Billy Idol - Did You Know?
May 31, 2018Music facts, music trivia, interesting stories and much more. Introducing the "Did You Know" page about English singer, musician and songwriter, Billy Idol.
Enjoy!
Billy Idol (real name: William Michael Albert Broad) is an English singer, musician, songwriter and actor.
Billy Idol first achieved fame during the 1970s as a member of the punk rock band Generation X, but later on embarked on a solo career that led to international success and recognition. This made Billy Idol one of the lead artists during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the U.S.
One of Billy Idol's most known and successful hit songs is "White Wedding" and the story behind this song, is our interesting fact of the day. The song "White Wedding" is actually a very anti-marriage song, and yet many people decide to play it at their weddings, simply because it mentions a wedding.
Also, the song is not about Billy Idol's actual little sister, as "little sister" is slang for girlfriend. Idol is singing about a woman he loves, marrying someone else, while he still loves her. Idol did have a little sister who was getting married and her wedding simply gave him the idea for the song.
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Billy Idol's real name is William Broad. The name Idol is based on a report card he received that said, "William is an idel student." He thought of using the name "Billy Idle," but decided an alternate spelling of the surname so it would not conflict with Eric Idle, the Monty Python cast member.
Another interesting fact about Billy Idol is that he is also a vegetarian. He does not eat meat, but does wear leather.
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The song "Sweet Sixteen" by Billy Idol was inspired by a true story.
A man by the name of Edward Leedskalnin was dumped by his fiancee Agnes Scuffs the day before they were to be married. Edward built in Homestead, Florida the Coral Castle, a monument complete with furniture made of coral, all this in order to win her back, but she still refused to marry him.
Edward's nickname for her was sweet sixteen.
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Billy Idol got the title for the song "Rebel Yell" from the Rebel Yell brand of bourbon whiskey, which has been around since 1936.
Billy Idol explained that he was at an event where Mick Jagger, Ron Wood and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones were taking shots of Rebel Yell straight from the bottle.
This event gave Idol the idea for the title of the song, and so, he wrote the song around it. The song "Rebel Yell" is about a passionate one night stand with a woman who wants "more more more."
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