It has been 11 years since we’ve had a full length studio album from Billy Idol. His last one was 2014 with ‘Kings And Queens of the Underground’. He has had a couple of 4 song E.P.’s since then, but no full album of new music. Now, the time is upon us. After he did those two E.P.’s, he realized the press on those was as much as a full length album so why not simply do a full album and we are glad he did. The album was released on April 25, 2025 and it went to #79 in the U.K., but Switzerland saw it go to #3 and Germany it was #2. How did it fare in the U.S.? Well, it was Billy’s first ever Top 10 album as it went to #7. Not bad Billy…not bad at all!
The interesting about this release is that it is a concept album and it is broken down in to two parts. Part 1 is called “Dying to Love” and is Side One on the vinyl. This side is focused on the past and sees Billy being nostalgic and focusing on his early years. Part 2 is called, “I’m Reborn” and is Side Two of the album. The focus here is more forward looking on his life now which sees him now as Grandpa and in love with a great family. Cool to see someone that almost died from his drug use and rock & roll lifestyle to be an older rocker and simply loving life. He seems to be in a good place.
I ended up buying both the CD and the vinyl simply because I collect everything Billy so had to have both versions. We get 9 songs, but really only 8 new ones as one of the song is a remake of the song “John Wayne” which was on hit 2008 greatest hits album called The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself. This time around it is a duet and we will get to that later. A little disappointing that we didn’t get 10 new songs. I was worried he was going to re-use some of the songs from his last two E.P.’s, but thankfully that was not the case. But we do a good some good stuff and some okay stuff, so let’s get to the music.
The title track, “Dream Into It”, opens the show and is very atmospheric sounding, almost like a dream-like state. Not a very strong song to open the album, but this is a concept album so I guess we can let that slide…maybe. Lyrically, the song sees Billy going back to his childhood and done in a new wave pop ballad type song. Not a bad song, but should not be the opening track if you are wanting to make a statement.
Next up on the CD and Vinyl is the song “77” sung by Billy. Now, if you stream the song, the digital release has this as a duet with Avril Lavigne. She actually opens the song which is strange as it is Billy’s song not hers. All I will say is that Avril version is not the song I like. “77” sounds so much better simply as a Billy song. It is a power pop / punk song and sees Billy talking about the whole UK Punk Scene and Gen X. This would’ve made a stronger opening track honestly. Love this one, high energy, attitude and lots of fun.
“Too Much Fun” has a little more guitar and is more punk. Billy is talking about his prior drug use and even his motorcycle crash. The song feels a lot like ’77 as it matches the energy and style and I’ll take that. Another great rocking track.
The first side ends with “John Wayne” and this one is a duet with Alison Mosshart from The Kills and The Dead Weather. This has a slight country vibe to it. Alison takes the first verse which again, I find odd since usually the person whose album it is on starts off the song, but this time I don’t care as her voice is stellar. I really like the original track and I will say I actually like this one too as their voices sound good together with his grit and her beautiful angelic vocals. We finally get a standout Steve Stevens solo as his guitar has not been that prominent to me so far. He is the sound of Billy Idol.
Side Tow kicks off with another duet and this time it is Joan Jett on the song “Wildside”. Now I understand why she is opening for him on his latest tour (which I sadly had to miss). Although Billy has cleaned up his act, this one lets the world know he still has a wildside and he wouldn’t be Billy Idol if he didn’t. This is a mid-tempo rocker, a little slow for my liking. On the vinyl issue, the opening tracks on each side are not bangers which i think is a miss.
“People I Love” feels like a modern pop-punk song. This one looks back at his short-comings in being a husband and father during his wild days. Looking back he realizes all the mistakes he has made and now he needs to find a way to quit pissing off the people he loves. The song doesn’t have the Idol energy we are used to. It lacks a little punch. Vocally he isn’t attacking the lyrics like he did long time ago…I know he is older now and maybe can’t sing like he used to, duh…but I’m simply stating what I hear.
Then we get “Gimme the Weight” and this has more guitar and more energy. This one feels like it could’ve come out in the 80’s. However, again…there is something missing from it. His vocals are so reserved and it is an adjustment. I still don’t feel we are getting enough Steve in the music. Everything feels overproduced and too slick for me.
“I’m Your Hero” is a power ballad about his love for his girlfriend China Chow. It starts out with a chorus filled with a choir-like sound, then has a “Sweet Sixteen” vibe to it. It is a little too sugary sweet for me and doesn’t have the charisma of “Sweet Sixteen”.
