It is always exciting when Billy Idol comes back to Vegas. And with his latest residency at the Cosmopolitan everyone agrees with me! At least from what I could see from the excited crowd on their feet throughout the show Billy never disappoints!

After fighting traffic that never moved near the Strip with the formula 1 tie-up giving me a panic attack and nervous breakdown, I was glad to finally reach the Chelsea on time. I was so worried because I could only shoot the first 3 songs so I had to get there before the show started. The nice rep walked me down to the stage and gave me instructions to stay on the left side away from the white taped lines directly in front of where Billy would stand. I made sure I was right in front of Steve Stevens when he came out to get good shots of him.

Billy burst onto the stage with his rendition of “Viva Las Vegas”, which delighted the crowd who cheered him on. The harsh lighting made it hard to get good shots of Billy from where I was standing. And just when he got close to Steve for a killer shot, the tall security guard came up to me and yelled: “Where’s your photo pass?!?”, by the time I reached down to show him my pass, Billy was gone and so was my opportunity to get my killer shot. I had been standing up near the security guard for about 15 minutes before the show but he waits until the show starts to yell at me LOL.

Billy merged right into “Dancing With Myself” and “Cradle of Love” (my favorite) right after “Viva” as he reached out to the fans in the first row to touch their hands who strained to reach their idol.

I wasn’t sure if Steve Stevens recognized me because I don’t know how good the lighting was in the front but I was able to get a few good shots of him being right at his feet. I honored Steve in 2011 at my Vegas Rocks! Magazine Awards and reunited him and Vince Neil after 30 years. I saw him a few times later at NAMM but it has been awhile. I hear him and his gorgeous wife Josie live here in Vegas but I never see them. I tried to reach Josie before the show to ask to come backstage before the show but she never got back to me which was disappointing.

After “Eyes Without A Face” Steve went into one of his shredding but heartfelt guitar solos and during a slow part he started playing “Stairway to Heaven” but then smacked his hand away to stop which made the crowd laugh. After the highlights of Steve’s playing the band ripped into “Mony Mony”. The hits kept coming with “Blue Hiway” “Rebel Yell” and “Hot in The City” and “Rebel Yell” for the encore.

I was so happy to see Billy Idol back in Vegas and was glad I made it to the show. But exactly 10 years ago I had Billy on the Cover of my magazine with an exclusive interview when he played the Pearl. Before the show, I called his manager and he said: “Ah, yes Billy is expecting you and waiting for you.” (See photo below.) Those were the days! Now I get yelled at as a photographer by security! LOL.

When the show was ending my boyfriend bought me a Billy Idol shirt which cheered me up from getting yelled at until I was coming down the escalator and my boot tie string got stuck in the bottom of the escalator! The beast continued to suck me in until my leg was caught and I started to panic and yell. A man stopped out of concern and I yelled for security but luckily my boyfriend was nearby and yanked the boot string out with a strong tug from the eating machine!

But seeing Billy Idol again was worth getting yelled at by security, fighting traffic and almost getting eaten by an escalator but I would go through it all again to see Billy Idol!

And Idol fans will be excited to know that on November 15^th Billy’s “Billy Idol State Line” will make its theatrical debut!  It is a Vertigo Live concert film documenting the rock legend’s April show at the famed Hoover Dam—the first ever concert performed at the location. The movie highlights the history and significance of Hoover Dam and includes performances from two unique sets of Billy Idol’s iconic hits: a full band concert at sunset with special guests that electrified and illuminated the surrounding Black Canyon and an acoustic duo set on the roof of the powerhouse at the foot of Hoover Dam straddling the Colorado River, directly on the Nevada/Arizona state line. Tickets and additional info on film screenings can be found at billyidolstateline.com, with additional screenings to be added shortly.

For both sets, Billy is joined by Steve Stevens. Performed in front of only 250 fans, the full band set features special guests Alison Mosshart (The Kills, The Dead Weather), Steve Jones (Sex Pistols, Generation Sex) and Tony Kanal (No Doubt). You can watch/share the trailer here: https://youtu.be/Qq6VNvpIJfw?si=_vNd7Dna7D-jP9YJ

So Don’t miss it!

Always love seeing you here Billy! Come back to Vegas Soon!

Special thanks to Joe Cohen at Sacks & Company for reaching out to me to review the show!

Sally Steele

(Photos from 2013 backstage with Billy below:)