Kings & Queens of the Underground

Kings & Queens of the Underground
Studio album by
Billy Idol
Released17 October 2014
RecordedJanuary 2010 – September 2014
Studio
  • Sarm (London)
  • Echo (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length47:42
LabelBFI
Producer
Billy Idol chronology
The Very Best of Billy Idol: Idolize Yourself
(2008) 		Kings & Queens of the Underground
(2014) 		Vital Idol: Revitalized
(2018)
Singles from Kings & Queens of the Underground
  1. "Can't Break Me Down"
    Released: 15 September 2014
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?5.3/10[3]
Metacritic64/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar[5]
The Arts DeskStarStarStar[6]
Classic RockStarStarStarStarHalf star[4]
The GuardianStarStarStar[7]
laut.deStarStar[8]
MojoStarStarStar[4]
The ObserverStar[9]
QStarStarStarStar[4]
Record CollectorStarStarStarStar[10]
Rolling StoneStarStarStar[11]

Kings & Queens of the Underground is the eighth studio album by the English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 17 October 2014 by BFI Records. It was Idol's first album of new material since Devil's Playground (2005). It debuted at number 34 on the Billboard 200, becoming Idol's highest-debuting album to date, and number 9 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart for the week of 8 November 2014. Videos were released for the songs "Can't Break Me Down" and "Save Me Now".

Background

The album features new-wave synthesizers and keyboards, reflecting a new creative direction for Idol, and includes autobiographical lyrical themes from his co-written autobiography, Dancing With Myself. The title track was a collaborative effort, with Idol conceiving the concept and then, with his band, paying homage to fallen New York rock and roll heroes.The initial recording sessions were completed, but Idol felt the album was still incomplete. To finish the record, Idol reached out to Greg Kurstin, who wrote and produced the songs that would become the album's single.[12][13]

Tour

The Kings & Queens of the Underground Tour started on 5 November 2014 and ended 4 April 2015. Over the 40-date tour, Idol with his band performed in Europe, North America and Australia. The setlist included five songs from the album, "Postcards from the Past", "Can't Break Me Down", "Save Me Now", "Kings & Queens of the Underground" and "Whiskey and Pills", as well as 13 older songs and two guitar solos by Steve Stevens.[14]

Critical reception

The album was met with mixed to positive reception with the album receiving a combined score of 64/100 on Meatcritic. Classic Rock game the album a positive review stating “The plastic punk with the cartoon sneer has made his grown-up masterpiece.”[15]

Track listing

Kings & Queens of the Underground track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Bitter Pill"
Trevor Horn3:57
2."Can't Break Me Down"
Greg Kurstin3:42
3."Save Me Now"
  • Idol
  • George William Lewis
  • Kurstin
Kurstin4:31
4."One Breath Away"
Horn4:10
5."Postcards from the Past"
  • Idol
  • Stevens
  • Morrison
Horn4:20
6."Kings & Queens of the Underground"
  • Idol
  • Stevens
  • Morrison
Horn4:53
7."Eyes Wide Shut"
  • Idol
  • Stevens
  • Morrison
Horn4:29
8."Ghosts in My Guitar"
  • Idol
  • Stevens
Horn4:47
9."Nothing to Fear"
  • Idol
  • Stevens
  • Morrison
Horn4:39
10."Love and Glory"
  • Idol
  • Stevens
  • Morrison
Horn4:28
11."Whiskey and Pills"
Horn3:43
iTunes bonus track[16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Hollywood Promises"
  • Idol
  • Tichy
4:11
Japanese version bonus tracks[17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Hollywood Promises"
  • Idol
  • Tichy
 4:11
13."Cradle of Love" (live from Vienna)
  • Idol
  • David Werner
Keith Forsey4:42
14."Dancing with Myself" (live from Vienna)
Forsey5:39

