June 24 - Wembley Arena with Billy Idol

[Gaijin]

Interesting development. Great for the band to get exposure to a different audience.

I didn't enjoy my first listen to Billy's new album.

https://www.thepublicityconnection.com/post/billy-idol-returns-to-the-uk-for-headline-show

[Guillaume]

I listened to 2/3 songs from Billy's last album, it's true that he's not at his most inspired there, on the other hand I like his 2005 album "Devil's playground" and in his penultimate album from 2014 'Kings and queens.." there were also some decent tracks. I still like his album "Rebel yell" and then on stage I suppose he still delivers, not to forget the key contribution in his songwriting of the superb and underrated guitar player Steve Stevens. Obviously in content and style NMA is very different from Billy but the bands have in common to have good/great singers, rankings in the 80's charts and a love of punk rock music!

https://www.thepublicityconnection.com/post/billy-idol-returns-to-the-uk-for-headline-show

New Model Army’s 16th studio album ‘Unbroken’ reached top positions in official album charts all around the world.

Really? The album did well in the german and english charts, but in the rest of the world too? I have my doubts!

[Gaijin]

I listened to 2/3 songs from Billy's last album, it's true that he's not at his most inspired there, on the other hand I like his 2005 album "Devil's playground" and in his penultimate album from 2014 'Kings and queens.." there were also some decent tracks. I still like his album "Rebel yell" and then on stage I suppose he still delivers, not to forget the key contribution in his songwriting of the superb and underrated guitar player Steve Stevens. Obviously in content and style NMA is very different from Billy but the bands have in common to have good/great singers, rankings in the 80's charts and a love of punk rock music!

https://www.thepublicityconnection.com/post/billy-idol-returns-to-the-uk-for-headline-show

New Model Army’s 16th studio album ‘Unbroken’ reached top positions in official album charts all around the world.

Really? The album did well in the german and english charts, but in the rest of the world too? I have my doubts!

I think that's marketing hyperbole. Reassure the Billy fans that the support act are not a pub band.

[Master Ray]

Wasn't there some talk around these parts about 'Green And Grey' somehow being about Billy Idol?  I was never aware of any connection between these two fine acts (much less about them being in touch in relation to playing a gig) but maybe they've been pals all these years...   

[Shush]

Not heard that one before M/R, but I have been wondering what are the past links between NMA and Idol / Generation-X for this colaberation to come about. Used to be a massive Generation-x fan, 10 years too late, but that's not my fault, blame the parents. Used to listen to their 1st album, big headphones on every night circa 1988.

[Master Ray]

Not heard that one before M/R, but I have been wondering what are the past links between NMA and Idol / Generation-X for this colaberation to come about. Used to be a massive Generation-x fan, 10 years too late, but that's not my fault, blame the parents. Used to listen to their 1st album, big headphones on every night circa 1988.

Believe it or not, I was unfamiliar with Generation X other than the obvious singles until a year or two ago when for some reason or other I listened to their entire output... really rather good, I'd say they're an under-rated band.

[Guillaume]

And here's the set list of the Wembley London concert:

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/new-model-army/2025/ovo-arena-wembley-london-england-135b31ad.html

NMA are also opening for Billy for 3 concerts in Germany, this summer.

[Gaijin]

^^ A decent setlist. I hope the Billy fans were suitably impressed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xq4oH0rMvw

[Guillaume]

Yes nice set list, 6 old songs and 6 new songs!
Justin and the band seem in very good shape!

I hope that these concerts before Billy's shows will bring them more new fans..."More, more, more!"

[Shush]

Can't get over a personal guilty feeling for not going to that. Was a massive Idol (Generation-X) fan as a teenager, then a lifelong Army fan. If you told me of such a gig and support act when I was in my late teens, well, tell me what it was that killed me, and how did I get to heaven.

Still very interested to know how this colaberation happend -- please Viv, break silence, is Idol an NMA fan?, or just sought out a well respected great sounding band sufficiently less famous than himsen?

[Master Ray]

^^ A decent setlist. I hope the Billy fans were suitably impressed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xq4oH0rMvw

Thanks for that.  Might be an indication for what might be played at the Christmas dates?

