By Eddie Jorgensen

Since 1982, Billy Idol has proven a prolific and successful pop music entity. And while it seems like he and Stevie Stevens are never off the road, the two still managed to release “The Roadside” EP in 2021 and “The Cage” EP in 2022. Each album came out on the boutique label Dark Horse Records. Idol’s seminal “Rebel Yell” also just turned 40 last year and will be celebrated with an expanded edition.

Now approaching five decades as a recording and touring musician, Idol remains a tour-de-force with whatever band configuration he chooses. Case in point: Idol launched the highly successful and first-ever Generation Sex tour in the U.K. and E.U. in 2023 aided by Tony James of Generation X, along with Steve Jones and Paul Cook of Sex Pistols fame.

Last year, Idol and Stevens chose one of the oddest spots to stage a live online event, issuing limited tickets to only 250 lucky concertgoers as they gave their superlative performance in front of the Hoover Dam. Part history lesson and part live performance class, “Billy Idol: State Line” raised the bar for concert films when it premiered in November. The set list revealed a singer who loves to play around with song structures as much as his band. The extended live show, preceded by a short acoustic set with just Idol and Stevens, also featured cameos by singer Allison Mosshart (The Kills, The Dead Weather), guitarist Steve Jones (Sex Pistols, Generation Sex) and bassist Tony Kanal (No Doubt).

Meanwhile, guitarist Stevens is also known for playing on the “Dirty Diana” single by the late Michael Jackson and with Ric Ocasek of The Cars, Robert Palmer, and Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe. Additionally, Stevens released three solo records to great acclaim and played in the highly revered Bozzio Levin Stevens project with bassist Tony Levin (King Crimson/Peter Gabriel) and drummer Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa/Missing Persons/U.K.).

Locals who attended the Aftershock Festival in 2019 may have seen Stevens playing on one of its side-stages with his Deadland Ritual project with Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Matt Sorum (The Cult/Guns N’ Roses/Velvet Revolver).  

Idol and Stevens will take the stage at The Venue, located inside Thunder Valley Casino, on Feb. 9.  Tickets start at $64.95 and can be purchased at www.thundervalleyresort.com. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m. This is a 21 and over show only. Thunder Valley Casino is at 1200 Athens Avenue in Lincoln.