Well, another 3 years, and our eternal Rebell Yell is becoming 60 years of age. Almost unbelievable, if you take the visual facts, shown mainly by an almost perfect six pack. And this is, what he's showing off during this show pretty extensively. Sorry boys, but the many females in the audiance do look at such things. And in our case here the generell impression is a pretty good one, ain't it?! Yeah, okay, if you take a closer look, as I do through the zoom lense of my camera, then you might discover one or the other wrinkle, but fortunately it doesn't really matter. Although his fitness can be compared to the one of the 20 year old. And he can be grateful to god, as this has not always been the case throughout his life, mainly in the Eighties. But compared to many collegues he did get around. To define it a bit closer it was in 2005 with the Album 'Devil's Playground', followed by appearances at the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals, and Steve Stevens was back as well. And today he is more present than ever, well at least in Europe. 


And so Billy Idol keeps returning every 3 or 4 years and takes care for acoustical and visual enjoyment. And the show is... - how shall I describe it best? - well almost always the same, I'd say. Half of it is performed with Generation X classics and the other half are his best of - Solohits. Whereby those are spread only now and then inbetween during the rest of the setlist and then explode like a huge fireworks towards the end. And this is the point, where everybody is happy. And the astronomical high ticket price of 54 Euros is not overshadowed by any regrets.
Also within the Band of Billy Idol not much has changed. Guitarist Steve Stevens is still with Billy. And at some occassions, it is really questionable, who the real stars is tonight, by all this cheering he receives as well. 


The Rest of the Gang is Billy Morrison on guitar, newbe Jeremy Colson on drums, who came in for Brian Tichy, Bassist 
Stephan McGrath and Keyboarder Derek SherinanThat one we know as well because of his countless contributions at other artists and because of his solo carriere showing 7 long players so far... He is also a longterm member of this band here. 


The venue ain't sold here on the Tollwood Areal. But there are in fact aprox. 3.500 – 4.000 guests of all ages here, to celebrate one huge party with songs such as  ‚Dancing With Myself’, ‚Flesh For Fantasy’, ‚Eyes Without A Face’ or ‚LA Woman’.

NO big show effects are needed, exept maybe those reall sparkling lime light taking care for the so called wow effect. Billy changes his shirt at least 10 times during the show, and towards the end, he's probably fed up or either it's too hot in here, so he stops changing, and rather showing off his bare chest. He's still holding the aces in his hand, spilling them out in the end, when 'Rebel Yell' finishes the official set, in the extended version of course. The crowd reaction is simply great, leading into a long encore. And that one is 'White Wedding' and his 'Mony Mony', originally recorded by Tommy James and the shondells in 1968 having a no. 1 hitsingle. But this Golden Oldie has got a very individual note, when Billy adapted it in 1981. And then the song sounded, as it was an original by himself. 


Maybe some Die Hard Fans have noticed, that tracks such 'Cradle Of Love' and 'Hot In The City' are missing. But on the other hand, with such a huge potential of hitsingles, nobody really misses out on anything here. 
Nice to see, that in the audiance here, there are not only fans of the back then generation, but also some reall young kids, who weren't even born, when 'Rebel Yell' became a hit in 1984. 
And Billy's alterego has surely received some moisturing at thos few european shows, as he is still celebrated so deeply over here. No clue, whether he ever will record a new album or not. The last longplayer came out  in 2008 and was entitled:
'The Very Best of Billy Idol - Idolize yourself', and mind me, that's not really something new.  He doesn't need to anyway, as he lives of the old songs, and people don't wanna hear anything else either. So what?! He uses the chance of his returned great condition and returned fitness, as long as he's able to....


And in the end of tonight, there is nothing to complain for... The Show has been  bombastic feat. some excellent musicians, perfectly done and posed, inviting people ot sing along to all those smash songs. What else does the commercial music lover's heart want?!  - Well a Billy Idol Show of course....
And in 3 or 4 years, we see again...
 http://billyidol.net/