In the summer of 1981, a young and ambitious Billy Idol made a life-changing move from London to Manhattan, leaving behind his punk roots with the band Generation X. Settling into a modest one-room apartment located at One Sheridan Square in the West Village, Idol found himself in the company of his friend Ace. As the music legend gears up for an exciting year filled with a new album titled Dream Into It, a tour alongside Joan Jett aptly named Its a Nice Day to . . . Tour Again!, a nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a documentary titled Billy Idol Should Be Dead, he recently took a nostalgic trip back to his old building.

Stepping out of a sleek black SUV, Idol made quite the entrance, sporting his iconic look, complete with spiked blond hair, striking eyeliner, earrings, combat boots, and a leather jacket adorned with zippers. As he reflected on his first summer in New York, Idol playfully gestured as if smoking a joint, a touch of mischief evident in his demeanor. Everybody kept their windows open, he reminisced in his distinct British accent tinted with a hint of Tufnel. I could shout up, Yo, Ace!

Just then, a resident inside the building heard him and opened the door. Billy! the man exclaimed, recognizing the rock star. You used to live here, right? To which Idol proudly confirmed, The eighties, yeah! I wrote Rebel Yell here, Eyes Without a Face. He pointed toward a tree outside, recalling how a broken-down couch had once occupied the street. I snagged it, but I was sitting on the floor writing Rebel Yell. Idol then shared how he had initially felt like an outsider in the bustling city, noting, Early on, I didnt know anybody much, but I knew Ronnie Wood.

Recalling a memorable night at Ronnie Woods party, Idol highlighted the unique moment when legendary rock icons Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were quaffing a whiskey named Rebel Yell, a Southern-style mash from Tennessee. I know a bit about the American Civil War, Idol said with a twinkle in his eye. I thought, Oh, I could use that title! But I wont make it anything about the Civil War. Ill just make it, like, an orgasmic cry of love. He even sought the opinion of the Rolling Stones on the title, only to be met with their bemused disapproval.

As Idol strolled down the block, memories flooded back of the vibrant street culture he experienced, including the sounds of boom boxes and children break dancing. However, he also reflected on the quieter, more subdued evenings. Me being an unknown quantity and not really knowing too many people, it was lonely, black, and quiet that first summer, with the humidity and being rained on by the air conditioners, he admitted. This sense of isolation ultimately inspired his hit song, Hot in the City, which captures the essence of that moody New York summer. I walked around thinking, Im in The Warriors! Its so New Yorkboiling hot, you could see why they had just leather cutoffs on.

Despite the loneliness, locals recognized his punk rock aesthetic. Guys would come up and say, Punk rock, dont stop! and all that. Wheres the party? Id have leather jeans on, leg warmers over my Winklepicker boots, a New Romantic cape. I could get into all the clubs, he recalled with a sense of pride. However, existential doubts occasionally crept in: I knew who Generation X was, but who exactly is Billy Idol, you know? He paused, looking contemplative.

As Idol stood on a street corner, a driver slowed down to shout, Hey, Billy Idol! Rock on, brother! to which he enthusiastically replied, Good to see you! Rock on! extending a signature punk-rock fist in greeting.

The evolution of Billy Idols identity as an artist is closely tied to the infectious New Wave dance-punk sound he helped popularize with the song Dancing with Myself. This track, co-written during his time with Generation X, was inspired by observations he made at a disco in Japan. They were still in Saturday Night Fever mode, guys dressing like John Travolta, he remarked while doing a playful arm shimmy. I said, Hey, theyre dancing to their own reflections. Theyre dancing with themselves. The song became a sensation at a New York club, igniting the crowd into a frenzy as they pushed furniture aside to reach the dance floor. In the same year, MTV emerged, and Idol capitalized on the moment by creating a music video, enlisting horror filmmaker Tobe Hooper to direct. Punk rockers love The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Idol noted with a grin.

Continuing his stroll down Bleecker Street, he pointed out Johns Pizza, recalling a meeting with the legendary Lou Reed. I met with Lou Reed at his favorite pizza place, right over there, he said. Idol had hoped to collaborate with Reed, but their discussions did not pan out. Its just as well, he concluded with a chuckle. Can you imagine if it said Idol/Reed on White Wedding? People are going to think he wrote it. In reality, Idol composed White Wedding quickly in a recording studio, inspired by his sister's upcoming wedding. At the top of the foolscap, I wrote White Wedding, he recounted. He then brainstormed ideas, arriving at the provocative concept of a jealous brother harboring secret feelings for his sister. I just bounced off my sisters wedding and wrote this weird, weird, sick song, he laughed.

In 1983, Idol released Rebel Yell, recorded at Electric Lady Studios just a stone's throw away from his old stomping grounds. The subsequent tour began in intimate clubs and culminated in monumental arena shows. Following the whirlwind of success, Idol and his girlfriend relocated to a different apartment on Jones Street, where they could enjoy some privacy. I could afford some black furniture, cool stuff, Idol reminisced, though their newfound fame soon attracted fans who began loitering outside their building. Seeking solitude, they moved to an area near the West Side Highway, where they believed they could live without being disturbed. We kind of decided, Why dont we have a baby? Idol explained, reflecting on a chapter of his life marked by struggles with drug addiction. We were living a vampire existence. Eventually, they found a way to embrace a more traditional lifestyle in Los Angeles. Today, Idols young grandchildren have become a source of inspiration for his new song Im Your Hero. They only know me as Granddad, he shared fondly. Quite soon, theyll go to school, and they wont give a shit about Granddad.