In a recent Instagram post, Billy Idol revealed the true tale behind his famous Beatles mimicry snapshot from his early days in the music world.
The singer wrote the following in the caption, sharing the back story of the photo:
“I think this was for some magazine who wanted me to look like I was in the Beatles. It’s sort of like the ‘With the Beatles’ cover back in England. I don’t know when I did this exactly… a million years ago, and I don’t know really know why, but here it is.”
Early Love For The Beatles
It is publicly known that the Beatles had a big impact on Idol from an early age. He loved music since he was a kid in the early ’60s and was especially drawn to the Beatles by the time he was ten. In a 2022 interview with Classic Rock, the rocker reflected on the influence of Paul McCartney and John Lennon on his musical path, explaining:
“I started out trying to play the drums when I was about seven years old. Then I realized John Lennon and Paul McCartney were at the front, writing the songs, playing the guitars, so I started teaching myself the guitar at ten, to have something to sing along to.”
Favorite John Lennon Songs Of Idol
Back in 1977, Idol also revealed his favorite John Lennon songs while discussing how rock and roll should evoke emotions and not just be entertaining. He admires Lennon’s ability to address societal issues, as he noted:
“I thought rock and roll was a little more than just entertaining people. I thought it’s basically really being honest about what you feel about things, what you’re doing. I don’t know if that’s the truth or not. But to me, that’s what rock and roll is about. When John Lennon sings, ‘All I Want is the Truth,’ and ‘Women is the Nigger of the World,’ it’s songs like that, that speak to me.”
In 2006, the singer paid tribute to the Beatles by creating a punk-style rendition of ‘Tomorrow Never Knows.’ Below, you can listen to the song and see the photo he shared on Instagram.
