80s rocker brings a ‘rebel yell’ to Niagara Falls casino stage
Published January 24, 2023 at 11:34 am
One of the biggest musical acts from the 1980s will be bringing his trademark sneer to the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino Resort on May 5.
Billy Idol (born William Michael Albert Broad) was an MTV-ready sensation with some big hits and punk attitude through the 1980s, notching hit after hit.
Idol’s punk reputation came during the 1970s as the lead singer of British band, Generation X while his stage name came from a schoolteacher’s description of him as “idle.”
However, when the group disbanded at the end of the 1970s, he came to New York City to pursue his solo career in collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens.
His debut studio album, Billy Idol, released in 1982, was a huge commercial success with music videos for singles for Dancing With Myself and White Wedding, making the singer a staple of then newly-established MTV.
Idol’s second studio album, Rebel Yell, released just a year later in 1983, exploded his career with top-of-the-charts hit singles Rebel Yell and Eyes Without A Face.
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Idol also covered the 1968 Tommy James and the Shondells’ song Mony Mony and worked it into cult classic with audiences yelling a common profanity during the chorus.
Niagara Falls is the only Canadian show on Idol’s 16-stop tour.
Idol also showed a mischievous side during the 2018 wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Being held on a beautiful sunny Saturday in London, England, Idol took to social media to say words to the effect of it being lovely weather for a royal marriage.
The response on social media was immediate as everyone urged the singer to post what they wanted to hear, meaning, “It’s a nice day for a White Wedding.”
The Fallview show will start at 8 pm with tickets starting at $40 and on sale starting on January 27. Here’s one of Idol’s biggest hits Rebel Yell.