BILLY IDOL - REBEL YELL

REBEL YELL

BILLY IDOL

SONGWRITERS: BILLY IDOL & STEVE STEVENS

COUNTRY: U.K.

ALBUM: REBEL YELL

LABEL: ELETRIC LADY STUDIOS

GENRE: ROCK

YEAR: 1983

Rebel Yell is the second studio album by English rock musician Billy Idol. It was released on 10 November 1983, by Chrysalis Records. After the release of his 1982 eponymous debut album, Idol continued his collaboration with Keith Forsey and Steve Stevens. The album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York. Initially recording without a drummer, utilizing only the electronic drum machine LinnDrum, Forsey and Stevens later decided to hire Thommy Price to play drums on some of the songs. Musically, Rebel Yell is a rock album with a strong influence of new wave music. The cover sleeve and images were shot by Brian Griffin. Idol got the idea of the album's title after attending a party with The Rolling Stones and drinking the Rebel Yell whiskey.

Upon its release, Rebel Yell received positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success. In the United States, it peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and also peaked into the top ten in other countries, such as Canada, Germany and New Zealand. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it double platinum for shipment of two million copies across the United States. Four singles were released from the album. The accompanying music videos for all singles received heavy airplay on television channel MTV.

William Michael Albert Broad (born 30 November 1955), known professionally as Billy Idol, is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor who holds dual British and American citizenship. He first achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as a member of Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the United States. The name "Billy Idol" was inspired by a schoolteacher's description of him as "idle".

Idol began his music career in late 1976 as a guitarist in the punk rock band Chelsea. However, he soon left the group. With his former bandmate Tony James, Idol formed the band Generation X. With Idol as lead singer, the band achieved success in the United Kingdom and released three albums on Chrysalis Records, then disbanded. In 1981, Idol moved to New York City to pursue his solo career in collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens. His debut studio album, Billy Idol(1982), was a commercial success. With music videos for singles "Dancing with Myself" and "White Wedding" Idol soon became a staple of then-newly established MTV.

Idol's second studio album, Rebel Yell (1983), was a major commercial success, featuring hit singles "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without a Face". The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of two million copies in the U.S. In 1986, he released Whiplash Smile. Having accumulated three UK top 10 singles ("Rebel Yell", "White Wedding" and "Mony Mony") Idol released a 1988 greatest hits album titled Idol Songs: 11 of the Best; the album went platinum in the United Kingdom. Idol then released Charmed Life(1990) and the concept album Cyberpunk(1993).

Idol spent the second half of the 1990s out of the public eye focusing on his personal life. He made a musical comeback with the release of Devil's Playground (2005) and again with Kings & Queens of the Underground(2014).

Last night a little dancer came dancing to my door

Last night a little angel came pumping on the floor

She said, come on baby, You got a license for love

And if it expires, pray help from above

Because in the midnight hour, she cried more, more, more

With a rebel yell she cried more, more, more

In the midnight hour babe more, more, more

With a rebel yell more, more, more, more, more, more

She don't like slavery, she won't sit and beg

But when I'm tired and lonely she sees me to bed

What set you free and brought you to me, babe

What set you free, I need you here by me, because

In the midnight hour, she cried more, more, more

With a rebel yell she cried more, more, more

In the midnight hour babe more, more, more

With a rebel yell more, more, more

He lives in his own Heaven

Collects it to go from the seven eleven

Well he's out all night to collect a fare

Just so long, just so long it don't mess up his hair

I walked the ward for you, babe

A thousand miles for you

I dried your tears of pain, babe

A million times for you

I'd sell my soul for you, babe

For money to burn with you

I'd give you all and have none, babe

Just to, just to, just to, just to have you here by me, because

In the midnight hour, she cried more, more, more

With a rebel yell she cried more, more, more

In the midnight hour babe more, more, more

With a rebel yell she cried more, more, more, more, more, more

Oh yeah, little baby

She wants more, more, more, more, more, more

Oh yeah, little angel

She wants more, more, more, more, more, more.