History Trivia / BillyIdol

* Billy was part of an incredible coincidence in the fall of 1987. Teen-pop sensation Tiffany spent two weeks at number one in America with her famous CoverVersion of "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tommy James & The Shondells. She was dethroned by Billy Idol, who spent one week at the top spot with a CoverVersion of "Mony Mony"... which was ''also by Tommy James & The Shondells.'' You don't see that every day (or ever). Furthering the coincidence, the two covers finished at #18 and #19 respectively on the year-end Hot 100.

** "Flesh For Fantasy" fared even worse. Billy and his girlfriend Perri Lister had a screaming match complete with a door slam, leading to the dancers gossiping, causing drama. Producer John Diaz's production company was behind on a prior shoot, causing them to have to push production back several hours and fly the crew in via Learjet to work on the new one. Filming lasted hours on end, with one day of shooting going well over 36 hours. There was a long dolly shot for the final set up and one of the camera-men couldn't do it because he had gone blind due to 6 days of constant work. Director Howie Deutch stayed awake all 6 days of production, causing his contacts to get stuck into his dry eyes.

* OldShame:
** His infamous ''Rolling Stone'' cover story (pictured as the page image), mostly due to the fact the pictures embarrassed the hell out of him, and because he was drunk and stoned out of his mind during the interview resulting in a less than flattering portrayal.
** In the 80s, Billy sometimes sported the Confederate flag on his jackets. According to Billy, he had his hair done by a black stylist circa-1990, and in the ensuing conversation, the guy told him about the negative feelings black people in America had about the flag. Billy took it to heart, and made a point to never wear the flag again.

* ReferencedBy:
** Spike in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is said to have been the basis for Idol's look. This was [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] in a season 7 episode, "Sleeper."
--->'''Buffy:''' I'm looking for this guy. Bleach-blonde hair, leather jacket, British accent? Kind of shallow, but in a hot way?
--->'''Bouncer:''' Yeah, yeah, I know the guy. Billy Idol wannabe?
--->'''Buffy:''' [[BeethovenWasAnAlienSpy Actually,]] Billy Idol stole '''''his''''' look from... never mind.
** Angel/Archangel's blond curly mane was modeled after Billy Idol's in ''Film/XMenApocalypse''.

* Billy was part of an incredible coincidence in the fall of 1987. Teen-pop sensation Tiffany spent two weeks at number one in America with her famous CoverVersion of "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tommy James & The Shondells. She was dethroned by Billy Idol, who spent one week at the top spot with a CoverVersion of "Mony Mony"... which was ''also by Tommy James & The Shondells.'' You don't see that every day (or ever).

* ChartDisplacement: His only US #1 hit is... a ''live'' cover of "Mony Mony". And the forgotten "To Be A Lover" was a Top 10 hit, while "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding" couldn't even break the top 30, and "Dancing With Myself ''didn't reach the Hot 100 at all''.

* ChartDisplacement: His only US #1 hit is... a ''live'' cover of "Mony Mony". And the forgotten "To Be A Lover" was a Top 10 hit, while "Rebel Yell", "White Wedding" and "Dancing With Myself" couldn't even break the top 30.

* OldShame: His infamous ''Rolling Stone'' cover story (pictured as the page image), mostly due to the fact the pictures embarrassed the hell out of him, and because he was drunk and stoned out of his mind during the interview resulting in a less than flattering portrayal.

** Spike in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' is said to have been the basis for Idol's look.

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* {{Jossed}}:
** Idol himself denies "Dancing With Myself" is about [[ADateWithRosiePalms masturbation]]. Instead, it's ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: he was inspired by the dance clubs in London and Tokyo.
** "White Wedding" was not about how much he hated his sister's husband, per the man himself.

* ReferencedBy: Angel/Archangel's blond curly mane was modeled after Billy Idol's in ''Film/XMenApocalypse''.

** After ''Cyberpunk,'' it took 12 years for Billy to put out a new album (''Devil's Playground'' in 2005). Billy did try to make a new album in the mid-1990s, even teaming with producer Glen Ballard to write some material, but it just never came together due to CreativeDifferences with [=EMI=].

** In the 80s, Billy sometimes sported the Confederate flag on his jackets. According to Billy, he had his hair done by a black stylist circa-1990s, and in the ensuing conversation, the guy told him about the negative feelings black people in America had about the flag. Billy took it to heart, and made a point to never wear the flag again.

** One of the original scripts for ''Film/SayAnything'' had "To Be A Lover" as the song played during the boombox scene, rather than "In Your Eyes" by Music/PeterGabriel.

* OneOfUs: He grew up reading Marvel comics and watching Series/DoctorWho and was one of the first artists to openly embrace the internet and UsefulNotes/MP3 technology.

* {{Jossed}}: Idol himself denies "Dancing With Myself" is about [[ADateWithRosiePalms masturbation]]. Instead, it's ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: he was inspired by the dance clubs in London and Tokyo.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: He was one of several artists to turn down performing "Don't You Forget About Me", which was ultimately made famous by Music/SimpleMinds (who initially wanted to turn it down themselves). In 2001, he recorded his own version as a new track on a GreatestHitsAlbum.

* OneOfUs: He grew up reading Marvel comics and watching Series/DoctorWho and was one of the first artists to openly embrace the internet and MP3 technology.

* OneOfUs: Grew up reading Marvel comics and watching Dr. Who. Was one of the first artists to openly embrace the internet and MP3 technology.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: He was one of several artists to turn down performing "Don't You Forget About Me", which was ultimately made famous by Creator/SimpleMinds (who initially wanted to turn it down themselves). In 2001, he recorded his own version as a new track on a GreatestHitsAlbum.

** One of the original scripts for ''Film/SayAnything'' had "To Be A Lover" as the song played during the boombox scene, rather than "In Your Eyes" by Creator/PeterGabriel.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: He was one of several artists to turn down performing "Don't You Forget About Me", which was ultimately made famous by SimpleMinds (who initially wanted to turn it down themselves). In 2001, he recorded his own version as a new track on a GreatestHitsAlbum.
** He was the first choice to play the T-1000 in ''Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay'', but he broke his leg and wrist in a motorcycle accident before filming could start.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: He was one of several artists to turn down performing "Don't You Forget About Me", which was ultimately made famous by SimpleMinds (who initially wanted to turn it down themselves). In 2001, he recorded his own version as a new track on a GreatestHitsAlbum.

* {{Jossed}}: Idol himself denies "Dancing With Myself" is about [[ADateWithRosiePalms masturbation]].