Billy Idol, 70, steals the Paris Fashion Week spotlight as legendary hellraiser makes an unlikely appearance on the catwalk for Belgian designer Ann Demeulemeester

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A loud cheer erupted at the Palais de Tokyo on Saturday night when rock icon Billy Idol surprisingly walked the runway during Paris Fashion Week.

A designer known for her rebellious past took center stage as Ann Demeulemeester, a Belgian fashion designer, presented her new fall-winter collection in Paris.

William Broad, known as Idol, turned heads at a Paris fashion show. The 70-year-old model, sporting a tasseled leather cape, black vest, and ruffled shirt, easily became the center of attention alongside the younger models.

Billy Idol, the famous rock star, is surprising fans with a new career move: modelling. This comes alongside the release of a documentary, ‘Billy Idol Should Be Dead,’ which explores both his amazing career and his often turbulent personal life.

The film addresses how Idol survived decades of excess, drug addiction and near-fatal accidents.

The singer revealed he almost died from a heroin overdose just days before a scheduled performance on Top Of The Pops in 1984, shortly after his album Rebel Yell was released.

He revealed to The Mirror that he overdosed and almost died. He traveled to America in March 1981 and returned to the UK in 1984, celebrating the success of his album Rebel Yell. He was scheduled to perform on Top of the Pops, but almost jeopardized the appearance, though no one was aware of what happened.

When we got back to London, we ran into some friends who had really strong heroin – I believe it was called Persian Brown. Everyone tried a line, and they all quickly passed out except for me and one other friend, so we did a few more.

I was in terrible condition, starting to turn blue from lack of oxygen. To cool me down quickly, medical staff put me in an ice bath and then guided me for a walk on the roof.

The rock star struggled with a difficult life fueled by addiction to heroin, marijuana, opium, alcohol, and a preoccupation with sex.

He arrived in New York with very little – just a mattress, bedding, and a guitar – and quickly started building a career in music, but this also marked the beginning of his struggle with drug addiction.

He explained that the record label provided him with funds, which he used to buy drugs – marijuana and a low-grade form of heroin. He also frequented dance clubs.

Idol first tried heroin in nightclubs and quickly became addicted, not realizing how harmful it was.

Even with his father’s help and a relocation to Los Angeles, Billy Idol struggled with staying sober for many years, repeatedly relapsing and recovering.

It wasn’t until a 1994 overdose outside a Los Angeles nightclub that Billy Idol realized he needed to change his life, and he did so for his children.

Looking back, my rock and roll days were definitely…a lot. I really pushed my limits, and honestly, put myself in some dangerous situations. But you know what? I’m in a much better place now. I’ve traded in those old habits – like going through vodka bottles onstage – and I can honestly say I’m enjoying life, and performing, more than ever before.

Singing requires a lot of breath control and physical fitness. As he explained, ‘You can’t just stand there and sing – you need to be in shape!’

It would be quite a show if I had a heart attack and died onstage, though I’d really rather just finish the performance and move on to the next one.

Billy Idol Should Be Dead premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 10th and became widely available on February 26th.

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2026-03-08 16:48