History of Billy Idol Part 2

History Of Billy Idol Part 2 NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

January 1984: Rebel Yell is released, immediately gaining North American
acceptance and will see it's position in the top 20 spot for most of the year.
The single "Rebel Yell" is released at the same time accompanied by "Crank Call" on the
B side. Within 6 weeks "Rebel Yell" is at platinum status and this pushes the public to consume "Don't Stop" to the point of 300,000 copies, and "Billy Idol-Billy Idol" to over half a million making it a gold record. At one point Billy has all three albums in the top 200 on billboard charts. The video for the first single is a departure from Idol's regular choreographed story telling, seeing the band as they perform on-stage live, staying true to the fact that this is what they are about, not a bunch of props in front of a directors image of the song..

" I THINK WHAT'S HAPPENING TO A LOT OF GROUPS IS THAT THEY DO THESE VIDEOS…. BUT CAN'T ALWAYS BACK IT UP LIVE. I CAN, BECAUSE THE MUSIC IS THE BASIS OF EVERYTHING I DO. I'VE BEEN DOING IT MUCH LONGER THAN I'VE BEEN MAKING SILLY VIDEO'S " BILLY IDOL

June 1984 opens the door for the second single release entitled "Eye without a Face". This is the breaking point for his mother country tore-embrace him with a position in the top 20 charts, thus fuelled by very smart promotion and the strength he gained in America. The video follows which during production Idol would spent 30 hers in front of hot studio lights, special effects and smoke. This video shoot sends Idol to a hospital because the heat fused his contacts to his eyes and for a short time he was blind. One concert was cancelled and a few others were postponed.

In September 1984, Flesh for Fantasy is released as the third single. The tour is still going strong by criss-crossing America twice and playing Japan. He could do no wrong at this point, everybody loved him and wanted to embrace him. Nothing but good reviews and praise for the energetic live performances which were being described as one of the best live shows in rock.

The claws of those who want to make a fast buck on Idol's success move in from all angles. Movie talks begin in October 1984 which would waste 6 months of Billy's time co-writting a script for a film entitled "King Death" that as you know never materialized. It was about the life and work of Elvis Presley which Billy idolized all his life.

At this point in his career Billy was on top of the world, and when your on top of the world there is always going to be someone somewhere that tries to put you down. It seems that when an artist gets popular people start to find faults, what people liked when they were struggling become a dislike now. Everything from his hairstyle, dress style, and music style was being criticized, Why? I think this is the reason I could care less about what critics say because when your popular they take a closer look at everything you say and do, which stimulates controversy, and controversy sells.
Controversy was nothing new to Idol, he has always been surrounded by it. The one controversy that was trying to attack him was his fashion. It was believed that Bill Aucoin and Idol concocted his look, but his look was himself. When he left his house or went shopping he was dressed as you saw him on stage or in video's. It was real, it was him.

Success at such a high level forced Idol to have a bodyguard at this time,and who better than a man who use to guard Billy's idol Elvis. This man was Ed Parker who came out of retirement because he saw qualities in Idol that were likened to Elvis. Parker invited Idol to his house to see his Elvis collectibles (Billy was like a kid in a candy store).

Nearing the end of 1984, Idol releases his 4th single from Rebel Yell "Catch My Fall" in December.

January 1985 arrives and to keep Idol in the public eye in the U.K they release "Vital Idol", which is a re-mix album, hitting the charts in the U.K. at number 7. This was the first re-mix album to be certified platinum and it paved the way for other artists to follow. Re releases of "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell" in the U.K. prove successful again in the charts.

1985 comes to an end and the Idol camp is quiet, but Billy has a smile on his face towards the future.

Continued to Part 3 : Whiplash Smile

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