William Michael Albert Broad was born in Middlesex, England, on 30th
November 1955. His parents Bill and Joan Broad moved the family to
Long Island, New York, when he was 2. There they lived for 4 years during which Billy got a little sister, Jane.
Billy's stage name Billy Idol was apparently from a teacher who
wrote 'Billy is Idle' when marking his homework. Billy's first
band was named Chelsea then Generation X who signed to Chrysalis Records in
1977.
His acting debut was in 1991 motion picture
The Doors. His role in the film was reduced after a motorcycle accident
the previous year. For the filming of the music video for "Cradle of Love", he was paralysed from the waist down
(due to his motorcycle accident) and had to be filmed from the torso up.
