Audacy host Jolene was thrilled to welcome the ultimate Idol -- Billy Idol -- for a special Check In, getting details about his upcoming tour dates kicking off in April with Joan Jett, and plenty more.
Billy Idol is returning to the road this Spring for his 'It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again! Tour.' Kicking off in Phoenix on April 30, the trek will feature special guests Joan Jett & the Blackhearts who will join Idol at all stops including New York’s Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles’ Kia Forum, Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, and more.
But first congratulations are in order for Idol, who was nominated for inclusion in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. “It's very exciting… it's an incredible honor,” Billy says. “The best news is Steve Stephens being inducted with me, so that really made my day. I don't wanna be up there on my own, so, it’ll be great.”
As promised, new music from Idol is also here with his just-released 2025 single "Still Dancing." the initial offering from 'Dream Into It,' his first full-length album since 2014’s 'Kings & Queens of the Underground.'
“We were making a documentary the last few years, it kept getting interrupted by the coronavirus,” he explains, “but because of that it kind of really made me aware that at this stage in my life, I could really look over the landscape of my life and really sort of talk about that. ‘Still Dancing,’ the song itself is like my life encapsulated into one song, but the album itself actually tells the story of my life.”
“It goes through the sort of Punk Rock era in 1977," Billy adds. "There's a song ‘77’ that talks about coming to America and going solo and then all the shenanigans that happened in between. So, it really does tell the story of my life. The track selection -- normally in the old days you always put the hit single first and the next best song second, but we really did this in the order of my life.”
The single “Still Dancing,” he says, “had the most obvious sound of a Billy Idol record that you recognize, but at the same time it's really fresh and vital, and that's what I feel about the album. I feel that there's not a bad song on it, and I think it's probably one of my best records. Just being able to say that at this time in my life and being inducted into the Hall of Fame all in one go, it's pretty amazing. It's gonna be an incredible year, whatever happens.”
Looking back on his stellar career, “It's been a long ride,” Billy says, “but the ride's all I've known.” And the ride continues this year as he hits the road on his 'It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again!' outing with his pal, Joan Jett.
One of the songs on the forthcoming album, “Wildside,” he says, is “a duet with Joan. So, not only is she gonna be on the tour, but we'll probably be doing one of the songs live, I expect.” Over the years Billy recalls, “We have done some gigs together, but we've never done a tour, so a lot of people are really excited about it as well… it seems like it's a good move.”
Finally, Billy says, “I can’t wait to play the music, that’s the thing. It’s gonna be a great year because we haven’t played any of this music live, so it’s all gonna be fresh to us when we get out there.”
Don't miss Jolene's full Check In with the Billy Idol above, and stay with Audacy for more interviews from your favorite artists. Plus, follow along with Billy Idol Radio on the free Audacy app.
Words by Joe Cingrana, Interview by Jolene
