Billy Idol Still Sneering at 70

Billy Idol may be 70, but the sneer, the spiked hair, the rebellious fist in the air and, most importantly, the voice are still very much intact.

A large and enthusiastic Kansas City crowd was treated to a memorable night of ’80s rock as Billy Idol brought his It’s a Nice Day to… Tour Again! to the brand-new Morton Amphitheater.

The inaugural season at Morton has been nothing short of prolific, and the venue continues to be one of my favorite places to visit. At this point, it has practically felt like my second home all summer long. As the summer concert season begins to wind down, Billy Idol provided another memorable night under the stars.

The evening began with Susanna Hoffs, the original vocalist of ’80s pop sensations The Bangles. Still unbelievably beautiful at 67, Hoffs delivered a charming hour-long set featuring mostly Bangles material, along with covers from artists including The Velvet Underground and The Beatles. She also sprinkled in a couple of new songs from her upcoming album, The List, which arrives September 18.

Then, at precisely 9 p.m., Billy Idol roared onto the stage with a rousing rendition of the newer song “Still Dancing” — a fitting, almost metaphorical declaration that this guy still has it.

Idol unleashed a tight, well-paced 90-minute set packed with the songs that made him one of the defining figures of the MTV era. There was no attempt to hide behind nostalgia. Idol commanded the stage, moving with purpose and delivering a vocal performance that remains one of the more underrated in rock.

But perhaps the real magic of Billy Idol has always been his partnership with guitarist Steve Stevens.

Stevens is one of rock’s true unsung heroes, and watching the two work together remains a treat. Their musical relationship dates all the way back to 1982, and after more than four decades, the chemistry is still undeniable. Stevens’ guitar work added fire and attitude to every song, while Idol’s unmistakable presence tied it all together.

“Flesh for Fantasy,” “Eyes Without a Face” and “Cradle of Love” had the crowd on its feet, but the final stretch of the evening was where Idol really emptied the tank.

“Rebel Yell” brought the house to another level, followed by “Hot in the City” and the Generation X classic “Dancing with Myself.” Finally, Idol closed with the ever-reliable crowd favorite “White Wedding,” sending a very happy audience into the Kansas City night.

Perhaps the coolest part of the evening was looking around the amphitheater and seeing the age disparity among the crowd.

There were young children, teenagers, people in their 20s, 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s — all singing along to the same songs.

That’s the enduring power of ’80s music.

These songs have somehow transcended generations. The people who bought the records and watched these artists on MTV in the ’80s are now bringing their children and grandchildren to experience them live. And judging by the reaction at Morton Amphitheater, the music isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

Billy Idol is 70.

He’s still sneering.

He’s still dancing.

And after more than four decades, Billy Idol still knows exactly how to put on a rock ‘n’ roll show.