William Michael Albert Broad, known professionally as Billy Idol, is a Brit… Read Full Bio ↴William Michael Albert Broad, known professionally as Billy Idol, is a British singer, songwriter, musician and actor. He also holds United States citizenship. He first achieved fame in the 1970s emerging from the London punk rock scene as the lead singer of the group Generation X. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo career which led to international recognition and made Idol a lead artist during the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" in the US. The name "Billy Idol" was inspired by a schoolteacher's description of him as "idle".

Idol began his music career in late 1976 as a guitarist in the punk rock band Chelsea. However, he soon left the group. With his former bandmate Tony James, Idol formed Generation X. With Idol as lead singer, the band achieved success in the United Kingdom and released three studio albums on Chrysalis Records, then disbanded. In 1981, Idol moved to New York City to pursue his solo career in collaboration with guitarist Steve Stevens. His debut studio album, Billy Idol (1982), was a commercial success. With music videos for singles "Dancing with Myself" and "White Wedding" Idol soon became a staple of then newly-established MTV.

Idol's second studio album, Rebel Yell (1983), was a major commercial success, featuring hit singles "Rebel Yell" and "Eyes Without a Face". The album was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipment of two million copies in the US. In 1986, he released Whiplash Smile. Having accumulated three UK top 10 singles ("Rebel Yell", "White Wedding" and "Mony Mony"), Idol released a 1988 greatest hits album titled Idol Songs: 11 of the Best; the album went platinum in the United Kingdom. Idol then released Charmed Life (1990) and the concept album Cyberpunk (1993).

Idol spent the second half of the 1990s focusing on his personal life out of the public eye. He made a musical comeback with the release of Devil's Playground (2005) and again with Kings & Queens of the Underground (2014).

Kiss Me Deadly
Billy Idol Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The greyhound's rocking out tonight
To maximum rockabilly
When two punks chose to risk the subway
For a tube to Picadilly
And the Zephrys stir fast gangs for glory
Another dumb casualty
Having fun
In South West six

When a hidden flick knife flicks
Kiss me deadly tonight

Another battle was won and lost
Down The Bishops End last night
Spotlights pick the kids in triumph
With a thousand scarves in flight, see how they run
Spring from the terraces in black and white
Young and old into the fight
Having fun
In South West six
With violence for a fix
Kiss me deadly tonight

Seven o'clock they stand in rank
For the thirty bus uptown
And later in a downstairs room
She pulls her lover down
In ecstacy but they can't make a sound
Case her mother might come down
Having fun
In South West six
Discovers teenage sex
Kiss me deadly tonight

The snooker hall is empty
'Cause they're all out playing pool
Hustling down the Fulham Road
Doing deals with Mr.Cool
They're on the waterfront now instead of school
Too old now to dig pinball
Having fun
In South West six
Having fun
When a hidden flick knife flicks
With violence for a fix
Discovers teenage sex
Tried shooting up for kicks
Kiss me deadly
Kiss me deadly
Kiss me deadly

Kiss me
Kiss me tonight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Billy Idol's song Kiss Me Deadly tell a story of youth culture in London in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The song describes different scenes and situations that the young people of the area find themselves in. The first verse describes two punks who decide to take a risk and ride the subway to Picadilly, a nod to the punk subculture's love of rebellion and danger. The verse also mentions the Zephrys, a type of motorcycle that was popular among the local gangs. The second verse describes a battle that takes place in a local pub, with the young people being picked out by spotlights in triumph. The violence becomes addictive, and they seek it out as a fix. The third verse describes a young couple who are discovering teenage sex, but who are afraid of being caught by the girl's mother. Finally, the song returns to the theme of youth culture enjoying life and having fun but being seduced by danger and violence.

Kiss Me Deadly was released in 1981 on Billy Idol's debut solo album, which was also titled "Billy Idol." The song was written by Idol and Steve Stevens, who also played guitar on it. The album was produced by Keith Forsey, who had previously worked with Iggy Pop, and who would go on to produce albums for artists such as Donna Summer, Jennifer Warnes, and Simple Minds. The music video for Kiss Me Deadly was directed by David Mallet, who had previously worked with Queen, David Bowie, and AC/DC.

Line by Line Meaning

The greyhound's rocking out tonight
The greyhound bus is moving at a high speed with great energy tonight

To maximum rockabilly
Playing loud, upbeat rock music with a mix of country and rhythm and blues

When two punks chose to risk the subway
Two rebellious youth decided to take a chance and ride the subway

For a tube to Piccadilly
To get to the underground station at Piccadilly

And the Zephyrs stir fast gangs for glory, another dumb casualty
The fast, strong winds of the Zephyrs stir up rival gangs to compete for power and influence, resulting in senseless violence and tragedy

Having fun in South West six, when a hidden flick knife flicks
Enjoying themselves in the Southwest Six area when suddenly someone threatens them with a concealed weapon

Another battle was won and lost down The Bishops End last night
A conflict occurred and ended, leaving winners and losers at the Bishops End location

Spotlights pick the kids in triumph, with a thousand scarves in flight, see how they run
Bright lights illuminate the triumphant youths with their scarves waving wildly as they run past

Spring from the terraces in black and white, young and old into the fight
People of all ages and backgrounds join the fray, springing from the stands dressed in black and white

With violence for a fix, discovers teenage sex, tried shooting up for kicks
The individuals involved are using violence and drugs to satisfy their craving for excitement, and have also just discovered teenage sex

Discovers teenage sex
The experience of exploring sexual relations at a young age

Seven o'clock they stand in rank, for the thirty bus uptown
A group of people assemble in an orderly fashion at 7 pm to catch the bus heading uptown

And later in a downstairs room, she pulls her lover down
Afterwards, in a secret lower-level room, she begins to get intimate with her partner

In ecstasy but they can't make a sound, case her mother might come down
Despite their euphoria, they must remain quiet to avoid arousing the suspicion of her mother upstairs

The snooker hall is empty 'cause they're all out playing pool, hustling down the Fulham Road, doing deals with Mr. Cool
The usual billiards location is deserted, as everyone is now engaged in playing pool while making deals with a cool, streetwise figure down Fulham Road

They're on the waterfront now instead of school, too old now to dig pinball
Instead of attending school, they've now moved to the waterfront area and no longer find amusement in playing pinball

Kiss me deadly, kiss me deadly, kiss me deadly, kiss me, kiss me tonight
Embracing the thrill of danger and excitement, the artist desires a passionate, potentially dangerous encounter

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: BILLY IDOL, TONY JAMES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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