Billy Idol

Back in the late 1970s, Billy Idol rejected the punk rock scene that was rampant across England. Unsatisfied with punk's minimalist and flippant approach to making music, he looked to other avenues for inspiration and found salvation in the emerging New Wave scene. Embracing music technology and a polished aesthetic, Idol made attitude-drenched songs with hooky choruses and anthemic lyrics. His distinctive aesthetic, captured perfectly on albums like 1983's Rebel Yell, resonated well with mainstream audiences that wanted a bit more edge to their music. Idol continues to release music such as the 2014 LP, Kings & Queens of the Underground.