A snarling musical icon will make another stop on his road to the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame when the City of Los Angeles declares Friday “Billy Idol Day” — a celebration that will include a live performance on the steps of City Hall.
Idol, the leather-clad punk-era performer known for such hits as “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell,” will perform with his longtime guitarist and songwriting collaborator Steve Stevens, ahead of the pair’s Nov. 14 induction into the Hall of Fame, officials said Tuesday.
City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez will declare Friday “Billy Idol Day” in Los Angeles, recognizing the England-born Idol’s contributions to music and his longstanding connection to the city. He doesn’t have to travel far — he’s lived here since 1987.
Both artists will receive special recognitions from the city. Following the ceremony inside the Council Chamber, Rodriguez will host a free acoustic performance by Idol and Stevens on the Spring Street steps of City Hall, scheduled for 11 a.m.
The Hall of Fame’s 2026 induction ceremony will take place Saturday at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles. Idol and Stevens are being inducted with Phil Collins, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Oasis, Sade, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
Idol emerged in London’s punk scene in the late 1970s. He is most widely known for the radio hits “Dancing With Myself,” “Eyes Without a Face” and “Cradle of Love.”
Despite his trademark smirk, the 70-year-old Idol’s been all smiles lately. Last month, in fact, more than 1,600 students and teachers packed the Griffiths Middle School gym in Downey to hear Idol deliver upbeat messages about life and music.
In head-to-toe black, with his white-blond spiky hair in tousled perfection, Idol declared the school’s Thunderbirds marching band version of his hit “Rebel Yell” fantastic, nearly swore (the bad boy of ‘80s rock smilingly caught himself) and announced thousands of dollars in donations to the Downey Unified School District’s music education program.
“I’m fantastically glad to be here,” the British singer said, exhorting students to “learn, practice, make mistakes and figure things out, and always, keep rocking.”
The school visit, anticipated even more by teachers, staff and parents for whom Idol’s hits were heavy-rotation radio anthems during their teen years, was organized by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Save the Music Foundation, through a new initiative between the two.
Save the Music has helped more than 2,800 schools nationwide offer greater access to music education and the opportunities it creates. Future inductees to the Hall of Fame will also visit local schools as part of the new initiative. The partnership plans to fund at least 25 new public school music programs over three years.
John Sykes, chair of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and co-founder of MTV and iHeartMedia, promised more support to Downey Unified itself, apart from the $55,000 it has already received for new musical instruments and technology.
The idea is to “just give kids a chance to follow their dreams,” Sykes said. “Follow your dreams, find out and follow what you’re good at, practice, and know, nothing comes easy.”
It’s a lesson Idol, born William Broad in working-class London, has learned well, having weathered high points as well as hell-raising periods in his life, detailed in his autobiography “Dancing with Myself,” and the documentary “Billy Idol Should Be Dead.”
“Music gave me a lifeline,” he added. “It’s something I could be in love with my whole life. I’m still enjoying doing it.”
City News Service contributed to this report