GREATEST HITS FROM BILLY IDOL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GREATEST HITS FROM BILLY IDOL
TO FEATURE 14 HIT TRACKS FROM HIS SOLO ALBUMS PLUS A LIVE VERSION OF "REBEL
YELL" AND A BRAND NEW RECORDING OF "DON'T YOU (FORGET ABOUT ME)."

Hollywood, CA — January 18, 2001 —The first Greatest Hits collection in the U.S. by Billy Idol will be released by Chrysalis/Capitol Records March 27. The comprehensive collection, Greatest Hits, contains 14 tracks from his recorded albums, plus a live version of "Rebel Yell" and a brand new recording of the 80's hit — "Don't You (Forget About Me)." Billy Idol is an icon in modern music who continues to be a great seller. As testimony to the diversity of his music and its wide appeal, Idol's songs remain a staple at four different radio formats – Modern Rock, Classic Rock, Rock and Adult Contemporary. Greatest Hits is a good way to discover – or rediscover – this multi-platinum artist.

After the break-up of his British punk band, Generation X, Idol moved to New York and branched out far beyond his punk roots. Opening with "Dancing With Myself," from his first solo EP, Don't Stop and the #1 hit track "Mony Mony," Greatest Hits shows all sides of Idol's career — raucous rocker, balladeer and dance artist. "Hot In The City" and "White Wedding," the two Top 40 hits from his self-titled debut album, exemplified what Idol called "the power of rock disco"…and critics agreed. The Village Voice's Robert Christgau described "White Wedding" as "a call to innocence regained as desperate and persuasive as 'Start Me Up.'" The two hit songs and videos plus constant touring led to a two-year chart run and sold-out concerts for Idol.

The winning team Idol worked with on his debut — producer Keith Forsey and guitarist/co-writer Steve Stevens — continued to collaborate with him; two years after the release of his debut album, Rebel Yell pushed Idol to the top. The title track, the Top 5 ballad "Eyes Without A Face" and "Flesh For Fantasy" dominated album charts and hit radio for a year. Rebel Yell went double platinum and Idol earned a Grammy nomination, representing new blood alongside such legends as Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, John Mellencamp and Elton John.

Idol's third album, Whiplash Smile, yielded another Grammy nomination in the Best Rock Vocal category for one of his personal favorites, "To Be A Lover" (based on William Bell's "I Forgot To Be Your Lover"). "Sweet Sixteen" earned Idol praise for his songwriting skills from a wide array of fans and critics, including Motorhead's Lemmy Kilmister, Warren Zevon, the Los Angeles Times, Playboy and Kerrang! Whiplash Smile was followed by Vital Idol, a collection of dance remixes that became the first remix album to hit the Top 10.

After a four-year break, Idol released his most personal album yet, Charmed Life. By that time he had branched out into film with a role in Oliver Stone's The Doors, which led to a cover of "L.A. Woman." The first single from Charmed Life, "Cradle Of Love," was used in the Andrew Dice Clay film The Adventures Of Ford Fairlane. And don't forget his cameo performance in The Wedding Singer! Idol continued his involvement with film, recording the title song from the Keanu Reeves blockbuster Speed. Since then, except for an appearance with The Who on their U.S. Quadrophenia tour, Idol has chosen to keep a low profile while working on new material.

Track Listing:

1. "Dancing With Myself"
2. "Mony Mony"
3. "Hot In The City"
4. "White Wedding" (part 1)
5. "Rebel Yell"
6. "Eyes Without A Face"
7. "Flesh For Fantasy"
8. "Catch My Fall"
9. "To Be A Lover"
10. "Don't Need A Gun" (single edit)
11. "Sweet Sixteen"
12. "Cradle Of Love"
13. "L.A. Woman" (single edit)
14. "Shock To The System"
15. "Rebel Yell" (previously unreleased, live 12/11/93 from KROQ's Acoustic Christmas – Universal Amphitheater, Universal City, CA)
16. "Don't You (Forget About Me) *

* Brand New Recording

GREATEST HITS
Street Date: March 27, 2001
Label: Chrysalis / Capitol Records
Genre: Pop/Rock
Format: CD
UPC Code: 72435-28812-2-2

# # #

Contact:
EMI Catalog Marketing Group
Publicity Promotions
Heather Bohn – 818.587.4756 Vanessa Mesia- 818.587.4767
publicity@emicap.com promotions@emicap.com
818.587.4785 fax 818.587.4142 fax
Media Review Copies: Available upon e-mail or fax request