Billy Idol rocks out at Ravinia

For nearly 50 years, William Albert Broad has entertained audiences around the world as the iconic singer Billy Idol. The 70-year-old punk from the UK is currently touring North America and his “Rebel Yell” can still be heard loud and clear, always presented with a sneer.

It's been a good year for this charismatic showman after being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and a concert tour that's still on fire.

On July 12 the summer leg of It's a Nice Day to… Tour Again! had the Idol troupe traveling to the newly renovated Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, Illinois. He complimented the improvements at the beginning of his set right after the track “Still Dancing.”

The last time the rocker was in Illinois, he played at a completely different outdoor amphitheater in August of last year. The Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park cultivated Southwest Illinois fans while Highland Park brought in the North Shore diehards from the surrounding area. Previous openers Joan Jett & the Blackhearts were replaced with the Tom Hamilton Band this time out as a supporting act.

Billy included a mix of hits and highlights from his vast catalog of work in a setlist that continues to evolve. His tribute to the British punk rock movement, “77,” began with strong guitar licks from his collaborator Steve Stevens. For over 40 years, the pair have worked together, but Stevens did not perform on the Charmed Life original recordings. He has made up for it during the live shows and three tracks from that 1990 record made the Ravinia concert with “Cradle of Love,” “Love Unchained” and “Trouble With the Sweet Stuff.” The legendary guitarist deftly played several solos and amped up the entertainment factor as Billy took brief breaks.

Idol's road act also includes a dynamic duo of backup vocalists, Kitten Kuroi and Jessica Childress, who assisted him on tracks like “Eyes Without a Face” and “Mony Mony.”

For over an hour and a half, the icon drove his listeners down a “Blue Highway” packed with classic hits.

Idol released three albums as the frontman for Generation X and he honored that with the hit songs “Ready Steady Go” and “Dancing With Myself”.

He told the story of the creation of “Hot in the City” and finished with “White Wedding.”

Billy once again proved his worthiness as a powerful live performer and one to see outside of the studio for decades. He often posed with fists in the air, but his rebellious attitude is not off-putting and is instead a celebratory call to action against conforming.

The successful songwriter sprinkled in tales from his life on the mic and further backstory can be found by streaming last year's documentary Billy Idol Should Be Dead on Hulu.

Exhuberant followers of Idol worshipped his performance on that holy Sunday in Highland Park and several in the front row of Hunter Pavilion were rewarded with autographed paper plates flung out by Billy, as he often does. He treats his fans with respect. I have personally witnessed this on many occasions and he was my first concert in 1987 at a similar outdoor venue in Tennessee called Starwood Amphitheater.

Overall, the man is a survivor with staying power in the music business and he has stood the test of time. It's a miracle he's still alive and thriving in 2026 with a boyish grin on his face.

Billy is bound for a five-night Las Vegas residency titled Billy Idol: Hot in the City. The final days of It's a Nice Day to…Tour Again! end in August and September. Visit billyidol.net for up-to-date ticket information.