Freshly named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Billy Idol is the subject of a documentary with the eloquent title, Billy Idol Should Be Dead, which is released in theaters this week. The trailer features Miley Cyrus, Billie Joe Armstrong and Duff McKagan.
Everything suggests that 2026 will be the year of Billy Idol. The punk-rock icon has just earned a nomination for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and finds himself at the center of a new documentary, Billy Idol Should Be Dead. Directed by Jonas Åkerlund, the film unveils its star-studded trailer: Miley Cyrus (who collaborated with Idol on the song “Night Crawling” in 2020), Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses, all brought together to discuss the impact and influence of Idol.
From punk to legend
The trailer opens with archival footage of a young Idol being interviewed, where the reporter asks him what he would do with the money if he became a rock star. “I would spend it on drugs”he replies without blinking. The rest of the clip spans his career — from his MTV reign to his 1990 motorcycle accident — and recounts how this man lived nine lives.
In theaters and in the Hall of Fame
Earlier this week, Billy Idol Should Be Dead was previewed in Los Angeles and New York, before a national release scheduled for Thursday. His nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is his second. Others nominated this year include Phil Collins, Oasis, Sade, Mariah Carey, Pink, Shakira, Iron Maiden, Lauryn Hill, Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, Melissa Etheridge, Joy Division/New Order, New Edition, Luther Vandross and Wu-Tang Clan. Let's hope 2026 is finally the year of Idol.