The final song was the first single and the best damn song on the album. “Still Dancing” is old school Billy Idol in the same vein as “Dancing With MySelf”. Energy, attitude, gritty lyrics where he yells out the chorus and Steve Stevens guitar harkening back to Rebel Yell and White Wedding. This is what this album has been missing. This one explodes out of the speakers and this should’ve been the opening track, damn this would’ve set a better tone. Billy…MORE OF THIS!!!
Track Listing:
- Dream Into It – Keeper (1/2 Point)
- ’77 – Keeper
- Too Much Fun – Keeper
- John Wayne – Keeper
- Wildside – Keeper (1/2 Point)
- People I Love – Delete
- Gimme the Weight – Delete
- I’m Your Hero – Delete
- Still Dancing – Keeper
The Track Score isa 5 out of 9 Tracks or 56%. I have to admit, this album was a disappoint for me being as big a fan of Billy’s as I am. The last two E.P.’s were simply stellar, but this felt like an empty, overproduced, saccharined sweet attempt at sounding mature…but Billy’s image has never been that. I know an artist changes as they get older, but they still shouldn’t lose what got them there. There are moments of that with the singles, “Still Dancing” and “77” without Avril and maybe even “Too Much Fun”. “John Wayne” was already a good song and luckily stayed that way, but the rest was lacking. Lacking full on curled-up lip Billy attitude as well as killer Steve Steven riffs and solo which was almost non-existent in my book. I needed more. I think people will like this for the most part, which is why My Overall Score is a 3.0 out of 5.0 Stars, however, for me it doesn’t hold up with the rest of his catalog.
THE BILLY IDOL SERIES:
- Generation X – ‘Generation X’
- Generation X – ‘Valley of the Dolls’
- Gen X – ‘Kiss Me Deadly’
- Gen X – “Dancing With Myself” 12″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Generation X – ‘The BBC Transcription Disc Series No. 126 1978’ (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – Don’t Stop E.P.
- Billy Idol – Billy Idol
- Billy Idol – “White Wedding” – 12″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – Rebel Yell
- Billy Idol – “Rebel Yell” – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – “Eyes Without A Face” – 12″ Picture Disc (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – “Eyes Without A Face” – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – Whiplash Smile
- Billy Idol – “Sweet Sixteen” – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – To Be A Lover – Single Review
- Billy Idol – Vital Idol
- Billy Idol – “Hot In the City” – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – “Mony Mony Live” – 12″ Maxi-Single (Bonus Edition)
- Idol Songs: 11 of the Best
- Billy Idol – Charmed Life
- Billy Idol – “Cradle of Love” – 7″ Single (Bonus Edition)
- Billy Idol – California FM 1990 (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – Cyberpunk
- Billy Idol – “Shock To The System” – CD Single Promo (Floppy Disk)
- Billy Idol – “Speed” (song from the Speed Soundtrack)
- Generation X – K.M.D. Sweet Revenge
- Billy Idol – VH1 Storytellers (Live)
- Generation X – Anthology (2003)
- Billy Idol – Devil’s Playground
- Billy Idol – Happy Holidays
- Billy Idol – The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself
- Billy Idol – Icon
- Billy Idol – Kings & Queens of the Underground
- Billy Idol – Dancing With Myself (Book Review)
- Billy Idol – BFI Live (#RSD 2019)
- Billy Idol – Revitalized
- Generation X – Your Generation (7″ Record Store Day Release)
- Generation X – Generation X Deluxe Edition
- Billy Idol – Rebel Waltz: Live (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – Rebel Calling: Live (Bootleg)
- Generation X – ‘Demos 1977’ (Bootleg)
- Billy Idol – The Roadside E.P.
- Billy Idol – The Cage E.P.
- Billy Idol – The Albums Ranked From Worst to First
- Billy Idol – The Best and Worst Song From Every Album
- Grant’s Rock Warehaus – Billy Idol Career Retrospective
- Billy Idol – The Collection: Ep. 15 – “Vinyl Idol”
- Generation Sex – ‘Listen To This, Johnny!’ – Bootleg (2024)
- The Collection: Ep 15 – Billy Idol (2024)
- The Collection: Ep. 19 – Generation X (2024)
- Billy Idol – Dream Into It (2025)
