Billy Idol Reveals Surprising Reaction to Second Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nomination
Billy Idol Reveals Surprising Reaction to Second Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nomination
Ilana KaplanFri, February 27, 2026 at 7:19 PM UTC
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Billy Idol in June 2025 in New York CityCredit: Gary Gershoff/WireImage -
Billy Idol opened up about receiving his second Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination
"It's a process, and I can see why," the "White Wedding" hitmaker told Billboard on Friday, Feb. 27
Idol received his first-ever Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination in 2025
Billy Idol opened up about receiving his second Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nomination.
In an interview with Billboard on Friday, Feb. 27, the "White Wedding" hitmaker reflected on receiving his second consecutive nomination for induction.
"I started to realize you don’t always get in on your first time; that’s quite unusual, I think,” Idol, 70, told the publication.
The "Rebel Yell" performer received his first nomination in 2025 and landed in third place in the fan vote with nearly 260,500, per Billboard.
“It’s a process, and I can see why,” said Idol. “There’s quite a large number of people involved in deciding who gets in. It’s no guarantee.”
However, Idol didn't hesitate in sharing how "fantastic" it would be to be inducted in 2026.
"It’s really exciting. It would be incredible this year. This is 50 years ago when I started (with the band Generation X), so it would be really incredible,” he said.
Idol continued, “It would cap off an amazing 50 years … When I walked through that door that punk rock opened up, you really didn’t know if you’ve got the goods; only over time you see I really did have the goods, and I think the songs I’ve made are lasting, the recordings are still good."
Billy Idol in October 2025 in MiamiCredit: John Parra/Getty
He pointed out that he had "great people around me to get to where I wanted to go.”
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Idol also reflected on singing "No More Tears" as a solo act for Ozzy Osbourne's 2024 Rock Hall induction.
"It was an incredible night; it really showed me how much fun that night at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame can be. It was just fantastic to be part of Ozzy’s tribute," he said of the late musician who died at age 76 in July.
In April 2025, Idol opened up about landing his first nomination in the Rock Hall's class of 2025 in a new interview with Consequence.
"When I think about all the people that … even if you think about the people from the ’50s, like Chuck Berry and Little Richard and Buddy Holly and Bo Diddley, just the idea that you could be in something with people like that is like so nutty," he told the outlet.
Added Idol, "It’s incredible. What an incredible honor. It just seems to me like an incredible honor."
On Wednesday Feb. 25, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced the list of 17 performers who will be considered for induction in the class of 2026.
Idol, The Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, INXS and Iron Maiden are this year's nominees.
Additionally, Joy Division/New Order, New Edition, Oasis, Pink, Sade, Shakira, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan are nominated.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
