Synopsis
In "Dancing With Myself," Billy Idol delivers a raw, energetic autobiography that traces his life from a childhood split between England and the United States—where young William Broad absorbed American rock 'n' roll culture amid a sense of dislocation—to his immersion in the explosive British punk scene of the 1970s. He recounts hanging out with the Sex Pistols as part of the Bromley Contingent, playing in bands like Chelsea and Generation X, and embracing the spit, sweat, and rebellious fury that defined the era, all while honing his sneering persona and songwriting skills.
The memoir dives deep into his transition to a solo career in New York and then Los Angeles, where he skyrocketed to MTV superstardom in the 1980s with massive hits like "White Wedding," "Eyes Without a Face," and "Rebel Yell." Collaborating closely with guitarist Steve Stevens, Idol describes the creation of groundbreaking music videos, the decadent highs of fame, and the relentless party-fueled lifestyle of sex, drugs, and excess that came with ruling the dance-rock world.
Written in his signature brash, unapologetic voice, the book doesn't shy away from the darker sides, including struggles with addiction, self-sabotage, personal regrets over relationships and family, a near-fatal 1990 motorcycle crash that marked a turning point, and the commercial ups and downs that followed, such as the mixed reception to his Cyberpunk experiment. At its core, it's a survivor's tale of creative drive clashing with human desire, reflecting on identity, punk's DIY ethos, the evolution of rock, and his enduring passion for music into later years.