Billy Idol bringing ‘Rebel Yell’ to Quebec City 

Peter Black

Local Journalism Initiative reporter

peterblack@qctonline.com

Though it’s hard to imagine Billy Idol wielding a hockey stick, there is a Canadian shinny connection to the legendary British rocker. 

Back in April, Idol opened the Saturday night edition of Hockey Night in Canada, which featured a montage of hockey action and hockey fans set to Idol’s hard-driving hit “Rebel Yell.” He was later interviewed live on the broadcast.

The appearance was also a promotion for his 13-date Canadian tour that began July 30 in Vancouver and rolls into Quebec City on Aug. 19 for a date at the Videotron Centre.

The tour is built around the reissue of Idol’s double-platinum Rebel Yell album that featured the title track and other hits including “Eyes Without a Face” and “Flesh for Fantasy.” He will be performing with his longtime guitarist and songwriting collaborator Steve Stevens.

Idol, born William Broad, first found fame with his 1982 self-titled debut album, which included such hits as “White Wedding” and “Dancing with Myself.” Prior to his solo career, he released three albums with Generation X, a British punk band.

Idol, now 68, produced a documentary, released last year, about performing a concert at the gigantic Hoover Dam in the United States, a gig he did partly to draw attention to one of his social causes, the future of water supply. 

Opening for Idol will be Canada’s definitive 1980s hair band, Platinum Blonde, who first toured with Idol and Bryan Adams in 1985. 

For more information and tickets, visit lecentrevideotron.ca/en/2024/04/08/billy-idol-at-the-videotron-centre.