Billy Idol

It's easy to sneer right back at Billy Idol. He shakes his fist a lot. He wears leather
underwear. He shampoos with glue. The appearance of snarling Idol replicas in David Lee
Roth and Talking Heads videos reflects his successful construction of a visual signature,
which is nearly a prerequisite for Eighties pop stars. But Idol's rebellious pose lacks
humanity. Until now, he has hidden behind the frozen emotion of a sneer. On his... More >

A year and a half in the making, and don't think he didn't pour heart and soul into it. It's just that he's . . . well, I hate to put it this way, but the guy is cursed: emoting love poetry from under enough Keith Forsey echo to fill Carlsbad Caverns, he still can't sing without sneering. That he gets off the occasional good one even so only reveals his essence d'Elvis for the plastic pop franchise it is, and don't blame him for the bullwhip on the sleeve--the devil made him do it. (Grade: C+)