|
|
WINDY CITY TIMES
|
|---|
|
|
|
Legendary singer
inspires 'Idol' worship
at the Riviera
Special to the online edition of Windy City Times
2015-02-10
|
|
This article shared 3921 times since Tue Feb 10, 2015
|
|
Billy Idol began his set with the new song "Postcards from the Past" at the Riviera Theatre on Feb. 7 and, for many, it was a rocking trip down memory lane. Having last seen Idol perform in 1987 at the Starwood Amphitheater in Antioche, Tennessee, it was a night for nostalgia for this reviewer as well.
He still arrived dressed in leather with a spiky blonde punk haircut and moves that have not changed, from the punching in the air to the trademark sneer.
The English singer first achieved fame in the band Generation X and played hits from that group such as "Dancing with Myself" and "Ready Steady Go." His setlist was complete with his many memorable melodies like "Flesh for Fantasy" and "Eyes Without a Face." He changed the lyrics of The Doors cover "L.A. Woman" to "Chicago Woman"—a move that kept the cougar ladies in attendance dressed in cheetah print screaming for more.
Idol has acquired many followers over the years and the middle-aged crowd was composed of women, straight men playing air guitars and gays attracted to his bad-boy attitude.
The 59-year-old singer showed no signs of stopping. Last year, he released a new album Kings & Queens of the Underground and wrote an autobiography titled Dancing with Myself.
His sidekick, famed guitarist Steve Stevens, has returned to support him with some wicked solos that brought him into the spotlight several times.
While new songs such as "Whiskey and Pills" were on hand, it was his greatest hits that had fans dancing at this sold-out concert. "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding" haven't lost their luster over the years.
Closing the night with an encore of Tommy James & the Shondells' "Mony Mony" had him riding the pony out the door to his next stop on the tour. There was nothing Middlesex left about this still-sexy British singer as he showed he still has the moves to entertain even a brand-new generation.
Photos and text by Jerry Nunn |
|
|
|
This article shared 3921 times since Tue Feb 10, 2015
|
| ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE |
|---|
| 
|  | THEATER 'Mamma Mia!' returns to Chicago with 'Daddyhunt' star Jim Newman 2024-04-24
- "Who's your daddy?" That's the key plot question driving the global hit Mamma Mia! The global smash jukebox musical famously features the song hits of Swedish pop group ABBA, and it returns for a three-week run ...
| 
| | Local queer opera composer premiering her first show, a coming-of-age tale with LGBTQ+ themes 2024-04-23
- A Lake View woman is debuting her first opera as a composer, a coming-of-age story with LGBTQ+ themes. Gillian Rae Perry, a fellow with the Chicago Opera Theater's Vanguard program for emerging artists, composed The Weight ...
| 
| | Cher, Dionne among Rock & Roll HoF honorees; Mariah snubbed 2024-04-22
- On April 21, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced its 2024 inductees, per an ABC press release. In the performer category, the inductees are Mary J. Blige, Cher, Dave Matthews Band, Foreigner, Peter ...
| 
| | The importance of becoming Ernest: Out actor Christopher Sieber dishes about the Death Becomes Her musical 2024-04-20
- Out and proud actor Christopher Sieber is part of the team bringing Death Becomes Her to life as a stage musical in the Windy City this spring. Sieber plays Ernest Menville, who was originally portrayed by ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Celine Dion, 'The People's Joker,' Billy Porter, Patti LuPone, 'Strange Way' 2024-04-19
- I Am: Celine Dion will stream on Prime Video starting June 25, according to a press release. The film is described as follows: "Directed by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I Am: Celine Dion gives us ...
| 
| | Kokandy Productions now accepting submissions for Chicago Musical Theater Fest returning Aug. 8-11 2024-04-18
--From a press release - CHICAGO (April 18, 2024) — Kokandy Productions is pleased to open submissions for the 2024 Chicago Musical Theatre Festival, returning this summer following a four-year hiatus. Kokandy is thrilled to ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Jerrod Carmichael, '9-1-1' actor, Kayne the Lovechild, STARZ shows, Cynthia Erivo 2024-04-12
- Gay comedian/filmmaker Jerrod Carmichael criticized Dave Chappelle, opening up about the pair's ongoing feud and calling out Chappelle's opinions on the LGBTQ+ community, PinkNews noted, citing an Esquire article. Carmichael ...
| 
| | Judith Butler focuses on perceptions of gender at Chicago Humanities Festival talk 2024-04-10
- In an hour-long program filled with dry humor—not to mention lots of audience laughter—philosopher, scholar and activist Judith Butler (they/them) spoke in depth on their new book at Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave., on ...
| 
| | Andersonville Chamber announces Andersonville Midsommarfest entertainment lineup 2024-04-09
--From a press release - CHICAGO (April 8, 2024) — The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) is pleased to announce the full entertainment line-up for Andersonville Midsommarfest, one of Chicago's oldest and most beloved summer ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Outfest, Chita Rivera, figure skaters, letter, playwright dies 2024-04-05
- For more than four decades, Outfest has been telling LGBTQ+ stories through the thousands of films screened during its annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival—but that event may have a different look this year because ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Dionne Warwick, OUTshine, Ariana DeBose, 'Showgirls,' 'Harlem' 2024-03-29
Video below - Iconic singer Dionne Warwick was honored for her decades-long advocacy work for people living with HIV/AIDS at a star-studded amfAR fundraising gala in Palm Beach, per the Palm Beach Daily News. Warwick received the "Award of ...
| 
| | 'Rumors' performers create alternative drag playground 2024-03-24
- At first glance, Dorian's Through The Record Shop (1939 W. North Ave.) looks like a brightly-lit shop with a handful of records on the wall, but there's a secret world behind those unassuming shelves. Visitors are ...
| 
| | SHOWBIZ Queer musicians, Marvel situation, Elliot Page, Nicole Kidman 2024-03-21
- Queer musician Joy Oladokun released the single "I Wished on the Moon," from Jack Antonoff's official soundtrack for the new Apple TV+ series The New Look, per a press release. The soundtrack, ...
| 
| | THEATER Chicago's City Lit has anxiety on tap with 'Two Hours in a Bar' 2024-03-21
- Two Hours in a Bar Waiting for Tina Meyer by Kristine Thatcher with material by Larry Shue Text Me by Kingsley Day (Book, Music and Lyrics). At: City Lit Theater, 1020 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.. Tickets: ...
| 
| | Lollapalooza announces lineup; SZA, Skrillex among headliners 2024-03-19
- Lollapalooza has released its line-up for the event that's taking place Aug. 1-4 at Grant Park. Headliners include SZA, Blink-182, Skrillex, The Killers, Hozier, Melanie Martinez and Stray Kids, among others. Some of the other acts ...
| | |
|
|
|
|
