William Michael Albert Broad is professionally recognized as Billy Idol. He is a world-famous singer, musician, actor and songwriter who hold both American and British citizenship. Billy gained prominence for the first time in 1970 when he emerged from the London punk rock scene where he was the lead singer of the Generation X group. He worked and embarked on a solo career that helped him gain international recognition and made him a leading artist in Second British Invasion in the U.S. His nickname Billy Idol was given by a description that his school teacher gave him where he mentioned as idle.
Idol started his music career in 1976 in a rock band named Chelsea as a guitarist, but only after some time left the band. By collaborating with Tony James, Idol led Generation X. Idol was the lead singer of Generation X. The band achieved great success in the U.K. and managed to release three albums but then disbanded. Idol shifted to New York City to achieve success in his solo career by collaborating with Steve Stevens, the guitarist.
Check out other celebrities net worth
| billy hufsey Net worth |
| billy d williams Net worth |
| billy dean Net worth |
| billy hamilton Net worth |
| billy davis jr Net worth |
Early Life
Idol was born in 1955 on 30th November in Stanmore, Middlesex. Bill’s parents were Anglicans and used to attend church regularly. When Billy was of 2 years of age, his parents shifted to Patchogue, New York. They also transferred to Rockville Centre, New York. When they were living in Rockville, a younger sister of Idol named Jane was born. After that, his family returned to England and then settled well in Dorking, Surrey. His family keeps on shifting, and they again shifted to Bromley in London in 1971.
He moved along with his family to Worthing in West Sussex, where he completed his higher studies in Worthing High School for Boys. After that, he joined the University of Sussex, where he pursued an English Degree but dropped the university only after one year.
Career Beginnings
His short name “Billy Idol” was coined because of his school teacher’s description of Idol as idle. In 1976, Billy joined the newly formed retro rock band named Chelsea as a guitarist. Only after performing for few weeks, Idol and Tony James quit the band, and that was the time when they co-founded the band Generation X. Generation X became the first punk band to emerge on BBC television music program titled Top of the Pops. After this, he shifted to New York City in 1981 to start his career as a solo artist while working with the Kiss manager named Bill Aucoin. His career has been great that made him gain a name and fame in the music industry.
Personal Life
Idol was in a long-term relationship with the dancer and singer named Perri Lister, but they never married. The couple also has a son named Willem Wolf Broad, born in 1988 in Los Angeles. He also has a daughter named Bonnie Blue from his relationship with his girlfriend, Linda Mathis.
Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Billy Idol, a great singer, songwriter, musician and actor, is approximately $60 million.