On 12 August 2021, Idol's music video "Bitter Taste", directed by Stephen Sebring, was uploaded to YouTube. Idol announced his new EP The Roadside, which was released on 17 September. Another EP, The Cage, was released on 23 September 2022. A video for the title track, also directed by Sebring, premiered on YouTube 17 August.
Idol's solo career has a blend of pop hooks, punk attitude, and dance beats. His musical style has been described as new wave, hard rock, pop rock, post-punk, dance-rock, dance-punk, glam rock, glam punk and power pop. He retained this sound into the 90s, but experimented with other genres, such as synth-pop in "Eyes Without a Face", acoustic in "Sweet Sixteen", and jazz in “Endless Sleep”. Idol's biggest change in sound was on Cyberpunk, a techno-rock album; it blends electronic elements, looped beats and keyboard riffs. Devil's Playground, his first album in 12 years, is more hard rock-oriented, while keeping up with pop-punk bands, such as Green Day and Sum 41. Since then, he's returned to a sound more remiscent of his 80s work, combining new wave and hard rock.
Education
Details about Billy Idol's formal education are not widely highlighted in public sources. However, his artistic and musical talents have been shaped by his early involvement in the punk rock scene.
In summary, Billy Idol's enduring success in the music industry, combined with his savvy business moves and acting ventures, has solidified his position as a rock icon with a substantial net worth.