[Gaijin]

^^ A decent setlist. I hope the Billy fans were suitably impressed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Xq4oH0rMvw

Thanks for that.  Might be an indication for what might be played at the Christmas dates?

Perhaps, plus about 20 more songs... lol

It doesn't matter really, it's all gold no matter what they play. I'd like to hear a lot of Unbroken get played, but the band don't take my calls...

[Guillaume]

Still very interested to know how this colaberation happend -- please Viv, break silence, is Idol an NMA fan?, or just sought out a well respected great sounding band sufficiently less famous than himsen?

I strongly assume that Billy, even though he has/had  a "MTV career", is a great connoisseur and lover of punk/indie rock/post punk/new wave/cold wave music and must definitely know NMA at least by name! On his Instagram page we see Billy reading a book about the band Suicide, he comments that it is one of his favorite bands of all time. The good thing about these opening acts is that it allowed NMA to play in big venues with 10,000, 15,000, 20,000 seats. It's almost reminiscent of 1987 when NMA opened for David Bowie in Berlin, in front of 65,000 people!

What other famous artists have NMA supported? There was The Cure (in 1989 or 1990), The Stranglers, The Who, Van Morrisson, Simple Minds (two concerts in France and Spain, in 1991). NMA has also played at festivals alongside Midnight Oil, Pixies, Faith No More, Helmet, Rage Against The Machine, Canned Heat (in Pont Audemer, France, free summer festival in July 2006...i was there!!)

[Guillaume]

^^ A decent setlist. I hope the Billy fans were suitably impressed.

Reviews from the NMA and Billy Idol Wembley concert:

https://rockshotmagazine.com/billy-proves-he-is-no-false-idol-but-a-truly-authentic-one-at-wembley-arena/

Support act New Model Army are the perfect warm up and well received, contemporaries of Billy Idol, they are difficult to pin down in terms of genre, but they still get the crowd going with their searing guitars and occasional extra percussion. Particular highlights were Never Arriving and set closer, Green And Grey, lapped up by the crowd.


https://rockshotmagazine.com/billy-proves-he-is-no-false-idol-but-a-truly-authentic-one-at-wembley-arena/

Opening act New Model Army deserve their flowers too. Their politically-charged anthems, gritty riffs, and fierce presence were more than a warm-up – they were a reminder of how meaningful support bands can be. Wembley was theirs for a moment, and the crowd responded with thunder.

https://www.music-news.com/review/UK/16336/Live/Billy-Idol-Wembley-Arena

Another good reason to be at Wembley on a Tuesday night was because Billy had invited New Model Army to fill the support slot. A band well lauded by Music News and who after over 40 years are still making intelligent, emotive music. They have a fiercely committed following and when they took to the stage, despite the arena still more than half empty, the loyal were there ready to sing every lyric of every song with hands held high.

New Model Army usually have their own headline slot albeit in a smaller venue, and supporting Billy Idol was an odd left-turn from their current tour across Europe promoting their 16th album Unbroken. With so many great tunes to choose from they often perform two distinct setlists on consecutive nights.

Tonight, playing beneath an LED image of their iconic logo, the five-piece led by lead vocalist and songwriter Justin Sullivan, delivered well chosen, tight set, showcasing a small selection from their 300 plus back catalogue. It was a captivating hour that included more recent songs like First Summer After, Winter, Never Arriving alongside a few of their anthemic early classics such as Purity and Green & Grey. Yet another great performance from a legendry band.

[Master Ray]

they are difficult to pin down in terms of genre...

Probably why they're such an awesome band who never quite managed to get to A-list/ Big Music Arena levels of stardom.  Many people can't get to grips with such a thing, they want to stay in their comfort zone when listening to music. 

I think Justin once said that if they had achieved such a thing they would have split up decades ago.  What the heck, I'm sure the money would have been nice.  But, if I were a professional musician, I'd much prefer a smaller but deeply passionate fanbase that are immune to the vague drifts of fashion and stuck with me through the good and bad and allowed me to develop and release some of the best music in my somewhat aged years. I wouldn't dare to speak for Justin but I suspect he'd agree.