It’s 21 years since Billy Idol stormed the charts with Rebel Yell and he’s not showing any signs of growing old gracefully (this afterall is the man who shaves his testicles to remove any signs of grey hair). But after the appalling techno/dreadlock disaster of 1993’s Cyberpunk it has to be said that this is a bit of a return to form.
The shock of peroxide spikes on his head has reappeared and with it comes his old unique brand of punk pop. When he roars “Make me scream all night long” (on ‘Scream’) it’s like he’s never been away. ‘Super Overdrive’ is also a trademark Idol rocker helped along by Steve Steven’s turbo charged guitar.
Besides that (and a lot of filler – 13 tracks where 8 would suffice) we’re treated to the country japery of ‘Plastic Jesus’ (an ode to a novelty car dashboard toy) and a festive tale about Billy’s drunken father (‘Yellin’ at the Christmas Tree’). It goes something like this: “Santa’s balls are jinglin’ / Mummy’s hips are wigglin’ / But Daddy he don’t hear them / He’s yellin’ at the Christmas tree”.
What Devil’s Playground amounts to is some very good news for Billy Idol fans – he’s back and (give or take a few pubic hairs) he’s just like he was before.
Listen to this if: you still labour under the misapprehension that the 1980s were (in any way, shape or form) cool.
By Andy McLean. Copyright held by author.
Article first published in The Brag, Sydney, 2004.
Devil's Playground is available through Boomtown Records.
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