VH-1's Storytellers series has brought a number of stars back into the limelight and, nine years since his last album, Billy Idol was ready for the re-focus. His music and image were always the perfect synthesis of 1950s rock & roll and 70s punk, giving his songs an enduring appeal. Here he takes a number or two to get going, but from "Flesh for Fantasy" onwards, this is a greatest hits package high on entertainment and musicianship. Steve Stevens, whose gritty yet intricate guitar gave the first three Idol albums their edge, is on hand, as is a backing-band which catches the mood of each song unerringly. Highlights include stripped-down versions of "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell", an electro-acoustic rethink of the soulful "Eyes Without a Face"--a candidate for the perfect pop song?--and a sprinkling of songs by Generation X who, along with The Buzzcocks, were always the Pop Punk band of choice. Idol introduces several of the songs with street-wise bonhomie. The sneer may have lessened over time, but the attitude hasn't faded. On the DVD: Storytellers--Billy Idol on disc has a 4:3 picture format that captures the relaxed atmosphere, with Dolby Digital 5.1, 2.0 and DTS surround sound options. Thirty-two access points enable you to select the music without the chat, with subtitles in five European languages. The artist profile is brief but to the point and reproductions of album covers liven up the discography. Questions from the audience--a frequent Storytellers slot--are excluded, but it's a small omission. --Richard Whitehouse
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![VH-1 Storytellers - Billy Idol [2001]](http://img.listal.com/image/products/200/B000068C4V/dvds/-vh1-storytellers-billy-idol.jpg "VH-1 Storytellers - Billy Idol [2001]")
