Generation X “Generation X” 1978. Today, November 30th, is Billy Idol’s birthday (b. William Broad 1955): Idol co-founded Generation X with other ex-Chelsea bandmates in ‘76 and released this debut album in 1978.

Unabashedly glammy pop-punk, the album is rocking melodic with lyrical “whoo-wee-oohs” liberally sprinkled throughout, a decidedly more New York Dolls meets Buzzcock-ish punk sound than The Clash or Sex Pistols. They even give a tease to future 80′s hair metal bands (with a very British punk sneer) on the power ballad “Kiss Me Deadly.” Generation X reached #29 on the UK charts, the single “Ready Steady Go” made it to #47 in March of ‘78. “One Hundred Punks” is a great power-pop track, probably one of my favorite songs on the album. This is the US release which has a different track listing than the UK version, including a cover of John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth.”