Billy Idol (born William Michael Albert Broad) is a British musician and singer. With his spiked peroxide blonde hair, sneering visage and a voice capable of singing growling rock and roll and crooning ballads, Idol became a cultural icon during the 1980's. He first achieved fame as the lead singer of the first-wave UK punk band Generation X. When that band broke up, Idol moved to New York where he met guitarist Steve Stevens. The two of them set out to make punk music sexier, recording a series of hit singles. A series of stylish music videos made him one of the first stars of MTV. His success has waned since the 1990s, but Idol continues to make music.