Billy Idol lived in Worthing, England before attending Sussex University for only one year before joining the Bromley Contingent of Sex Pistols fans. Idol first joined the punk rock band Siouxsie & the Banshees (before the band had decided on a name) in 1976, but soon quit and joined Chelsea in 1977 as a guitarist. However, he and Chelsea bandmate Tony James soon quit that group and co-founded Generation X, with Idol switching from guitar to lead singer.

Generation X signed to Chrysalis Records and released three albums before breaking up. Idol moved to New York and began working as a solo artist and working with Steve Stevens, soon becoming an MTV staple with "White Wedding" and "Dancing with Myself", the latter of which had originally been recorded with Generation X.

In 1983, in an effort to introduce Idol to American audiences not yet as familiar with him as those in England, "Dancing With Myself" was released in the U.S. in conjunction with a music-video (directed by Tobe Hooper, produced by Jeffrey Abelson, and conceptualised by Keith Williams) that played in heavy rotation on MTV for six months. That video, in fact, sparked a whole new era of feature film directors trying their hand at music videos. Along with "White Wedding," the "Dancing With Myself" video helped make Idol a household name in America.

"White Wedding" was rumored to be a "nasty put down" by Idol and then-girlfriend Perri Lister, directed at Idol's sister for thinking that getting married was the answer to getting pregnant. In the 2001 recording of VH1 Storytellers, Idol refutes that, saying his sister's wedding was simply inspiration for the song, which quickly took on its own form. Years after the video, Idol's sister is still married with three children. Idol and Perri broke up in 1990. They have a son together named Willem Wolfe Broad.

Soon after, Billy Idol was involved in a relationship with a woman of the name Linda Mathis (born and raised in Pasadena, California). Though there was a thirteen year age difference, they began seeing each other regularly. At the age of 19, Linda became pregnant, and chose to move in with her mother to have her child. Linda had the child on 21 August 1989, and named her child Bonnie Blue Broad.

Idol's second LP, Rebel Yell (1984) was a blockbuster success, and established Idol's superstar status in the United States with hits like "Eyes Without a Face", "Flesh For Fantasy", and the title cut; Idol also became very popular in Europe thanks to this album and its singles, particularly in Germany, Italy, Switzerland and later in his native UK.

Billy released Whiplash Smile in 1986, which sold very well. The album included the hits "To Be a Lover", "Don't Need a Gun" and the country-flavored "Sweet Sixteen."

A remix album was released in 1987 called, "Vital Idol". The album featured a live cover of Tommy James' "Mony Mony". The single did well topping the US charts in 1987.

Steve Stevens parted ways with Idol after Whiplash Smile. In 1986, Steve appeared with Harold Faltermeyer on the Top Gun soundtrack. Their contribution was the instrumental, "Top Gun Anthem". Steve decided to go solo creating his own band called, "Steve Stevens and the Atomic Playboys."

Billy was involved in a serious motorcycle accident in February of 1990. He was hit by a car while driving home from the studio one night. The accident almost cost Billy his leg. Doctors managed to pull him through, but against his doctors' orders, Billy set out to promote his new album.