Billy Idol Opens Up About Dark Past in New Documentary
In a recently released documentary, Billy Idol reflects on a harrowing heroin overdose from 1984, shedding light on a tumultuous period in his life. Now 69, the rock legend reveals he was left unconscious during what he calls one of the darkest moments of his career.
The documentary, titled “Billy Idol Dead,” premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 10th. Idol confessed, “I’ve come back to victory and almost ruined it.” He recounted a trip to London where he and friends experimented with a potent form of heroin, eventually leading to devastating consequences.
“I was basically dead. I was blue.”
– Billy Idol
He recalls chilling details of that night, noting, “So they put me in an icy bath…” which was intended to revive him. Yet, during the ’80s, he noted that drug use didn’t seem as alarming as it might today. Idol pointed out, “A lot of people were on it… It was almost normalized.”
Adding complexity to his story, he spoke about a wild journey to Bangkok in the late ’80s when he was a new father. At the time, he won approximately $75,000 in hotel damages, but chaos ensued when he collapsed in an elevator. Interestingly, actor Mel Gibson was vacationing nearby and stumbled upon Idol’s distress. “It’s scary,” he recalled, emphasizing how close he came to peril during that trip.
Idol vividly described violent outbursts during his battles with addiction, including throwing a log through a hotel window, which ultimately led the authorities to intervene. Yet, amidst the chaos, he found a pathway to sobriety. “The silver lining put heroin behind me,” he shared, adding that the experience served as a crucial wake-up call.
Breaking the silence on his addiction, he emphasized the painful process of quitting. “Dropping heroin is one of the worst experiences in the world,” he stated, recalling Boy George’s description of it feeling like your skeleton is trying to escape your body.
In the documentary, Idol also confronted a personal revelation: he learned about another son he fathered during his early years of fame. His son’s mother revealed that she discovered the truth through a genetic test, which led her to question his paternity. Idol warmly embraced this unexpected fatherhood aspect, remarking, “I really enjoyed being a dad.”
Through all the highs and lows, Idol has sold over 40 million albums globally and remains an influential figure from the MTV era. His iconic tracks include “Dancing with Myself,” “White Wedding,” and “Rebel Yell.” Despite his tumultuous past, Idol appears to have forged meaningful connections with his children, relishing the bonds they share.
