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Dancing with Myself
- Narrated by: Billy Idol
- Length: 12 hrs and 13 mins
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Summary
"I am hopelessly divided between the dark and the good, the rebel and the saint, the sex maniac and the monk, the poet and the priest, the demagogue and the populist. Pen to paper, I've put it all down, every bit from the heart. I'm going out on a limb here, so watch my back." (Billy Idol)
An early architect of punk rock's sound, style, and fury, whose lip-curling sneer and fist-pumping persona vaulted him into pop's mainstream as one of MTV's first megastars, Billy Idol remains, to this day, a true rock 'n' roll icon. Now, in his long-awaited autobiography, Dancing with Myself, Idol delivers an electric, searingly honest account of his journey to fame - from his early days as front man of the pioneering UK punk band Generation X to the decadent life atop the dance-rock kingdom he ruled - delivered with the same in-your-face attitude and fire his fans have embraced for decades. Beyond adding his uniquely qualified perspective to the story of the evolution of rock, Idol is a brash, lively chronicler of his own career. A survivor's tale at its heart, this sometimes chilling and always riveting account of one man's creative drive joining forces with unbridled human desire is unmistakably literary in its character and brave in its sheer willingness to tell. With it, Billy Idol is destined to emerge as one of the great writers among his musical peers.
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What listeners say about Dancing with Myself
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- s c shanks
- 10-05-18
Bored bored bored
Got as far as chapter 10 and that was a struggle. Boring. Idol hasn't the best voice for delivering a story (unless it's a bedtime one) and the content was dull - read like a diary with the odd cringy sex story.
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3 people found this helpful
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- prefabsproutfan
- 18-01-16
A book for all seasons!
What made the experience of listening to Dancing with Myself the most enjoyable?
The fact that Billy himself read the book, that was a pleasant surprise when I saw they finally had made the audio version. It's great to read a book where I remember key times in his career and can now know what was happening in his life. Stories in the book have made me look back at some videos and listen to the albums with a new context.
What did you like best about this story?
It's honesty, at times shocking (but not surprising!) life events, but ultimately sad reflection and regrets on mistakes made in the past and the pain caused to those close to him.
What does Billy Idol bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
There is feeling and a sense of real intelligence. Billy Idol is underestimated, and this book helps to redress the balance.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
Lots, particularly moments where he messes up yet again. Unfortunately there are many, but it's amazing he made it through to write this book.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Paul Creevey
- 12-08-21
fantastic
Everything I expected and even better to hear the real stories of how real legends lived. Those days are gone now but people like Billy are hear to laugh about it.
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1 person found this helpful
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- angelahulme
- 14-04-21
Fantastic
This autobiography gives a real in- site to William Broad & Billy Idol . From his very early child good up to the present day .
His wild days of hard drug taking and self destruction and womanizing are hard to listen to Sometimes partically the way he treated some of his close friends
But the insight into his personality and the reasoning behind a lot of his songs a fascinating and definitely well worth a listen
I've always liked his music but this is made me see it in a different light and intend to go back and listen to his albums in order they were released to better understand both the music and the man.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Dee
- 18-11-20
Personal, heart warming and exciting.
Was really looking forward to this and it did not disappoint. Billy is a fabulous narrator and really put his heart and soul into writing this and reading it.
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- Jay
- 18-06-16
Always knew this Gent was different - now I know!
What did you like most about Dancing with Myself?
Open and Honest - Extraordinarily insightful and self analyzing - somehow without passing judgement, except when it's relevant to the rest of the "story".
Left me with a sense of having gotten to know parts of the William that is Billy that perhaps others hadn't been around to seen.
What did you like best about this story?
The life itself is extraordinary, it's immediacy (some could argue short-sightedness?), intermixed with genuine balls, guts, and bravado to make sure you're in a position to take what you want in a world where there's generally just one person standing up for you..
The listener gets a real sense of the Authors emotional state as the experiences are being relived. A times it's subtle, but the emotions are there on display. It's surprisingly strong stuff if you're able to pick up on it.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
Cyber Punk is brought up a few times - it's great record. I have had to buy it 3 times, as a result of friends wanting to own it after hearing mine.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The relationship developments that happen as William moves through life are very pronounced. Having said that it's evident that William always had a great sense of loyalty and "doing right" by those that do right by him.
Obviously the emotional scenes towards the later chapters are tough to even listen to, and it evident that they were hard to write and read back,.Living them must have been hard on everybody involved.
Any additional comments?
Even if you're not a fan of Billy Idol, this makes a great insight into the scene at the time, and personal circumstances of a member right at the front of wave 1.
If you, like me, have been a fan through the earlier years - and loved Cyber Punk as well.. This book will blow your mind with rawness, honestly and insight.
A remarkable share.
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- The Count
- 23-01-24
Brutal, joyful honesty.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book , especially more so because Billy himself reads it, giving it extra depth and vigour.
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- Ian Stewart
- 14-03-23
It’s all so … dull
I like old Billy - yes, the persona is irredeemably naff, and the music a parody of rock n roll. But still, it’s a laugh. More than can be said for his autobiography. It’s just so … well boring. In a career that long, hasn’t one single amusing thing happened to him? Has he no interesting insights to share? I guess the drugs robbed him of most of his memories. What he does recall are tales of rock n roll excess. And he can’t he even make those sound like fun. I’m sure he’s far more interesting than his book makes him seem. I hope so anyway.
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- Baggieboy
- 10-03-23
Definitely Whiskey & Pills throughout.
Excellent narration from Billy himself. Worth a listen if you’re a fan. I found it interesting.
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- tracey watson
- 13-02-23
Great bio, great narration by Idol
Really enjoyed this, pulls no punches, a great warts and all tale of madness, and an era long gone unfortunately
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