Billy Idol Concert

My beautiful wife did a really awesome thing for me. She bought us Billy Idol tickets. Billy Idol was a huge favorite of mine as an 80's teen and I still enjoy his music today (his new stuff is great too). So, here's my review of the concert.

We made it to Hammond, IN (the concert was at the Horseshoe Casino) just in time to be on the main floor of the concert as it started. We had floor tickets and that meant no seats (like anyone would have sat through a Billy Idol concert anyway). He started (and ended) the concert out on high energy. This, from a man who's almost 53 years old. He still cranks em out and provides a great show.

My wife and I ended up about 15 rows back which is likely the closest I've been at a concert. I don't get to go to very many concerts so this was a special for me (I'm 42 and have only been to the following... Roger Waters, REO Speedwagon, Sammy Hagar, Zebra (opened for Sammy), The Jets, Mike and the Mechanics, The Outfield, KC and the Sunshine Band, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller, ELO2, America, Chuck Mangione (the last two were college concerts that came with my ticket package for the year).

Anyway, back to Billy Idol. Steve Stevens was amazing with his guitar skills. He provided amazing solos and sweet guitar skills which added to the energy of the show.

During the show, Billy sang to the ladies in the front row and even signed an autograph for one lucky lady. Later, he threw out some drum sticks and guitar picks. Then he picked up what looked like Frisbees. He then sent them out to the audience. I ended up getting one that someone else missed. It ended up on the floor and I quickly stepped on it to claim it. It ended up being a thick paper plate and was autographed. So, I got the autographed plate shown below.


The show featured well known hits from many of his albums as well as some of his new stuff from the past couple of albums. All were played excellently and were sung with near studio quality. When he and the band left the stage, we all started chanting, "Billy, Billy" and then the band came out and sang a three song encore that included Mony, Mony and Rebel Yell.