BILLY IDOL - 2/19/2015 @ the Wiltern.
I showed up about 7pm and got in line. Offered everyone around me some airplane booze (I’d bought a bunch of the tiny 99 cent bottles at Total Wine) and had some fun socializing. I bought a $10 bootleg T-Shirt from some Mexican dude. Since he was only asking $10 I didn’t even haggle. I put the shirt on over my TS shirt and hid a few spare mini bottles in my crotch in preparation for the security check. I wished I’d just filled my pockets completely, though, as there was no search, no pat down, nothing. I guess they trust the Billy fans a little more than the Samhain and King Diamond fans (they were quite thorough then).
Got inside and had some good laughs meeting up with strangers and making some new friends . . . impressing them all with my great stories and great jokes (yeah, I always bring my A material). The first band was called BRONCHO and about 20 seconds into the first song I’d had enough. I made sure to shout, “You guys SUCK!!!” before I went out to have a smoke and make some new friends.
Eventually Broncho ended (thank God) and I mosey’d back in for the main event. I didn’t have a pit ticket and had already tried to casually walk down the ramp, but was told I needed a green wristband (I only had the blue one for buying booze). Billy opened with “Postcards From The Past” and I was ready to rock! I had a good view (Wiltern is still fairly small) and a decent posse of friends by this time, but I just can’t handle not being in the front. It was quite packed on the deck level, so I didn’t try squeezing up to the rail for a Chuck Norris jump, but instead tried palming the bouncer a $10 while showing my ticket. He was NOT up for games and told me to buzz off (thankfully he did NOT take my money). I figured I had nothing to lose by trying the other ramp and went down with my ticket and ten spot. I didn’t even need to give him my money, he glanced and the wristband and ticket and I guess figured I was going where I belonged. And I was home free.
Got a decent spot up close to the left side of the stage (that’s where I’ve always parked because it is where Mikey would always play). As it turns out, that was also Steve Stevens side. Billy was on fire and the band was tight as heck! The crowd around me was awesome too. I’ll fill in the blanks later, but they played for almost 2 hours.
Postcards From The Past
Rock The Cradle of Love
LA Woman
Sweet Sixteen
King Rocker
Save Me
Ready Steady Go
Flesh For Fantasy
Eyes Without a Face
Dancing With Myself
Rebel Yell
Whisky And Pills
White Wedding
Mony Mony
During “Rebel Yell” he grabbed about 4 or 5 of what I thought were drumskins (they were actually heavy paper plates signed and stickered by Billy himself) and tossed them out like frisbees into the crowd, and you can bet your ass I got one!
It was a total party all night. I was next to some other super fan who’d seen the show the night before and was pretty insane like me. He poured half of his tall beer into another cup for me which was nice. I’ll hit him up later as he says he usually hits the shows solo like me.
After the gig I went to get my regular post-show Denny’s action and enjoyed a $4 Grand Slam before returning to my hotel (Remember, Kids! If you’re gonna get radical, don’t drive). Well, I’m going to TRY and get some sleep now. I got a long drive to work tomorrow morning.
Such a great show. Oh, I made a bet with the girls next to me. We were wagering how many songs it would take before Billy was shirtless. One girl said 4, another said 5, and for sport I said 6. It actually took about 8 or 9, I think. He went all out for “Rebel Yell” but was teasing us a bit earlier with taking his coat and shirt off but then putting something else back on, exposing his chest but not going full-on. Not trying to sound too gay or anything, but he’s still in incredible shape and looks amazing.
Well, that’s all for now . . . . rock on, Everyone!