The 25 Best Billy Idol Songs, from White Wedding to Rebel Yell

What is Billy Idol's most famous song?

"White Wedding", "Rebel Yell" and "Dancing with Myself" are Billy Idol's most famous songs. His biggest chart hit was the live version of "Mony Mony", his only number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987, and "Eyes Without a Face" and "Cradle of Love" both reached the top five.

Billy Idol's biggest hits

1. "White Wedding", 1982: a dark, swaggering classic with an unforgettable gothic video.
2. "Rebel Yell", 1984: a roaring title track with Steve Stevens' famous guitar.
3. "Dancing with Myself", 1981: a song he first recorded with his punk band Generation X.
4. "Mony Mony", 1987: his live cover of the Tommy James and the Shondells hit, a number one.
5. "Eyes Without a Face", 1984: a moody ballad and a number four hit.
6. "Cradle of Love", 1990: a number two hit from Charmed Life.
7. "Hot in the City", 1982: his first solo top 40 hit.
8. "To Be a Lover", 1986: a number six hit from Whiplash Smile.
9. "Flesh for Fantasy", 1984: a slinky, funky single from Rebel Yell.
10. "Sweet Sixteen", 1987: a gentle, rockabilly-tinged ballad.

More Billy Idol songs of the 80s

11. "Catch My Fall", 1984: a melodic single from Rebel Yell.
12. "Don't Need a Gun", 1987: a hard-hitting single from Whiplash Smile.
13. "Blue Highway", 1984: a fan favorite from Rebel Yell.
14. "Daytime Drama", 1984: a moody Rebel Yell album track.
15. "Soul Standing By", 1987: a single released in Australia and New Zealand.

Generation X songs

16. "Your Generation", 1977: the punk band's debut single.
17. "Ready Steady Go", 1978: a tribute to the 60s TV show.
18. "King Rocker", 1979: Generation X's biggest UK hit.

Billy Idol songs of the 90s and later

19. "L.A. Woman", 1990: his cover of the Doors classic.
20. "Prodigal Blues", 1990: a reflective song from Charmed Life.
21. "Shock to the System", 1993: a single from the experimental Cyberpunk.
22. "Speed", 1994: from the soundtrack of the film Speed.
23. "Scream", 2005: the comeback single from Devil's Playground.
24. "Bitter Taste", 2021: a reflective song about surviving his 1990 motorcycle crash.
25. "77", 2025: a punk-pop duet with Avril Lavigne from Dream Into It.

Who is Billy Idol?

Billy Idol was born William Broad on November 30, 1955, in Middlesex, England. He was part of the London punk scene of the late 70s and fronted the band Generation X before moving to New York in 1981 to go solo. With guitarist Steve Stevens, producer Keith Forsey and a string of striking videos, he became one of the biggest stars of the early MTV era, blending punk energy with pop hooks and dance beats.

The story behind White Wedding

Billy Idol has said "White Wedding" was partly inspired by his sister's hasty wedding, and he turned it into a sneering, darkly funny rock song. Its gothic video, directed by David Mallet and set at a wedding in a candlelit church, became one of the defining videos of early MTV and made Idol a household name in America.

The 1990 motorcycle crash

In February 1990, just as "Cradle of Love" was taking off, Idol was badly injured in a motorcycle crash in Los Angeles and nearly lost his leg. He filmed the "Cradle of Love" video from the waist up while recovering, and the accident cost him movie roles he had been planning. Decades later he wrote about the crash and his recovery in "Bitter Taste".

Billy Idol albums to start with

• Billy Idol (1982): with "White Wedding" and "Hot in the City".
• Rebel Yell (1983): his biggest album, with "Eyes Without a Face".
• Vital Idol (1985): the remix collection that includes "Mony Mony" and "Dancing with Myself".
• Charmed Life (1990): with "Cradle of Love".

The story behind Rebel Yell

Billy Idol has said he got the title "Rebel Yell" at a party where Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones were drinking a bourbon of the same name. He liked the sound of it so much that he built a song around it, and the 1984 album of the same name, with its explosive title track, became his biggest record.

The story behind Dancing with Myself

"Dancing with Myself" was first released in 1980 by Generation X, near the end of the band. When Idol went solo, he re-recorded it, and the new version, with a memorable video, became one of his signature songs. Its playful, upbeat energy has made it a favorite at parties, weddings and dance nights ever since.

Mony Mony and a number one

Idol had recorded "Mony Mony", the 1968 Tommy James and the Shondells hit, early in his solo career, and in 1987 a live version became his only number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In a fun bit of chart history, it replaced Tiffany's cover of "I Think We're Alone Now", another Tommy James song, at the top.

The story behind Eyes Without a Face

"Eyes Without a Face" takes its title from the 1960 French horror film Les Yeux sans visage. Its quiet, eerie verses and soaring guitar solo made it his biggest hit of the Rebel Yell era, reaching number four in the US.

Billy Idol songs for a party, a wedding or karaoke

For a party, play "Dancing with Myself", "Mony Mony", "Hot in the City" and "Rebel Yell". For a rock-loving couple's wedding, "White Wedding" is a playful, tongue-in-cheek choice for the entrance or the dance floor, and "Sweet Sixteen" is a gentle slow dance. For karaoke, "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell" are crowd favorites, especially if you can manage the sneer. For more, see our 80s songs and best karaoke songs.

Billy Idol on screen

Idol famously appeared as himself in the 1998 comedy The Wedding Singer, helping Adam Sandler's character win the girl on a flight to Las Vegas. The cameo introduced him to a new generation and is still one of the most quoted moments in the film. He also turned down the chance to record "Don't You (Forget About Me)" for The Breakfast Club before Simple Minds made it a hit, and he later recorded his own version in 2001.

Steve Stevens, the guitarist behind the sound

Guitarist Steve Stevens co-wrote and played on many of Idol's biggest songs, including "Rebel Yell", "Eyes Without a Face" and "Flesh for Fantasy". His inventive solos, mixing hard rock with flamenco and electronic effects, are as much a part of the Billy Idol sound as the sneer, and the two still tour together.

More 80s rock

If you love Billy Idol, explore our Mötley Crüe songs, Pat Benatar songs and Def Leppard songs.

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