But that’s hardly the life he’s lived across his many decades of performing. Legend has it that his stage name 'Billy Idol' was inspired by a teacher's description of him as 'idle'. First achieving fame in the ‘70s London punk rock scene as the lead singer of the group Generation X, he really made it big when he kicked off his solo career which led to international recognition and becoming a key player in the 'Second British Invasion' in the United States. William Michael Albert Broad - better known as Billy Idol - was born on this day in 1955, making him 68 today.
