What Happened to William Michael Albert Broad?

Born William Michael Albert Broad in England in 1955, Billy Idol rose to prominence from the London punk rock scene in the late 1970s as the charismatic lead singer of Generation X. After the band's dissolution, he moved to New York City in 1981 to pursue a solo career, collaborating with guitarist Steve Stevens. This move proved pivotal, as his distinctive 'bad boy' image, combined with his punk-infused pop-rock sound and visually striking music videos for hits like "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell," made him a staple of the nascent MTV and a leading figure in the "Second British Invasion" in the United States.

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Idol continued to release successful albums such as "Whiplash Smile" and "Charmed Life." However, the mid-1990s saw him step back from the public eye to focus on his personal life. He made a musical comeback in the 2000s with "Devil's Playground" (2005) and later released "Kings & Queens of the Underground" (2014), along with his memoir "Dancing with Myself."

The 2020s have marked a significant resurgence for Idol. After releasing the EPs "The Roadside" in 2021 and "The Cage" in 2022, he delivered his first full-length album of new music in over a decade, "Dream Into It," on April 25, 2025. This concept album, reflecting on his life story, featured collaborations with artists like Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett, and Alison Mosshart, and achieved commercial success, reaching No. 7 on the U.S. Top Albums Chart and No. 2 on the German Top 100 Album Chart.

Adding to his recent milestones, the feature-length documentary "Billy Idol Should Be Dead," directed by Jonas Åkerlund, which began screening at film festivals in 2025, became available for streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Sky in the U.K. in March 2026. In April 2026, after a previous nomination in 2025, Billy Idol was officially inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2026, an honor he shares with his longtime guitarist Steve Stevens.

As of May 2026, Billy Idol remains highly active. He announced a comprehensive summer 2026 U.S. tour, dubbed "It's A Nice Day To… Tour Again!," featuring Joan Jett & the Blackhearts as support. Additionally, he is scheduled for a five-night Las Vegas residency titled "Hot In The City" at the Fontainebleau in late August and early September 2026. Further cementing his legacy, Idol is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 American Music Awards, where he will also perform. He is also planning to begin work on another album in June 2026, with an anticipated 2027 release, potentially reincorporating more dance elements into his rock sound.