Billy Idol brings his The Roadside Tour 2022 to the UK – with special guests Killing Joke and Toyah opening the shows, which kick off in Manchester on 13th October and close in Leeds on 25th October, also calling in at Cardiff, London, Glasgow and Birmingham.
Previously announced Television were forced to make a late withdrawal due to illness. Killing Joke stepping in to replace them.
Billy will be heading out with some new music and a stack of timeless classics for his first appearances in the UK since 2018 and is slated to play six arena dates.
“Just when you think it’s all over, I’d been missing my brothers in Killing Joke and then this opportunity came up. Looking forward to seeing everyone…. 1 day’s rehearsal and a secret gig somewhere in the U.K. Lets get stuck in,” says Jaz Coleman.
Killing Joke emerged in the post-punk early 1980s, their eponymous debut album exhibiting funky heavy rock influences before electronic and synth-pop styles also filtered through their music. They would, in turn, influence later generations including Metallica, Nirvana and Soundgarden.
“Love Like Blood” would give Killing Joke their greatest commercial success, a hit across Europe, peaking at #16 in the UK singles chart in 1985. Jaz Coleman (vocals, keyboards) and Geordie Walker (guitar) have been ever-constant members of the line-up and have been reunited with fellow founder members Paul Ferguson (drums) and Youth (bass guitar and mega producer) since 2008.
The ever-popular Toyah will bring an extra sense of fun to the tour. Alongside a flourishing acting career, Toyah carved out a successful musical career with three top ten UK hit singles in the 1980s and the Gold-selling album “Anthem”.
“We’re looking forward to having Killing Joke and Toyah join us in the UK,” said Billy. “This is going to be an epic show!”
“I am thrilled to be opening for Billy Idol on The Roadside Tour. Billy is an icon whose music has thrilled millions worldwide and continues to do so. Billy has created a style of rock that has gone on to inspire generation after generation. ‘Rebel Yell, ‘White Wedding’ and ‘Mony Mony’ are up there with the all-time greats, “Toyah commented.
In furthering an acting career, Toyah left her native Birmingham for London and enjoyed a parallel musical career fronting her band, named Toyah, before establishing herself as a solo artist. Toyah had three UK Top Ten hits with ”It’s A Mystery”, ”I Want To Be Free” and “Thunder In The Mountains”, and won ‘Best Female Singer’ in the 1982 British Rock & Pop Awards, that later went on to become The Brits.
Her hit albums include the 2021 top 25-charting “Posh Pop”, “The Changeling” and the gold-selling “Anthem” which received a remastered reissue in September 2022. Along with husband Robert Fripp, the couple have scored over 110 million of hits on YouTube with their ‘ Sunday Lunch’ series of weekly musical shorts.
Billy’s touring band features his long-time guitarist and collaborator Steve Stevens, along with Stephen McGrath (bass, backing vocals), Billy Morrison (guitar, backing vocals), Paul Trudeau (keyboards, backing vocals) and drummer Erik Eldenius.
For forty-five years, Billy Idol, born 66-years-ago as William Michael Albert Broad and using the name Idol after a teacher called him “Idle”, has been one of the faces and voices of rock’n’roll, with an artistic resume to match the brilliant light of the image.
First as the camera-ready front man for Generation X, between 1977 and 1981 Idol emerged with three albums that made positivity, emotional depth, and high pop synonymous with punk rock.
In 1982, Idol embarked on a remarkable transatlantic/trans-genre solo career that integrated clubland throb, wide-screen depth and drama, rockabilly desperation, the bold and simple lines of punk, and rock’n’roll decadence.
Embracing the new MTV music channel, videos for “White Wedding”, “Rebel Yell” and “Eyes Without A Face” established Idol as one of the iconic performers of his generation.
- Tickets: www.aegpresents.co.uk/billy-idol
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