Billy Idol discography | |
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![]() Steve Stevens (left) and Billy Idol, 2003 | |
Studio albums | 9 |
EPs | 3 |
Live albums | 2 |
Compilation albums | 7 |
Singles | 38 |
Video albums | 7 |
Music videos | 29 |
The discography of Billy Idol who has sold 40 million records worldwide. [1] His solo recordings post-Generation X, consists of seven studio albums, one live album, seven compilation albums, three extended plays, and 37 singles. In 1982 Idol released his self titled debut album. The album debuted at number 45 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 in New Zealand. The album has since been certified platinum by the Music Canada and RMNZ. [2] He followed this up with Rebel Yell in 1983, the album quickly became a commercial success peaking at number 6 on the Billboard 200 and number 2 in both Germany and New Zealand. This album produced the two hit singles one being the title track “Rebel Yell" and the other “Eyes Without a Face” which reached number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Rebel Yell” also garnered Idol his first Grammy nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 27th Annual Grammy Awards. [3] The album has since been certified platinum by the RIAA, RMNZ, Music Canada and Pro-Música Brasil. [4] [5] [6] [7]
Idols third studio album Whiplash Smile became an even bigger commercial success then its predecessor, charting at number 3 in Finland, number 4 in both Sweden and Switzerland, along with charting in the top 10 in 7 other countries. His single "To Be a Lover" peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 3 in both Australia and Finland and number 2 in the New Zealand. The song also garnered him another nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards. [8] The album has since been certified platinum in the US, Canada and New Zealand. [9] [10]
A remix album was released in 1987, titled Vital Idol . The album featured a live rendition of his cover of Tommy James' "Mony Mony". In 1987, the single topped the United States chart and reached number 7 in the UK. [11] [12] The following year in 1988 a compilation album titled Idol Songs: 11 of the Best was released, it charted at number 2 in both the UK and Iceland along with reaching number 1 in Finland. It has since gone platinum multiple countries. [13] [14]
In 1990 Idol released his fourth studio album Charmed Life it charted in the top ten in 7 countries along with peaking at number 4 in Switzerland, 3 in New Zealand along with topping the charts in Finland. It produced the single “Cradle of Love” which peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 along with topping the US Mainstream Rock Charts. The single also earned Idol a third Grammy nomination for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards. The album has since been certified gold by the RIAA and Canada Music.
In 1993 he released his fifth studio album Cyberpunk achieving moderate chart success peaking within the top 20 in 7 countries, along with getting into the top 10 in Austria and Finland. In 2002 he released a semi-acoustic live album titled VH1 Storytellers. Then following a 12 year hiatus Idol released Devil's Playground in 2005 the album reached No. 46 on the Billboard 200 and charted the highest in Germany at number 15. The following year he released a Christmas album titled Happy Holidays .
Following another hiatus of 8 years, Idol released Kings & Queens of the Underground which debuted at number 34 on the Billboard 200, along with charting a number 10 in Switzerland and 8 in Germany. Following 11 in between albums Idol released his 9th and most recent album Dream into it 2025. The album charted in the top 5 in both Switzerland and Austria with its highest placement peaking a number 2 in Germany.
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [15] | AUS [16] | AUT [17] | FIN [18] | GER [19] | NZ [20] | NOR [21] | SWE [22] | SWI [23] | US [24] | ||||||||||
Billy Idol | — | 66 | — | — | — | 5 | — | 49 | — | 45 | |||||||||
Rebel Yell |
| 36 | 16 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 16 | 6 | ||||||||
Whiplash Smile |
| 8 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||
Charmed Life |
| 15 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 11 | ||||||||
Cyberpunk |
| 20 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 13 | — | 19 | 11 | 15 | 48 | ||||||||
Devil's Playground |
| 78 | — | 34 | — | 15 | — | — | 40 | 32 | 46 | ||||||||
Happy Holidays |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
Kings & Queens of the Underground |
| 35 | 81 | 17 | — | 8 | — | — | — | 10 | 34 | ||||||||
Dream Into It |
| 79 | — | 5 | — | 2 | — | — | — | 3 | — | ||||||||
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not released. |
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |
---|---|---|---|
GER [19] | SWI [23] | ||
VH1 Storytellers |
| 14 | 76 |
BFI Live! |
| — | — |
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not released. |
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales thresholds) | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [15] [30] | AUS [16] | AUT [17] | FIN [18] | GER [19] | NZ [20] | NOR [21] | SWE [22] | SWI [23] | US [24] | ||||||||||
Vital Idol (1985 International Version) |
| 7 | 38 | — | 17 | 8 | 8 | — | 19 | 24 | — |
| |||||||
Vital Idol (1987 New US Edition) |
| 41 | 12 | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | — | 10 | ||||||||
Idol Songs: 11 of the Best |
| 2 | 11 | 11 | 1 | 14 | — | 4 | 4 | 6 | — | ||||||||
Greatest Hits |
| 171 | — | 43 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 30 | 74 | ||||||||
The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself |
| 37 | — | — | — | 38 | 39 | — | — | 72 | 77 | ||||||||
Icon |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
Vital Idol: Revitalized |
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not released. |
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
US [24] | ||
Don't Stop |
| 71 |
The Roadside |
| 176 |
The Cage |
| — |
Starting with the 1983 re-release of "White Wedding", Chrysalis issued Idol's singles with an "Idol" vanity catalogue numbering system, which lasted for roughly seven years and sixteen singles (including various re-issues) until the release of "Prodigal Blues" in 1990.
