Billy Idol
It’s a Nice Day to … Tour Again! At least says Billy Idol who is in the midst of his massive North American tour with the legendary Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. With a Sunday night stop at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, it was no surprise that fans of all ages queued far down Gayley Road well-ahead of doors to secure their seat and get the festivities started.
The Greek was packed by the time Joan Jett & The Blackhearts took the stage promptly at 6:30 pm with the sun still high over the bay, launching right in with “Victim of Circumstance.” With original Blackheart Kenny Laguna and her long-time band featuring Dougie Needles (guitar), Hal Selzer (bass) and Michael McDermott (drums), the band tore through a 60 minute set that went far beyond the Blackhearts and Runaways discography to include covers like “Crimson & Clover,” “I Love Rock n Roll” and “Everyday People” … tunes that Jett has made her own and which many folks may not even realize are covers.
With the sun finally down, Billy Idol and his band stormed the stage to thundering applause and aptly launched straight into “Still Dancing” from his 2025 release, Dream Into It. With the crowd already on their feet, “Cradle of Love” and “Flesh for Fantasy” (which saw Billy doing a quick on-stage wardrobe change that had the audience woohoo-ing) got the crowd dancing.
Belying his 69 years of age, Billy’s vocals were on point and his signature spikey bleached hair and lip-curling sneer were on full display. Meanwhile legendary guitarist Steve Stevens moved around the fretboard as effortlessly as ever. And with a new album to celebrate live, the band was locked-in. The set wasn’t without its nostalgia, however, a massive screen at the rear of the stage projecting classic images of the band from their early days on MTV during songs like “Rebel Yell” and “Dancing With Myself.”
A poignant pause midway through the set gave love to the late Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Billy Morrison taking up the microphone to say a few words about his best friend before the band lifted the mood back up to Generation X’s “Ready Steady Go.”
The four song encore which kicked off with “Dancing With Myself” (another Generation X classic) was the final straw that gave the general admission folks who had posted up in the rear walkway took the excuse to to spin up a mini mosh pit which seems to have inspired those around them to action through the set closer of “White Wedding.”
With the new album getting attention, Billy Idol pulled out the stops to make this tour his biggest in recent years and those that came out were rewarded with what would was a top show of 2025. A nice day to tour again indeed!
Billy Idol Setlist
- Still Dancing
- Cradle of Love
- Flesh for Fantasy
- 77
- Eyes Without a Face
- Steve Stevens Guitar Solo / Over the Hills and Far Away / Stairway to Heaven / Eruption
- Mony Mony
- Love Don’t Live Here Anymore (Rose Royce cover) (with Jessica Childress)
- Ready Steady Go (Generation X song)
- Too Much Fun
- Blue Highway / Top Gun Anthem
- Rebel Yell
Encore
- Dancing With Myself
- Hot in the City
- People I Love
- White Wedding
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