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From Drug Addict to Dentist Visit: The Amazing Transformation of this 80s Punk Rock Icon

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He was once a Rockstar icon known for leading London’s punk rock scene with his youthful anthems.

Throughout his career, his defiant personality and songwriting, accompanied by his distinctive scowl, often resulted in numerous appearances on the Billboard Top Ten.

The musician was right in the heart of the 1980s MTV-influenced Second British Invasion, embodying the spirit of pop-punk music.

However, beyond his 80s teen idol image, he was notoriously linked to struggles with drug addiction – specifically heroin, marijuana, opium, and alcohol – as well as an intense preoccupation with sex.

Over the last several decades, I’ve realized that some old habits weren’t doing me any favors. So, I decided it was high time for a change, switching gears towards a more balanced and health-conscious lifestyle. This transformation even extended to a recent visit to the dentist, ensuring my energetic stage presence is backed by good oral health too!

Can you guess who he is?

It’s Billy Idol! 

69 years old now, the generally secluded music legend stepped out of his residence to travel to a dentist’s office in Los Angeles on January 21st.

Born as William Michael Albert Broad, it seemed like Idol required more than just a simple dental check-up. He winced several times during his journey to the upscale orthodontist, Designer Smile, located in North Hollywood.

During this journey, the punk singer maintained his signature style by keeping his blond hair spiked upright, as it is customarily gelled.

He kept it comfy with an all-black set of sweatpants and two zip-up hoodies. 

With his black handbag held firmly in his left hand, and sporting silver hoop earrings, he donned a pair of black slippers as his footwear.

Currently, the renowned lead singer of Rebel Yell is adopting a more subdued lifestyle, yet he continues to rock with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts for their upcoming “It’s a Nice Day to… Tour Again” tour, which kicks off on April 30 in Phoenix, Arizona.

I reside in the vibrant city of Los Angeles, sharing my life with my cherished partner, China Chow – a remarkable woman who is the offspring of the co-founder of the renowned Mr. Chow restaurant empire, Michael.

Legendarily famous figure, who is not married, has a 35-year-old son named Willem, born to Perri Lister from Hot Gossip. He also has a 34-year-old daughter, Bonnie Blue, with Linda Mathis. Additionally, he shares another son, Brant Lee Northridge-Broad, whose existence was recently disclosed in 2023, with Perri Lister as well.

Fans were taken aback when punk rocker Brant revealed family photographs on Instagram in September 2023, surprising everyone with the news of his existence.

In the caption, Idol disclosed that an previously unacknowledged son, Brant, along with his grandkids, Mckenzie and Mason, had paid him a visit.

However, given Idol’s history of struggles with substances like heroin, marijuana, opium, alcohol, and a fixation on sex, it’s not unexpected that he might have a secret son.

In 1994, I hit rock bottom when I overdosed outside an LA club. But it was my love for my kids that propelled me to make a change and transform my life.

It’s said that he quit taking hard drugs back in 2003. However, it should be noted that he has been regularly smoking cannabis since then.

In 2019, he shared with DailyMailTV that he frequently risked his life because of his wild rock and roll lifestyle in the past. However, now he openly expresses that he appreciates it even more, and he no longer consumes vodka bottles while performing on stage.

He shared with our publication that for someone to excel as a singer, they require an abundance of breath. Fitness is essential for singers; it’s not just about being on stage.

Instead of potentially suffering a fatal heart attack during the performance, I’d rather complete this show and move on to another one. The former scenario might be intriguing, but I strongly prefer the latter.

Originally hailing from Middlesex, England, Idol subsequently relocated to Patchogue, New York at the age of two. Later, during his teenage years, they returned to England.

Billy Idol drew inspiration for his stage name from an incident during his school years, where a chemistry teacher noted him as ‘idle’ on his report card. However, it was the vibrant punk music scene of 1970s London that ultimately fostered his rise to superstardom.

He got the opportunity to become the frontman for the band Chelsea after the bass guitarist quit. 

However, in the 1980s, he achieved great success as a solo rocker after relocating to New York City (the Big Apple). There, he collaborated with Bill Aucoin, a former manager of Kiss, and took advantage of the MTV’s Second British Invasion trend.

In 1983, Idol’s “Rebel Yell” album helped establish his fame. One of his most popular songs, “Eyes Without a Face,” reached the fourth spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Even though Idol’s chart-topping days may be fewer now, his cultural impact remains substantial.

In Midtown Manhattan on April 30, 2024, Idol symbolically illuminated the Empire State Building with red and blue hues, marking the 40th anniversary of his second solo studio album Rebel Yell.

(The aim here is to rephrase the original sentence in a simpler way that maintains its meaning while sounding more conversational.)

To mark the anniversary, he released an updated version, called the ‘extended edition’, of his two-disc record. This new version included thirteen additional tracks, such as “Best Way Out of Here”, a previously unreleased track, and a cover of Rose Royce’s 1978 song “Love Don’t Live Here Anymore”.

In January 2023, Idol received a coveted star on the renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame, an occasion graced by his partner, kids, and grandkids.

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2025-01-29 22:26

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