It’s a Nice Night with Billy Idol at Ruth Eckerd Hall

Rock and punk icon Billy Idol played to a sold-out crowd at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Friday night! Opening with a triple crown of hits including the new wave 1981 hit “Dancing With Myself”, Idol and his band had everyone dancing with themselves. “Cradle of Love” and “Flesh For Fantasy” followed with Idol fans out in full force, clad in leather and Idol t-shirts.

Hard rocker “Speed” written by Idol and Stevens from the 1994 movie was on the setlist. Guitarist Steve Stevens took to a seat on stage for a beautiful opening solo of the haunting “Eyes Without A Face” which was a top ten hit for Billy and has become a classic Billy Idol song.  The entire audience was on its feet during the rock ballad. Speaking of Steve Stevens, he and Billy have been working together since 1981 when Billy came to New York from the U.K.

Billy’s 1987 cover of Tommy James & the Shondell’s “Mony, Mony”, rocked with an almost anthem-like energy from the audience. Billy shares with the audience about his battle with addiction and wrote the autobiographical “Running From The Ghost”.  In a nod to his 70’s punk band “Generation X”, we got to head bop to “One Hundred Punks”.   On “Blue Highway”, Stevens really shines and treats us to a snippet of his guitar work from the original “Top Gun” soundtrack for which he won a Grammy.  Billy finishes the set with the hit MTV heavily rotated anthem “Rebel Yell” and the audience screaming “more, more, more”.

Great lighting and sound for this show. No video screens or graphics, just a pure rock show by Billy and the band.  Besides Steve on guitar, there is Billy Morrison on rhythm guitar, Erik Eldenius on drums, Stephen McGrath on bass and Paul Trudeau on keyboards.  They play a tight show and have fun with each other and the crowd. Returning to the stage for the encore, the band fires up “Hot In The City” and that 80’s vintage rocker “White Wedding” which is an audience sing-along to end the evening. Punker Billy Idol at 67 is still going strong!

2023 is going well for Billy so far with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and being the first person to play at the Hoover Dam! The Hoover Dam performance is being made into a concert film. He will be doing a residency at The Cosmopolitan in Vegas in October.  Billy’s website.

Opening for Billy on this tour is New Zealand singer Kelsy Karter and the Heroines. Keep watching for her, she is a talented rock singer and songwriter. Check her out on YouTube.

Vicky Sullivan Photos