Billy Idol - Photoscapes
by Melanie Smith
published: 13 / 11 / 2014

intro
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
Band Links:-
http://billyidol.net/https://www.facebook.com/BillyIdol
https://twitter.com/billyidol
Picture Gallery:-





favourite album |
Vital Idol Revitalized (2018) |
![]() |
In our 'Re:view' section, in which we look back at albums from the past, Lisa Torem examines ‘Vital Idol: Revitalized’, a new masterfully remixed edition of Billy Idol’s 1980’s classic ‘Vital Idol’. |
photography |
Photoscapes (2022) |
![]() |
Andrew Twambley takes photographs of Billy Idol at a gig at the Manchester Arena on his worldwide 'The Roadside Tour'. |
Photoscapes (2018) |
soundcloud
reviews |
Kings and Queens of the Underground (2014) |
![]() |
Uncompromising and autobiographical Trevor Horn-produced seventh solo studio album from Billy Idol |
most viewed articles
current edition
Pennyblackmusic - Writers and Photographers' Albums of the Year 2024Pennyblackmusic - Book of the Year Award 2024
Man From Delmonte - Interview
Clive Langer - Interview
Johnnie Johnstone - Interview
Peter Perrett - In Dreams Begin Responsibilities Interview Part One
Marianne Faithfull - Reflections
Laura Nyro - Profile
Vinyl Stories - Vinyl 2024
Bob Dylan - A Complete Unknown
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPMarianne Faithfull - Interview
Michael Stuart Ware - Pegasus Epitaph: The Story of the Legendary Rock Group Love
Trudie Myerscough-Harris - Interview
Marianne Faithfull - Interview
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Jimmy Nail - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Ringo Starr - Look UpDorie Jackson - Stupid Says Run
Pixie Lott - Encino
Dusty Springfield - The BBC Sessions
Beabadoobee - This is How The World Moves
Unthanks - In Winter
Joan Armatrading - How Did This Happen and What Does It Mean?
Emily Burns - Die Happy
Rosie Lowe - Lover, Other
Oïmiakon - Comptoir Des Vanites
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart