The Best of Summer 2025: Billy Idol

It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again!

So far, 2025 has been a blockbuster, busy year for the legendary Billy Idol. On the music front, Idol released his first new album of music in over a decade, with Dream Into It proving he still has all the chops. Also, on tap for 2025 was the re-release of several seminal Billy Idol records on vinyl, including Don’t Stop, Whiplash Smile, and Charmed Life. 

But the biggest news for Billy Idol fans was the announcement of a summer blockbuster tour featuring special guest Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. The It’s a Nice Day To…Tour Again tour has become one of the hottest shows of the outdoor concert season, and we were lucky enough to catch Billy in action a while back when he hit up Charlotte, NC. 

Now, when Billy Idol tours, you don’t just get Billy, you get to experience his world-class band as well: the one and only Steve Stevens on guitar, Billy Morrison on guitar and backing vocals, Stephen McGrath on bass and backing vocals, Erik Eldenius on drums, and Paul Trudeau rounding out the sound on keyboards as well as backing vocals. What a bunch! It doesn’t get any better than this. 

Picture a huge wall of LED screens depicting a caricature of Billy Idol, then changing scenery throughout the night, with my favorite being a cityscape. The band came out, taking their requisite spots on the stage before Idol made his way to center stage, kicking off the night with “Still Dancing” off his latest record. 

After all these years, Idol is still a vision of rock royalty, clad in a leather jacket and chains, with his most important snarl on his face. Nobody snarls better than Billy Idol, and the years have not changed that one bit. 

More importantly, Billy Idol still sounds great, and with his band behind him, the sonic quality was excellent. It was a perfect song to begin the evening because Idol is still dancing. In fact, he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down as he moved around the stage, fist in the air, getting the fans up front in an uproar. 

This show was second to none as Idol and company ran through five new songs and all the hits the fans came to hear. Steve Stevens provided an amazing guitar solo midway through before Idol closed out the set with “Rebel Yell” as we all screamed “More, more, more!” 

Much to our delight, Idol obliged the shouts of more, returning for a four-song encore which included my favorite song “Hot in the City” and ending with an extended “White Wedding.”  

What a show! Billy Idol is still at the top of his game. After taking most of June and July to head overseas, Idol is back in the States for the second leg of the tour. Don’t miss your chance to see the legend in action! 

See the Full Gallery of the Night Here!

If you captured any shots of the night, feel free to tag us on social media at Shutter 16 Magazine and throw in #Shutter16 and #TwitFromThePit for the world to see. 

Tour Dates:

August 26: Bangor, ME— Maine Savings Amphitheatre

August 28: Clarkston, MI— Pine Knob Music Theatre

August 30: Noblesville, IN—Ruoff Music Center

August 31: Milwaukee, WI— American Family Insurance Amphitheatre

September 3: Morrison, CO— Red Rocks Amphitheatre

September 5: Salt Lake City, UT— Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

September 12: Palm Springs, CA— Acrisure Arena

September 14: Berkeley, CA— Greek Theater*

September 17: Wheatland, CA— Toyota Amphitheatre

September 19: Ridgefield, WA— Cascades Amphitheater

September 20: Seattle, WA— Climate Pledge Arena

September 23: Chula Vista, CA— North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre

September 25: Los Angeles, CA— The Kia Forum

https://billyidol.net/