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [15] | AUS [16] | AUT [17] | FIN [18] | GER [19] | NL [32] | NZL [20] | SWI [23] | SWE [22] | US [33] | ||||||||||
1981 | "Dancing with Myself" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Don't Stop | |||||||
"Mony Mony" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
1982 | "Hot in the City" | 58 | 18 | 5 | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 23 | Billy Idol | |||||||
"White Wedding" | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 36 | |||||||||
1983 | "Dancing with Myself" (re-release) | — | 42 | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | Don't Stop | |||||||
1984 | "Rebel Yell" | 62 | 7 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 46 | Rebel Yell | |||||||
"Eyes Without a Face" | 18 | 12 | — | — | 10 | 13 | 4 | 21 | — | 4 |
| ||||||||
"Flesh for Fantasy" | 54 | 28 | — | — | 11 | — | 5 | 20 | — | 29 | |||||||||
"Catch My Fall" | — | 61 | — | — | 11 | — | 42 | — | — | 50 | |||||||||
1985 | "White Wedding" (UK re-release) | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Vital Idol | ||||||
"Rebel Yell" (UK re-release) | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rebel Yell | |||||||
1986 | "To Be a Lover" | 22 | 3 | — | 3 | 28 | — | 2 | 7 | 8 | 6 | Whiplash Smile | |||||||
1987 | "Don't Need a Gun" | 26 | 22 | — | 8 | 36 | — | 27 | 29 | — | 37 | ||||||||
"Sweet Sixteen" | 17 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 12 | — | 20 | |||||||||
"Soul Standing By" (Aus & NZ only) | — | 93 | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | — | — | |||||||||
"Mony Mony" (Live) | 7 | 8 | — | 4 | 38 | 89 | 2 | 13 | — | 1 | Vital Idol / Idol Songs | ||||||||
"Hot in the City" (remix) | 13 | 58 | — | 3 | 6 | 40 | 19 | 19 | — | 48 | |||||||||
1988 | "Catch My Fall" (UK re-release) | 63 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||||||||
"—" denotes the single failed to chart or was not released. |
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Certifications | Album | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [15] | AUS [16] | FIN [18] | GER [19] | NZL [20] | SWI [23] | SWE [22] | US [33] | US Alt | US Main. | ||||||||||
1990 | "Cradle of Love" | 34 | 10 | 8 | 38 | 16 | 11 | — | 2 | 7 | 1 | Charmed Life | |||||||
"L.A. Woman" | 70 | 34 | — | — | 25 | — | — | 52 | — | 18 | |||||||||
"Prodigal Blues" | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 35 | |||||||||
1993 | "Heroin" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Cyberpunk | |||||||
"Shock to the System" | 30 | 28 | — | — | 5 | 37 | 25 | 105 | 23 | 7 | |||||||||
"Adam in Chains" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||||||
1994 | "Speed" | 47 | 33 | — | — | 40 | — | 39 | — | — | 38 | Speed: Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture | |||||||
"—" denotes the single failed to chart or was not released. |
Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GER [19] | US AAA | US Adult Pop [34] | US Airplay | US Main. | |||||||||||||||
2001 | "Don't You (Forget About Me)" | — | — | — | — | — | Greatest Hits | ||||||||||||
2005 | "Scream" | 54 | — | — | — | 26 | Devil's Playground | ||||||||||||
2008 | "John Wayne" | — | — | — | — | — | The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself | ||||||||||||
2014 | "Can't Break Me Down" | — | 15 | — | — | — | Kings & Queens of the Underground | ||||||||||||
2021 | "Bitter Taste" | — | 15 | — | 45 | — | The Roadside | ||||||||||||
2022 | "Cage" | — | — | — | — | — | The Cage | ||||||||||||
