It is never not cool to be able to cover new Billy Idol music, especially when it sounds as iconic as the nine tracks featured across the former Generation X’er front man’s ninth full-length! Now an elder statesman of a scene Idol once helped build, Dream Into It is a nostalgic nod to his past but with both boots firmly placed in the present.
Then there’s the all-star cast of musicians surrounding Idol on his latest musical journey that includes, among others, Josh Freese (A Perfect Circle, Devo Foo Fighters) on (most) drums, Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction, AC/DC, Alanis Morissette) on bass, and the ever-present… Angus Young to his Brian Johnson? Richie Sambora to his Jon Bon Jovi? Eddie Van Halen to his David Lee Roth? See where we’re going here? Anyway! We’re obviously talking about the legend in his own right, guitar virtuoso Steve Stevens!
As for the music? Pure Idol from start to finish. “Dream Into It” is an introspective opener with glistening guitars and Idol’s smooth croon bouncing off a click track, “Too Much Fun” is a modern Rawk-fueled anthem that’s sure to bring out that signature sneer and raised first when played live, and “People I Love” is another driving modern Pop Punk banger from Idol.
In addition to the guests helping to craft the foundation of Dream Into It, there’s also a few notable vocalists making appearances along the way beginning with an artist who definitely could’ve been considered the next Idol when she burst onto the scene in 2002, Avril Lavigne, on the nostalgic run down memory lane in “77” with some signature Stevens shreds the topping on the cake. Alison Mosshart arrives for the New Wave Pop banger “John Wayne” a little later on while upcoming tourmate Joan Jett (With Jett’s band The Blackhearts, the pair hit the road this Summer with more details below) lends her own legendary talent to “Wildside” as do Dougie Needles and Kenny Laguna of The Blackhearts on background vox.
Lead single/closing track “Still Dancing” is so strong that we didn’t care if the rest of Dream Into It was filled with new Xmas jams (It was not. And, for the record, we do in fact have a physical copy of the superb 2006 Happy Holidays) as it transported listeners back to the Rebel Yell era style-wise but was filled with modern flourishes thanks to producer/co-conspirator Tommy English and is easily the most iconic and memorable single Idol has delivered in the 21st Century with the singer’s uncanny vocal delivery and Steven’s fiery licks playing off each other like it was their first time discovering that undeniable magic the duo has had for 40+ years at this point.
Dream Into It drops on April 25th on Dark Horse Records and you can get pre-order/pre-save your copy now by heading here. For more from Billy Idol, including all the dates of the upcoming It’s A Nice Day To… Tour Again! summer round of shows featuring Joan Jett & The Blackhearts which stops at Mansfield’s Xfinity Center on August 23rd, stay tuned to the socials when you click here, here, here, or here.