Billy Idol

BILLY IDOL
House of Blues, Chicago

August 26, 2003

Review by Anita Lande

Photos by: Justin Birnstihl /Midwest BEAT

As he spun through hit after hit, there was no lull in Billy Idol's show at the House of Blues in Chicago as the sold out audience in attendance made it resoundingly clear that they wanted –– "More, More, More!" –– to borrow a
familiar phrase from the singer's hit, "Rebel Yell."

As Billy Idol took center stage at 9:15pm the mayhem began. He strode to the center of the stage wearing biker boots, black leather pants with chains, a red shirt, and still sporting that famous punk-spike lemon hair. With a flash of that famous sneer of his, Idol snatched the mic from it's stand and opened the show with “Rob the Cradle,” which sent the crowd in a tailspin that continued the entire night.

Throughout an evening filled with strong deliveries of his best known hits –– “Eyes Without a Face,” “Blue Highway,” “Flesh for Fantasy,” “Sweet Sixteen,” "Rebel Yell" and his high energized treatment of the Tommy James classic, “Mony Mony” –– Billy showed himself to be in top form.

    Idol also dug back into his past and played us a classic hit from his first band, Generation X, called “Ready Steady Go.”   It was a nice touch and showed his authentic "Brit-punk roots", though I am sure some of his older fans from the Gen X days would have preferred hearing him do that band's "King Rocker" as well or instead.

    Idol looked physically fit and had a good time with his audience, often poking fun at himself and his image, as he threw his trademark fist into the air song after song. During all of this sweaty stage action, Billy even found time to bend down and autograph some albums and photos for many lucky fans near the front of the stage.

Steve Stevens, Idol's writing partner and guitarist, amazed the crowd with his sometimes goofy and always stellar guitar playing. Stevens entertained us and showed off his guitar abilities by he playing the instrument with a toy squirt gun, with his teeth, and behind his back...all the while not missing a note.

This was definitely a rock 'n' roll party not to be missed. As the crowd shot their collective fists into the air back at their idol, Idol, they acknowledged their appreciation to him for a show well done and thoroughly entertaining!

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