Twenty-two years after his last Paris appearance, during the much-maligned Cyberpunk era, Billy Idol returned to the French capital to promote his latest album, Kings & Queens of the Underground. The new record received respectable representation throughout the evening, but nobody was under any illusions about why most people had bought a ticket.
The audience came for the hits, and Billy Idol was more than happy to oblige. "Rebel Yell," "White Wedding," "Dancing With Myself," "Eyes Without a Face"... the setlist was built around the songs that transformed a former punk rocker into one of the defining faces of the MTV generation. Decades later, they remain remarkably effective.
Of course, any discussion of a Billy Idol concert inevitably leads to Steve Stevens. As important as Idol's distinctive voice, his gift for melody and the new-wave textures that define much of his catalogue is the guitarist who has stood beside him for most of his career. Stevens remains a phenomenon. His playing combines technical brilliance, effortless flair and an instinctive understanding of what each song requires. He can unleash jaw-dropping solos when the moment calls for it, but never at the expense of the music itself.
Around them, a thoroughly professional band ensured that every song landed exactly as it should. The performances were tight, the energy remained high throughout, and Idol himself proved a charismatic and engaging frontman, fully aware of what the audience expected and determined to deliver it.
There are artists who spend their later years fighting their legacy. Billy Idol has chosen a wiser approach. He embraces it, celebrates it and plays the hell out of it. Adam Sandler said it best in The Wedding Singer: Billy Idol gets it.
