Express & Star

Billy Idol, O2 Academy, Birmingham - in pictures

Billy Idol was Hot In The City when he played for fans in Birmingham last night.

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Billy Idol plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham. Pic: Dave Cox

The Generation X icon, now aged 62, performed a set filled with hits aplenty at the O2 Academy.

Leather-clad and donning his iconic bleached-blond spiked hair, Billy looked tremendous and in great shape as he kicked off the evening's show with 1993 number Shock To The System.

Billy Idol plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham. Pic: Dave Cox
Billy Idol plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham. Pic: Dave Cox
Billy Idol plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham. Pic: Dave Cox
Billy Idol plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham. Pic: Dave Cox

The rock idol stormed through the set, treating fans to timeless favourites such as Dancing With Myself, Flesh For Fantasy, Eyes Without A Face and - of course - the mighty Rebel Yell.

Newer songs also featured, including Can't Break Me Down from the London star's 2014 album Kings and Queens of the Underground and 2005 release Scream, while the show's encore saw Billy perform hits White Wedding and his beloved cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' Mony Mony.

Billy Idol plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham. Pic: Dave Cox
Billy Idol plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham. Pic: Dave Cox
Billy Idol plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham. Pic: Dave Cox
Billy Idol plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham. Pic: Dave Cox
Billy Idol plays the O2 Academy in Birmingham. Pic: Dave Cox

Looking ahead to the show, Billy tweeted yesterday morning, indicating he was keen to play Birmingham - which he referred to as his 'dad's old stomping ground'.

He also said he was 'glad' to be joined by support act The Professionals, starring former Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook, now aged 61.

"Nothing to do but rock," added the star.