Billy Idol
Acrisure Arena – Palm Desert, CA
Friday, September 12th, 2025
Review/Pictures: Diane Lynn
A Desert Night with a Rock Icon
“Why would you drive out to the middle of the desert in the middle of summer?”
To see an idol! Billy Fu@king Idol, to be exact. Mr. BFI, as he refers to himself, had a stop scheduled at a not-so-new (but new to me) venue called Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, CA. I’d heard it was a pretty awesome place—and it turned out to be every bit of that, and more.
The drive was long, but parking was a breeze. Since I arrived ahead of schedule, I decided to take a look around before the show. Lots of Idol fans also arrived early. Luckily, there was plenty of shade outside the venue, so people were mingling, taking selfies, and watching a local cover band crank up the tunes in the patio area before the doors opened. So much big hair and leather! I swear it was the 1980s all over again.
Billy Idol Then and Now
Speaking of the ’80s, let me take you back to March 19, 1984. Billy Idol was on the Rebel Yell tour, and I had a floor ticket for the Long Beach Arena show. It was a night I’ll never forget! The lights went out, and a few seconds later, the whine of an electric guitar rang through the arena. When the stage lights came up, I got my first look at Steve Stevens, the man behind that sin-sational sound. Then out walked Billy Idol—with a swagger and presence like we all owed him money, and he was there to collect. Billy was a badass rock star—100%! That hair, those eyes, and those lips when he sneered… whoa!
Fast forward 41 years, and when Billy walked on stage Friday night at Acrisure Arena, he was still a force to be reckoned with. That same attitude and swagger were back, and it brought ALL the feels of 1984 rushing in. BFI was on stage, and once again, I was on the floor!
This time, I was there to cover the show – dream come true! Unfortunately, I’m vertically challenged, and the soundboard shoot was at crowd level. Trying to shoot through (not over) the fans was more than challenging, so the photo part of the night was a bit dismal. But the show? It TOTALLY ROCKED.
The Stage, The Man and The Band
Dressed to kill in a bit of leather, with chains hanging from his hip and his collar popped, Billy looked fantastic—and sounded even better. The stage was lit in red, yellow, and orange, with a digital cityscape as the backdrop. In the center of that was a giant neon outline of Billy’s face.
The band was tight:
- Erik Eldenius on Drums (center stage)
- Stephen McGrath on Bass (Billy’s left)
- Billy Morrison on Guitar (also to Billy’s left)
- Paul Trudeau on keys (on a riser behind and to Billy’s right)
And of course, the guitar wizard himself—Steve Stevens, Grammy winner and 2025 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee—on Billy’s immediate right. He’s been by Billy’s side since the early ’80s (around 1982, if I’m correct).
Billy was also joined by two amazing backup singers, Jessica Childress and Kitten Kuroi who came front and center during Mony Mony. Jessica Childress also sang a powerful duet with Billy on Gimme Shelter (a Rolling Stones cover).
The evening was kicked off with Still Dancing, a new song from his just-released album Dream Into It (2025). In total, four tracks from the new album were tucked into the setlist. He kept the energy up, diving straight into Cradle of Love, followed by a quick guitar jam from Stevens to transition into Flesh for Fantasy. During the slow intro of FFF, Idol treated the crowd to a little striptease—turning his back to remove his black tank and turning back to reveal a bare chest through an open-front shirt and leather vest.
Steve Stevens Shreds the Night
Throughout the night, Stevens treated us to mini-interludes—snippets of classics like Led Zeppelin’s Over the Hills and Far Away and Stairway to Heaven, Robin Trower’s Bridge of Sighs, and even part of the Top Gun anthem, which earned him a Grammy in 1987 for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.
Idol took time between songs to share behind-the-scenes stories and inspirations behind some of his biggest hits. He worked the stage like a pro—pumping fists, pointing at the crowd, and feeding off our energy. Two tracks from his Generation X days made the setlist: Ready Steady Go and Dancing with Myself, the latter included in the encore.
The crowd loved every minute of it—singing along so loudly that it felt like one massive karaoke night.
Billy Idol Setlist:
Encore highlights:
People I Love (a fresh track from the new album)
Dancing with Myself
Hot in the City
And the hit that started it all for me: White Wedding
After all these years, Billy and Steve are still up there giving it 110%. It was an unforgettable night—a ride down memory lane that kicked serious ass.
More Coverage from Diane:
Godsmack – Highland, CA – 10/7/24
Creed – Summer of ’99 Tour – 8/31/24
Foreigner, Styx, John Waite – Anaheim, CA – 6/28/24