2025 | "Still Dancing" | — | — | — | — | — | Dream Into It | ||||||||||||
"77" (featuring Avril Lavigne) | — | — | 22 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
"—" denotes the single failed to chart or was not released. |
Year | Song | Album |
---|---|---|
1993 | "Wasteland" (UK Jukebox 7" and US promo CD) | Cyberpunk |
"Aftershock" (Spanish promo 12") | ||
2005 | "Cherie" (EU and US promo CD) | Devil's Playground |
"Sherri" (German promo CD) | ||
"Rat Race" (US promo CD) | ||
"Plastic Jesus" (German promo CD) | ||
"Yellin' at the Xmas Tree" (EU and US promo CD) | ||
2008 | "New Future Weapon" (German promo CD) | The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself |
2014 | "Save Me Now" | Kings & Queens of the Underground |
Year | Song(s) | Album |
---|---|---|
1990 | "Lovechild" | Nobody's Child: Romanian Angel Appeal |
1994 | "Cradle of Love" (Live) | Grammy's Greatest Moments Volume I by Various artists [35] |
2000 | "Buried Alive" | Heavy Metal 2000 OST by Various artists |
"Into the Night" | Iommi by Tony Iommi | |
2006 | "In the Summertime" (with Derek Sherinian & Slash) | Blood of the Snake by Derek Sherinian |
"Tomorrow Never Knows" | Butchering the Beatles - A Headbashing Tribute by Various artists | |
"For What It's Worth" (Live) "Rebel Yell" (Live) | The Bridge School Collection, Vol. 1 by Various artists | |
2011 | "Kiss Me Deadly" (Live) "Running With the Boss Sound" (Live) | The Bridge School Collection, Vol. 5 by Various artists |
2020 | "Night Crawling" | Plastic Hearts by Miley Cyrus |
Year | Album | Peak chart positions | Certification | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AUS DVD [36] | HUN [37] | ||||||||||||||||||
1987 | Vital Idol
| — | — | ||||||||||||||||
1991 | The Charmed Life and Other Vital Videos
| — | — | ||||||||||||||||
1993 | Cyberpunk: Shock to the System
| — | — | ||||||||||||||||
2002 | VH1 Storytellers
| 17 | 20 |
| |||||||||||||||
2008 | The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself (DVD part)
| — | — | ||||||||||||||||
2009 | In Super Overdrive Live
| — | — | ||||||||||||||||
2011 | No Religion Live
| — | — | ||||||||||||||||
"—" denotes the album failed to chart or was not released. |
Year | Title | Director |
---|---|---|
1982 | "Hot in the City" a | Larry Jordan |
"White Wedding" | David Mallet | |
1983 | "Dancing with Myself" | Tobe Hooper |
1984 | "Rebel Yell" | Jeff Stein |
"Eyes Without a Face" | David Mallet | |
"Flesh for Fantasy" | Howard Deutch | |
1985 | "Catch My Fall" | David Mallet |
1986 | "To Be a Lover" | |
1987 | "Don't Need a Gun" | Julien Temple |
"Sweet Sixteen" b | Billy Idol | |
"Mony Mony" (Live) | Larry Jordan | |
1990 | "Cradle of Love" c | David Fincher |
"L.A. Woman" | ||
"Prodigal Blues" | - | |
1993 | "Heroin" d | Brett Leonard |
"Shock to the System" e | ||
"Adam in Chains" | Julien Temple | |
1994 | "Speed" | - |
2005 | "Scream" | - |
"Plastic Jesus" | - | |
"Yellin' at the Xmas Tree" | - | |
2006 | "In the Summertime" (with Derek Sherinian & Slash) | - |
"Jingle Bell Rock" | - | |
"Happy Holiday" | - | |
"White Christmas" | - | |
"Winter Wonderland" | - | |
2014 | "Can't Break Me Down" | Jason Trucco |
2015 | "Save Me Now" | Tom Kirk |
2021 | "Bitter Taste" | Steven Sebring |
2022 | "Cage" | |
"Running from the Ghost" | Spencer Ramsey | |
2025 | "Still Dancing" | Steven Sebring |
^a Versions of "Hot in the City":
^b Versions of "Sweet Sixteen":
^c Versions of "Cradle of Love":
^d Versions of "Heroin":
^e Versions of "Shock to the System":