Billy Idol has insisted there is no guarantee he will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Rebel Yell hitmaker was announced this week as one of 17 nominees for this year’s honour, but after failing to make the cut on his first nomination last year, he doesn’t see his induction as a foregone conclusion.
He told Billboard: “I started to realise you don’t always get in on your first time; that’s quite unusual, I think.
“It’s a process, and I can see why. There’s quite a large number of people involved in deciding who gets in. It’s no guarantee.”
However, Billy, 70, admitted it would be particularly “incredible” if he receives his induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year because of it being the 50th anniversary of him starting his career with his band Generation X.
He said: “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.
“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.
“I had great people around me to get to where I wanted to go.”
In 2024, the White Wedding singer was part of the celebrations when he sang No More Tears for the late Ozzy Osbourne’s induction to the hall.
He reflected: “It was an incredible night; it really showed me how much fun that night at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame can be. It was just fantastic to be part of Ozzy’s tribute.”
On his first nomination last year, Billy hailed being shortlisted as an “incredible honour”.
He told 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.
“It’s incredible. What an incredible honour. It just seems to me like an incredible honour.”
As well as Billy, also being considered for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this year are The Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, Mariah Carey, Phil Collins, Melissa Etheridge, Lauryn Hill, INXS, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, New Edition, Oasis, Pink, Sade, Shakira, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan.
The final list of inductees will be confirmed in April, alongside recipients of the Musical Influence, Musical Excellence and Ahmet Ertegun awards.
