Billy Idol’s Nice Day to Tour Again With Joan Jett
Billy Idol Should Be Dead...But He's Still Dancing
Bill Idol - Photo David Raccuglia
A show that immediately went to my must-see list the moment I saw it announced: Billy Idol and Joan Jett teaming up for the Nice Day to Tour Again tour. Two of my all-time favorite rock & rollers. I’ve seen them both many times, going back to my teenage years as a spotty punk rocker kid in late-'70s England. Both are absolute lightning on stage, so getting them on the same bill for a full tour? That’s the stuff of dreams.
These are two of punk rock’s most original pioneers—often misunderstood and, in their early years, rarely taken seriously. Idol was contractually shelved and dismissed in the UK as "just a pretty face trying to be like Elvis." Refusing to accept that narrative, he took a bold leap—uprooting to New York with little money and a stalled career—just as MTV was taking off. Jett, meanwhile, fought to be taken seriously as a female rocker in a world that simply wasn’t ready. The sudden breakup of The Runaways left emotional scars that could’ve ended it all for her. But like Idol, she pushed through.
What unites them is self-belief. Tenacity. Grit. Each faced countless mental, physical, and financial setbacks, and emerged stronger. Idol nearly lost a leg in a motorcycle crash. Jett quietly endured Lyme disease and a heart infection that jeopardized her ability to perform. But both kept going.
It feels right that they’ve joined forces for this tour—as elder statespeople of a punk generation that’s still standing. Neither ever distanced themselves from the punk label, even when it hurt their careers. Call them the President and First Lady of Punk—or at the very least, jewels in its crown. They are shining examples of resilience. Their stories offer more than nostalgia—they offer inspiration.
Personally, I’ve never passed up a chance to see either of them live. I won’t start now. I’ll be at both Northern California dates: the Greek Theatre in Berkeley on September 14, and the Toyota Amphitheater in Wheatland on September 17. If you’re near a tour stop, I suggest you do the same. This is a one-of-a-kind show. Two icons. One stage. One night. What more do you need?
Billy Idol is also promoting his new album, Dream Into It—his first full-length in a decade. Yes, artists are hitting the road to support albums again, and isn’t that refreshing? The album debuted at #7 on the U.S. Top Album chart and has received critical acclaim. Out now on Dark Horse Records, it features contributions from longtime collaborator Steve Stevens, as well as Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett, and Alison Mosshart (The Kills), with production by Tommy English.
Idol recently also debuted his new documentary film at the Tribeca Film Festival: Billy Idol Should Be Dead. Directed by three-time Grammy winner Jonas Åkerlund, the feature-length documentary traces the life and legacy of the punk pioneer and rock 'n' roll icon. Through never-before-seen archival footage and personal interviews with Idol, his family, peers, and collaborators, the film explores his emergence as a prototypical punk rocker, his meteoric rise during the MTV era, and the many challenges he has faced—not just to survive, but to remain one of the most enduring and beloved figures in rock nearly fifty years into his career.
