With my heart somewhere in lost property at the union chapel - I wasn't sure that I was ready to get dance happy again just 24 hours later, but when the archetypal 80s bad boy comes to town, well it would be rude not to. So, Sunday night saw me heading to the Hammersmith Odeon (it will always be The Odeon to me) to see THE beautiful punk who cracked MTV Billy Idol.
There was a very shouty support band which may have been called YEAH YEAH FUCK YEAH INCOMPREHENSIBLE LOUD SOUND with a guitarist who may or may not have been blind.
Billy kept this audience of 40 and 50 somethings waiting; crushed up against complete strangers, shoes sticking to the beer sodden floor and backs aching from the effort of standing upright on the seriously raked floor for bloody ages. But to a heart thudding base from amidst an array of strobe lighting the somewhat vampiric and ridiculously sexy Billy Idol stepped forth and we were willing to forgive him anything.
This blond bombshell has sold his soul to the devil (possibly Steve Stevens) as age doesn't seems to have touched him - he's in great shape and he leapt around the stage with the energy of a man 20 years younger. There were sneers and snarls and occasional devastating smiles, dressed in leader and studs, except when he wasn't :)
Steve Stevens is Idol's right hand man, a sneering, snarling, chain smoking, devil of a guitarist who is an incredibly talented ego maniac. His solo spot was, in Janie's words, "one huge wank"but hey, don't knock it, I needed a loo break.
The setlist was strong with enough to keep ageing punks and fair-weather fanciers happy. It was glam punk theatre at it's finest. Billy - you're a hero!
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(Generation X song)
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(The Doors cover)
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(Generation X song)
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(Generation X song)
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(Tommy James & the Shondells cover)
Ahhhh, Billy. He was fabulous. If I mention that one of my favourite moments was when his shirt came off, does that make me shallow? He was a real showman, worth weathering the guitar wanking solos for.
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