Billy Idol’s Busy Summer: Dalí Museum Visit, BFI Vision Test & Tour Prep
Fans get glimpses of art trips and health checkups before the rocker returns to live dates
Pratibha holds a master's degree in English from Madras University. A bookworm from a young age, she devours books and digital humanities to nourish her writing projects. Pratibha began her writing career in 2018 and has experience writing formal, informal, and technical content.
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From surrealist art halls to a routine vision check at London’s BFI, Billy Idol has been sharing moments that offer a peek behind the curtain of his busy life off stage.
Surrealist Encounters At The Dalí Museum
Earlier this summer, Idol posted a series of photos from the Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, Florida. In one frame, he and longtime guitarist Steve Stevens stand before Dali’s melting clocks installation. Idol captioned the post: “Went to the @Dalimuseum exhibition here in Florida with @stevestevens chatted about the art which u view in chronological order Dali’s journey to and away from surrealism –BFI 📸 @annasilversteinhair.” The snaps show the rocker taking in works from early surrealism through the artist’s later sculptures.
These images tie in with Idol’s reputation for embracing visual art—he’s referenced Salvador Dalí in his style and stage backdrops since the 1980s. According to his biography, William Broad (Billy Idol) studied at the Bromley Technical High School and formed the punk band Generation X before going solo in 1981. Hits like “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell” cemented his status as a pioneer of the MTV era.
Routine Check At The Bfi
The British Film Institute’s Instagram recently featured influencer Poppy Rebel getting her eyes tested: “@poppy.rebel having her eyes tested! –BFI.” In the short video, Rebel sits at a screening room projector lens, peering through the test chart as staff adjust lighting. Though the clip focuses on Rebel, fans speculated that Idol—who has been collaborating with BFI on a retrospective screening of his music videos—might have dropped by for a similar check.
While Idol hasn’t publicly confirmed a BFI screening date, the institute has hosted a string of music and film-related events this year. If he follows in Rebel’s footsteps, it would make sense: ensuring his vision is sharp before reviewing restored footage of his career moments.
Tour Tease: It’s A Nice Day To… Tour Again
Between museum visits and health appointments, Idol has also been gearing up for his fall tour. In late May, he shared an image from a soundcheck in Nashville, captioned “⚡️It’s A Nice Day To… Tour Again! 💪🏻 📸: Mark LoMoglio @mark_lomoglio_photo.” The photo shows Idol on stage under neon lights, his signature spiky hair and leather jacket front and center.
His upcoming itinerary includes venues across North America and Europe. Fans on Instagram have already responded to the #TourAgain hashtag, posting throwback clips of Idol’s 2022 shows. According to BFI’s schedule, a special screening of his “Generation X” documentary could coincide with a stop in London, offering double the excitement for UK attendees.
Off stage, Idol’s interests go beyond music. He was seen reading “331/3 Suicide” by Andi Coulter, a book on the electro-punk duo Suicide, and recently wished fellow guitarist Billy Duffy a happy birthday on Instagram. His posts reveal a rocker equally invested in literature, art, and maintaining his health.
As Billy Idol moves from the surreal corridors of Dalí’s mind to the precise grids of an eye chart, he continues to blend cultural curiosity with the commitment that has kept him on stage for four decades. Fans can expect more glimpses of these behind-the-scenes moments as he readies for another round of live dates.
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