Billy Idol’s Dramatic Overdose Story Revealed in New Documentary

NEW YORK, NY — Billy Idol, the iconic punk rock star, revealed shocking details about a near-fatal heroin overdose he suffered in 1984 during his rise to fame in his new documentary, “Billy Idol Should Be Dead,” which premiered on June 10 at the Tribeca Film Festival.

In the film, Idol shared that he was celebrating success in the United States with his album, “Rebel Yell,” when he flew to London to reconnect with friends and partied with strong heroin. “I was coming back in triumph, and I nearly ruined it,” Idol said.

Idol recalled a night where most of his group passed out after doing heroin, but he and a friend kept using until his condition turned critical. “I was basically dying. I was turning blue,” he stated. Friends placed him in an ice-cold bath and attempted to revive him.

The musician noted that during the 1980s, hard drugs were prevalent in the rock scene, and he didn’t recognize the danger associated with them. “A lot of the people we loved were all heroin addicts. Lou Reed wrote the song ‘Heroin.’ You weren’t thinking how dangerous it was,” he reflected.

Idol’s journey didn’t end there. Years later, a chaotic trip to Bangkok led to a significant wake-up call. He and a friend reportedly racked up $75,000 in damages at a hotel. After passing out in an elevator, he was found by actor Mel Gibson, who was horrified by the scene.

“The silver lining was I did put heroin behind me. It was too horrible, the whole experience. It actually really put me off,” Idol recalled. However, he described the struggle to overcome addiction, referencing Boy George’s comparison of withdrawal to “your skeleton trying to get out of your body.”

Idol now embraces a different phase in his life, enjoying time as a grandfather and staying active in music. He has publicly acknowledged his bond with his children, sharing that he treasures the family connections he has now.