“Billy Idol Should Be Dead” was one of the independent films that made its debut at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which ran from June 4-15. As a credentialed critic, it was one of the films I had the opportunity to screen virtually.
The title of this documentary doesn’t reflect the words of an angry fan or music critic.
It is instead, an observation and acknowledgement that the legendary punk rocker known as Billy Idol miraculously survived all the things that would have put any of us mere mortals in an early grave. Taking into account all that he’s been through in his crazy rock ‘n’ roll life, he really should be dead by now. The title isn’t an overstatement.
His life story fits comfortably within the rock legends saga that is all too familiar. MTV once created a series about it (“Behind the Music”), featuring famous bands and performers. The story was always the same — the tale of rags to riches success laid waste by the dark forces of sex, drugs and pure excess. It could be summed up in the Eagles song “Life in the Fast Lane.”
In the case of rock documentaries, we pretty much know the ending. The celebrity either dies or somehow overcomes his or her destructive demons. In Billy Idol’s case, we know that he’s still alive.
What we might not know are the details of his past. Those details would include his early years as a shy, middle-class kid growing up in England. Realizing he wasn’t a very bright student, he chose to pursue music, inspired by the likes of Elvis Presley and the early rock pioneers.
He transformed from a quiet kid to a rebellious rocker just as the punk rock movement exploded. It wasn’t long before William Broad (Idol’s real name) started sporting his signature spikey blond hairstyle and defiant, delinquent, in-your-face snarl. Lucky breaks put him in touch with the likes of Mark Bolan of T-Rex fame, who featured Idol and his band on Bolan’s popular TV show. It was a milestone moment.
Idol’s arrival in the United States is the stuff of rock ‘n’ roll legend. His emergence coincided with the launching of MTV in August of 1981. In those early days, MTV’s mission was to provide nonstop, round-the-clock video music. It provided a springboard for artists like Idol who could fill the need for programming content with slickly produced hit song videos like “Rebel Yell.”
The song became an early MTV anthem with its pounding beat, visual flash and a handsome rock star icon for the ‘80s, dressed in skintight leather pants. His stage attitude oozed swagger, self-confidence and a hint of S&M naughtiness just under the surface. In the tradition of rock stardom dating back to Elvis, he was everything parents feared and everything teenagers secretly fantasized about. He had it all.
Inevitably, colossal fame can become a Faustian bargain. One’s soul can be lost in the process. And so, it was with Billy Idol, who spiraled into a world of drugs and addiction. When asked what he intended to do with his ever-increasing wealth, he flippantly said he’d spend it on drugs. He meant it.
On more than one occasion, his addiction and overdosing nearly cost him his life. Idol’s father, who was never a fan of his son’s celebrity existence, flew to New York from England to help his son through months of difficult recovery.
The major revelation in the film is the personal side of Idol’s life. We know much of the public side including the drugs and the tragic motorcycle accident in 1990 that almost resulted in the amputation of his leg. What we don’t necessarily know is the story of Billy Idol the son, husband, father and grandfather. There is a softer side to this hard rocker.
“Billy Idol Should Be Dead” may not be the best documentary every produced. Much of it is predictable. What should be shocking often isn’t, considering the subject matter. What it does offer are some sweet surprises about a man who followed his dream, got lost along the way, but managed to redeem himself in the end. It’s a joy when stories like this have a happy ending, and a guy like Idol lives up to his stage name.
Rating: PG-13
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The Tribeca Film Festival was co-founded by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal in 2002 following 9/11 as part of an effort to revitalize Lower Manhattan in New York City. It has become one of the industry’s most prestigious annual events. This year’s program included 118 feature films representing 95 world premieres, 135 filmmakers and 36 countries. There are always guest appearances from stars and directors.
When I attended the festival in 2019, a definitive director’s cut of “Apocalypse Now” was introduced by Robert Duvall, who brought the audience to loud applause with his recreation of the famous “Charlie don’t surf” line, followed by a live interview with Francis Ford Coppola. It was unforgettable.
Tribeca 2026 will take place June 3-14 in New York City.
Drew’s Take:
“Billy Idol Should Be Dead” is a probing look into the life of rock legend, Billy Idol. As every good documentary should do, it touches upon the good, the bad and the ugly.
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