Billy Idol acquired a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame yesterday (January 6) in a ceremony attended by former Black Flag singer Henry Rollins, artist Shepard Fairey, and Idol’s longtime guitarist Steve Stevens. In a tribute to Idol, Rollins praised the performer for his work as lead singer of the UK punk outfit Generation X, in addition to his personal profitable solo profession. “Billy Idol has rock n’ roll in his veins, and punk rock in his DNA,” stated Rollins. “He’s the real thing, and maybe that’s why we’re here today, ’cause decade after decade he has remained himself. And it takes a lot of guts and a lot of integrity.”
Next, Fairey gave a speech, speaking about how a lot he admired watching Idol after seeing the “White Wedding” video on MTV within the ’80s. “I was in love,” stated the artist. “I wanted to be Billy Idol. Billy was just the coolest.”
In his personal speech, Idol mirrored on a virtually 50-year profession within the music business. “It really is crazy to find myself getting an award like this, or being honored in this way,” he stated.
“I mean, 47 years of doing this after I started in Generation X, and 35 years after coming here, I just really could never have imagined anything like this,” he continued. “Initially, we did the music again within the mid-’70s in the course of the punk-rock time. There wasn’t a lot hope or something. We determined if there’s nothing, there’s no future, we’re going to do what we love. And that’s what I did. I did the music as a result of I liked it. It wasn’t for some other motive actually.
“Anyway, I didn’t really think doing this would last very long. We thought maybe six months, maybe a year, maybe two years. I could never have imagined something like this. It’s just incredible.”
Watch Idol’s full induction beneath.