Billy Idol - Photoscapes

  by Melanie Smith

published: 13 / 11 / 2014

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Melanie Smith photographs Billy Idol on his first British tour in six years at the Manchester Apollo

It’s been a while since English born William Broad aka the King Rocker Billy Idol played in Manchester; to be precise it was the 30th July 2008. Since then he’s been soul searching and penning his no holds barred life story, ‘Dancing With Myself’, and churning out a superb new autobiographical album ‘Kings And Queens of the Underground’, which has been produced by Trevor Horn. It all kicked off at 5.30 p.m. with a VIP meet and greet for those fifty people lucky enough to be able to afford the £130 fee. For the rest of us with regular tickets the entrance was at 7 p.m. The venue was packed out, and I had a spot by the rails. It was a rollercoaster of emotions for my former teenage self, transported back to the late 70s when he was, of course, all I every talked about when he fronted my favourite band of the era, Generation X. Fast forward to 2014, he is almost 59 years old, but he has still got it, albeit a bit slower on foot, but still has that beaming smile, a twinkle in his eye, the curl of his lip and an amazing power to entertain. The camaraderie he has with his band is captivating, and each holds his own in a thrilling ride of a show. Although his set is sprinkled with his newer material for me, it really kicks off when they deliver songs from Billy’s back catalogue. There is nothing to beat ‘Dancing With Myself’, ‘King Rocker, ‘White Wedding’ and ‘Rebel Yell’. It certainly had me yelling more, more, more…..and for the record I still bloody love ya!! Set List: Postcards from the Past Cradle of Love Can’t Break Me Down Dancing With Myself Flesh for Fantasy Save Me Now Whiskey and Pills Sweet Sixteen Kings and Queens of the Underground Eyes Without a Face L.A. Woman Steven Stevens guitar solo King Rocker Ready Steady Go Rebel Yell Encore: White Wedding Mony Mony

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