Billy Idol fires up the AMAs stage with passionate speech, performance
With a “Rebel Yell,” Billy Idol stormed the American Music Awards as part of the celebration honoring his career.
Idol, 70, received the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award during the May 25 show, and showed why he is still “Vital Idol” after nearly 50 years of rocking with a sneer and spiked blond hair.
Taking the smoke-filled stage and standing amid shafts of light, Idol started slow and vocally rough with “Eyes Without a Face.” With his literal right hand man Steve Stevens shredding solos beside him, Idol played air guitar and swayed to his hits.
“Dancing With Myself” remains an ageless anthem and the epic confetti-filled rendition had the young audience bopping in the aisles as Idol unleashed some growls and pyro popped behind the band.
The performance marked Idol’s first time playing the awards, which aired live from MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, as well as his first appearance since presenting at the 2004 show.
After accepting his commemorative award from self-professed fan Leon Thomas, Idol told the crowd when he started in punk rock in 1976, he thought the music style might last six months, “let alone 50 years!”
Music, Idol said, was the only thing that gave him a sense of freedom as he shared some encouraging words for hopeful musicians.
“To any kid out there who loves any music, if you’re inspired to create that sense of freedom and pursue a life of art, pick an instrument, find out who you are, and be it,” Idol said.
The recognition during the 52nd iteration of the AMAs is part of a commemorative year for Idol, who will also be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November.
In March, Idol’s documentary, “Billy Idol Should Be Dead,” arrived on Hulu. The two-hour retrospective chronicles the British musician’s career from his early punk rock days in Generation X through his ‘80s MTV breakout and into his current role as a grandfather who also still regularly packs venues around the world.
Idol told USA TODAY in an interview about the documentary earlier this year that showing harrowing stories of drug abuse and a horrific motorcycle crash in the early ‘90s that almost killed him gave him perspective.
“At this stage you’re a little divorced from the person you were because time has given you the landscape. It gives you a vantage point,” Idol said. “A lot of people around me are starting to pass. It (was) time to do (the documentary) while people are still here.”
SOURCE: usatoday.com