Billy Idol “Rebel Yell” released 40 years ago today, November 10th, 1983. Rebel Yell was Idol’s second solo release; its title (and title track “Rebel Yell”) were inspired by the brand of bourbon he consumed while partying with the Rolling Stones. While not really punk – it’s waaayyy too slick and polished, has a ton of pop and metal sensibilities and ended up going to #6 on the US album chart (#36 UK) – it was the first “punk” record I remember my parents being mildly horrified by (I was 12 years old). They were even more undone by his sometimes disturbing (for the early 80’s) videos and signature lip-curling sneer. I thought he was hot! (probably why they got a bit bent out of shape as it did turn out to be harbinger for my tastes in music and guys in my subsequent teenage years).

Idol released four singles from Rebel Yell: the title track (which reached #46 in the US, #6 in the UK), “Eyes Without a Face” (#4 US, #18 UK) which I still listen to quite a bit as it works well in yoga flow playlists, “Flesh for Fantasy” (#29 US, #54 UK – I’m pretty sure it was this song that did my parents in) and “Catch My Fall” (#50 US, #63 UK) and all of the videos were on heavy rotation on MTV. The other tracks on Rebel Yell are just OK but there is lots of very competent shredding via guitarist Steve Stevens. (Side note: this post is a rework of a blog I did on Rebel Yell  back on its anniversary in 2017. I guess Wiki has edited its page entry on Stevens and sadly removed the punch line from this part of the bio: “Stevens has played for Michael Jackson, Ric Ocasek, Robert Palmer, and many others. Sometimes he smokes a cigarette while playing a song.”)