Why Billy Idol blackmailed his own record company ahead of the release of 'Rebel Yell'

CLARKSTON – MAY 23: English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, Billy Idol, performing on May 23, 1987, at the Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino/Getty Images)

In a bold stand-off with his record label, Billy Idol once threatened to bootleg his own album, *Rebel Yell*. Before its massive success, selling two million copies in the US, Idol clashed with Chrysalis Records over the album cover. In a recent interview with The Guardian, Idol revealed the dispute centered on a flaw in the cover image. Despite his protests, the label refused to make changes.

Determined not to back down, Idol hatched a daring plan. He recorded the album at Electric Lady Studios in New York with producer Keith Forsey. Late one night, he took the master tapes and handed them to his heroin dealer. Idol then called the label, threatening to have the tapes bootlegged if they didn’t revise the cover. The label relented, avoiding the potential disaster.

Reflecting on the incident, Idol emphasized the importance of standing firm, saying, “Don’t let them walk all over you.”