Billy Idol Reflects on Life and New Music in Latest Interview

NEW YORK (AP) — Billy Idol is back with new music and a documentary that reflects on his life, struggles, and career. The English punk rocker, known for hits like “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell,” has released a new album titled “Dream Into It,” his first in over a decade.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Idol discussed the journey that led him to this moment. He explained that the 11-year gap between albums was not due to a lack of desire to create new music, but rather a gradual process of building up to it. “It was a gradual process, really,” he said, noting the importance of the different eras of his life that he can now reflect upon.

At 69 years old, Idol finds himself taking stock of his past. He mentioned that the births of his grandchildren have provided him with a unique perspective on life. “You sort of reach this vantage point where you can really look back and see all the sort of different eras of my life,” he said.

Idol also shared regrets about his previous work, particularly regarding the depth of the lyrics on his last album, “Kings and Queens.” “I thought lyrically I could go deeper. That’s one of those regrets I had about the last album,” he said.

On “Dream Into It,” Idol aimed for more imagery in his lyrics, referencing his life experiences. He expressed satisfaction in collaborating with other artists, including Joan Jett, whom he has known since the late 1970s.

Throughout the interview, Idol reflected on his past, including his battles with addiction. “There was a point in my life when I was living like every day as if it’s your last. One day, you’re going to be right,” he cautioned, explaining how the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle often embraced drug use.

He acknowledged how close he came to ending up like many of his contemporaries who were unable to navigate the dangers of their lifestyle. “I’ve always flirted with death, in a way,” Idol admitted. He expressed gratitude for having maintained his mental faculties while so many others did not.

Idol’s motorcycle has even been featured in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and he quipped about his own place in music history, saying, “some of the seminal people who turned on the people that turned me on” helped shape his career.

As he embarks on this new phase of his career with both the album and the documentary, he continues to reflect on the experiences that shaped him. He concludes, “If I was doing what I was back then today, I would be dead because I would have been lost.” The new album represents not just a continuation of his musical journey but also a testament to his resilience and evolution as an artist.