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Live Reviews

Billy Idol

Billy Idol
Brixton Academy
11 November 2005

Brixton Academy
11 November 2005

Before I even walk through the doors of Brixton, my eyes graze a field of tribute Billy haircuts. This is Billy *fucking* Idol. The music we were either brought up with or forced to listen to on loooooonnnngggg drives with our folks. This music marks the revolutionary history that has brought you to this very website, on this very page. Just as Debbie Harry, Black Sabbath and The Doors paved the way, Billy played his peroxide James-Dean punk rock part. There was no supporting band! Just pure 100% uncensored Billy Idol for 2 and a half hours! No wonder he is still sporting a six-pack at 50-odd, which he proudly strips down to between songs, and it still makes the gals holla! He looks the perfect plastic surgery picture of health after surviving drug overdoses, and a bike accident! It was a majestic display of pure speed.., I mean stamina!

In their own right they are all amazing musicians. Steve the lead guitarist plays the most majestic Spanish-almost a little Country-and-Western solos. The drummer not only juggles while playing the most incredible drums, but also plays guitar!…well enough to take on Steve Stevens! The keyboardist plays 2 keyboards at the same time. And Billy not only writes and sings, but has hidden talents as a pretty nifty guitarist. It was a generously well-balanced gig for most of the band members. My only criticism being that the bassist should have stepped up to the plate a little more. Raging waters run deep and all 6 of them are annoyingly talented!

Billy seemed to be stoked to be making his comeback. He kept thanking the crowd, signing autographs and throwing out free gear! The sweeter side of the punk-rocker nobody sees in photos. Maybe he thought nobody would stay for the music? With the mass support shown by die-hard fans and gay community alike, I am sure he was pleasantly surprised.

They played all the classics as you can imagine, just loads and loads all in the span of an exhausting, and everlasting 2.5 hours! I must completely say this has been one of my top gigs for 2005, and saying that I have probably lost credibility for all future reviews…No really, it was the perfect balance of nostalgia, new tracks and good old fashioned Rock ‘n Roll in the truest sense. I left exhausted and grateful that the band gave us their blood, sweat and tears all in one evening.

Hopefully they will be around next year if they don’t burn themselves out, or walk down old paths. Billy did promise a new album on the horizon after all…Good luck to ya fitting that in!

Niki Kova’cs

Image stolen from www.jencray.com
(sorry, Crossfire could not get any photo’s at the show)