Billy Idol Birthday & Fun Facts | Kidadl

Billy Idol Birthday & Fun Facts

Height, Age, Net Worth, Biography & More

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Billy Idol Birthday Highlights

Birth Name
William Broad
Place Of Birth
Stanmore, Middlesex, United Kingdom
Age
68 years old
Birth Date
November 30 1955

Billy Idol Facts

Child Star?
no
Occupation
Singer
Education & Qualifications
Ravensbourne School for Boys.
Net Worth
$55,000,000
Children
Willem Wolf Broad, Bonnie Blue Broad
Parents
Joan Broad, Bill Broad
Siblings
Jane Broad

About Billy Idol 

William Michael Albert Broad, famously known as Billy Idol, is an English singer/songwriter from London.
Billy Idol is from the United Kingdom and began his career in the Punk rock genre. He moved to New York to pursue his solo career in the '80s.
He is an iconic singer/songwriter born in Middlesex, England. Idol, originally known as William Michael Albert Broad, is one of the most prolific rockstars in history, boasting several iconic songs that have shaped the world of rock as we know it. Idol is the creator of some of the most popular songs to grace music, such as 'Rebel Yell,' 'Flesh For Fantasy,' and ‘White Wedding.’
Idol was born on November 30, 1955, in Middlesex, England. He is one of the world's most famous rockers, emerging from the English punk rock scene in the '70s. He began his career as the lead singer of Generation X, a band that started in London. Following this, Idol went on to have a prolific solo career, releasing some of the most iconic hits of punk rock history.

Billy Idol's Net Worth, Earnings, And Spending Habits

What is Billy Idol's net worth?

Considering that Billy Idol is one of the world's most famous artists in the punk rock genre, he has a net worth of around $60,000,000. His major earnings are from his studio albums.

How much does Billy Idol earn per year?

It is estimated that Billy Idol makes $4,000,000 per year. He earns 0.05 dollars per second!

Height, Age, And Physical Attributes

How tall is Billy Idol?

Billy Idol is 5 ft 7 in (173.73 cm).

How old is Billy Idol?

On November 30, 1955, Billy Idol was born in Stanmore, England. This makes him 66 years old right now.

Childhood And Education

Billy Idol was born in Stanmore, Middlesex, in 1955. He was born William Albert Broad, which he eventually changed to his stage name, Billy Idol.
Ironically, Billy Idol grew up in a devout Anglican Christian family and attended church regularly. In 1958, he moved to Patchogue, New York. However, his family moved back to England in 1962.
In 1972, Billy Idol moved to Bromley, London, with his family. Here, he attended the Ravensbourne School for Boys. Soon after, his family moved to West Sussex.
In 1976, Billy Idol began to attend the University of Sussex, where he pursued a degree in English. However, he dropped out in 1976.

Family, Romance, And Relationships

Who is Billy Idol dating?

Billy Idol was a huge heartthrob back in the day, often referred to as the rock scene's biggest ladies' man. Today, Idol is dating China Chow, a famous model/actress.
Although Idol is in a serious, committed relationship now, he has an ex-girlfriend, Perri Lister. Idol and Lister began dating in 1980, while she was a member of the dance group Hot Gossip. Idol shares a son with Lister- Willem Wolf Broad, born in 1988.
In 1989, he had a daughter Bonnie Blue with Linda Mathis.
Today, Billy Idol is the proud grandad of Bonnie Blue's daughters.

Career And Professional Highlights

Best Known For…

Billy Idol began to gain popularity in the '70s when he began his career as the lead singer of the punk rock band 'Generation X.' 'Generation X' signed with Chrysalis Records in 1977, releasing three albums before disbanding in 1980. However, Idol truly rose to fame in the '80s with MTV's ‘Second British Invasion.’
In 1981, Idol moved to New York to begin his solo career. Idol created a punk rock image for himself, becoming the genre's most popular bad boy rocker.
Idol released his first EP, 'Don't Stop,' as a solo artist in 1981. In July 1982, Idol released his first album titled ‘Billy Idol.’
The album was a huge commercial success, boasting some of the decade's greatest hits. Idol quickly became a staple on MTV, with the video for one of his most famous songs, ‘White Wedding.’
In 1983, Idol released 'Rebel Yell,' his second LP, which was also a huge success. Rebel Yell boasts some of the rock world's greatest hits to date, with songs like 'Flesh for Fantasy,' 'Eyes Without a Face,' and 'Rebel Yell.' 'Eyes Without a Face' was number four on the US Billboard Hot 100, and 'Rebel Yell' was number six on the UK Singles Chart.
Between 1986 and 1992, Idol released two more albums, titled 'Whiplash' and 'Charmed Life.' Both albums sold well and had iconic songs.
In 1993, Idol released an experimental album titled 'Cyberpunk.' Despite being successful in Europe, this album was not a hit in the United States of America.
In 1998, Idol appeared in Adam Sandler's 'The Wedding Singer.' It was considered to be one of the most iconic cameos in cinema.
In 2005, Idol released 'Devil's Playground,' his first new album in 12 years.
Idol released his eighth and last studio album titled 'Kings & Queens of the Underground' in 2014. Following this, Idol published his autobiography, 'Dancing With Myself,' which went on to become a New York Times bestseller.

Charity Work

Idol is very actively involved in charity work, consistently supporting causes such as abuse victim support, HIV awareness, animals, at-risk youths, creative arts, homelessness, veteran support, cancer, senior citizen support, and unemployment support. The following are charities and causes Idol has supported Bridge School, Hole in the Wall Gang, Precious Paws, MusiCares, Raven Drum Foundation, Art of Elysium, GRAMMY Foundation, Youth Emerging Stronger, and the Rape Foundation.

What awards has Billy Idol won?

The iconic punk rocker has had a successful career, collecting various awards throughout his life. The following are awards that he has won:
ASCAP Pop Music Award Most Performed Song for 'Cradle of Love' in 1991.
MTV Video Music Awards Best Video From A Film for 'Cradle of Love' in 1990.
Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards Comeback of the Year in 2005.
He has further been nominated for three Grammy Awards, nine MTV Video Music Awards, one Brit Awards, and one Pollstar Concert Industry Awards.

Other Interesting Billy Idol Facts And Trivia

  • According to Idol, he came up with his stage name as a 'goof.' He was taught by a teacher who used to describe him as 'idle,' which gave him the inspiration for his iconic name.
  • Idol's biggest inspiration was the famous rock band, 'Sex Pistols.' He was a member of the Bromley Contingent, a gang that traveled to see the band play.
  • When Idol began his solo career, he began to work with Bill Aucoin, the former manager of the famous rock band Kiss.
  • Idols label released the music video of 'Dancing with Myself' to introduce Idol to America, as he was not as well known there as he was in the United Kingdom. The video went on to become an MTV staple.
  • Idol recorded his album 'Cyberpunk' on a Macintosh computer in his home studio. He took 10 months to record this album.
  • In 1993, he played a reunion show with his old band Generation X.
  • In 1994, Idol had a near-death incident as he overdosed on GHB, a weight-lifting booster that was legal at the time. However, following this incident, he decided to focus on fatherhood and spent his days being a good parent to his son and daughter.

Main Image Credit: S Buckley/Shutterstock

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