DANCING WITH MYSELF

Billy Idol was among British punk's first wave, beginning with Generation X in the late seventies, and going on to become one of the first punk acts to succeed in the video medium in the eighties. To many, he defined the look, style, and snarl of punk, and he's not afraid to claim the mantle. He narrates his memoir in his unmistakable Cockney accent, which befits the more lurid tales of excess as well as the poignant sincerity lurking beneath the narrative. His voice, thick as London fog, is so integral to the book itself that, in many ways, it sets a new standard of authenticity for for any would-be autobiographer. And authenticity, of course--as opposed to solid musical chops--is what defines punk. J.S.H. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2015]