Personnel

  • Billy Idol – vocals (all tracks)
  • Steve Stevens – lead, rhythm guitar (all tracks), acoustic guitar (tracks 1, 6–8, 11)
  • Billy Morrison – rhythm guitar (tracks 4, 9)
  • Trevor Horn – bass guitar (tracks 1, 4–11), programming (tracks 5, 7, 8), keyboards (tracks 6, 8, 11)
  • Ash Soan – drums (tracks 1, 4, 6–10), percussion (tracks 1, 8)
  • Matt Chamberlain – drums (track 3)
  • Joel M Peters – drums (track 11)
  • Tim Weidner – percussion (tracks 4, 9, 11), programming (track 7)
  • Julian Hinton – orchestral arrangement and programming (tracks 4, 6, 8, 10)
  • Pete Murray – orchestral arrangement and programming (track 7)
  • Geoff Downes – keyboards (tracks 1, 4–10)
  • Cameron Gower Poole – programming (tracks 1, 4, 9), keyboards (tracks 7, 9, 11), guitar (track 9)
  • Greg Kurstin – guitar (track 2), bass guitar (tracks 2, 3), keyboards (tracks 2, 3), drums (track 2), programming (track 3)
  • Josh Campbell – programming (tracks 1, 5), guitar (track 5), bass guitar (track 11)
  • Renate Sokolovska – flute (track 6)

Charts

Chart performance for Kings & Queens of the Underground
Chart (2014) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[18] 81
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[19] 17
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[20] 109
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[21] 127
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[22] 69
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[23] 24
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[24] 75
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[25] 37
French Albums (SNEP)[26] 102
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[27] 8
Italian Albums (FIMI)[28] 45
Scottish Albums (OCC)[29] 39
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 10
UK Albums (OCC)[31] 35
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[32] 4
US Billboard 200[33] 34
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[34] 4
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[35] 5
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[36] 9

Release history

Release history and formats for Kings & Queens of the Underground
Region Date Format(s) Label
Australia[37] 17 October 2014
BFI
Germany[38]
United Kingdom[39] 20 October 2014
Canada[40] 21 October 2014
United States[41]

References

  1. ^ Luhrssen, David; Larson, Michael (9 January 2025). Encyclopedia of Punk Rock and New Wave: 1975–1985. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 1973. Retrieved 14 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b Rud, Keld (19 October 2014). "Billy Idol: Kings And Queens Of The Underground". GAFFA (in Danish). Retrieved 25 April 2025.
  3. ^ "Kings & Queens Of The Underground by Billy Idol reviews | Any Decent Music". AnyDecentMusic?. Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Kings & Queens of the Underground by Billy Idol". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 9 January 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. BFI at AllMusic. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  6. ^ Coffey, Russ (17 October 2014). "CD: Billy Idol - Kings and Queens of the Underground". The Arts Desk. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  7. ^ Dave Simpson (16 October 2014). "Billy Idol: Kings & Queens of the Underground review – lovably ludicrous 80s rocker gets confessional". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  8. ^ Kiß, Jonas. "Ist das jetzt Gänsehaut oder Cold Turkey?". laut.de (in German). Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  9. ^ Phil Mongredien (18 October 2014). "Billy Idol: Kings & Queens of the Underground review – a turkey of epic proportions". The Observer. Archived from the original on 11 May 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  10. ^ "Kings & Queens Of The Underground". Record Collector. 26 May 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Billy Idol 'Kings & Queens of the Underground' Album Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 9 October 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  12. ^ jaspr, obey (19 January 2015). "Billy Idol | Kings and Queens of the Underground". Obey Giant. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  13. ^ SLIS (17 October 2014). "Steve Stevens Talks New Billy Idol Album 'Kings and Queens of the Underground'". Smells Like Infinite Sadness. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  14. ^ "TOUR DATES - Billy Idol". billyidol.net. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved 25 October 2014.
  15. ^ Kings & Queens of the Underground by Billy Idol, archived from the original on 9 January 2017, retrieved 8 October 2025
  16. ^ "Kings & Queens of the Underground". billyidol.net. Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Amazon.co.jp: ビリー・アイドル : 逆襲のアイドル". Amazon.co.jp.
  18. ^ Ryan, Gavin (25 October 2014). "Slipknot Land No 1 Album On ARIA Chart". Noise11. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 28 October 2014.
  19. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Billy Idol – Kings & Queens of the Underground" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  20. ^ "Ultratop.be – Billy Idol – Kings & Queens Of The Underground" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  21. ^ "Ultratop.be – Billy Idol – Kings & Queens Of The Underground" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  22. ^ "ČNS IFPI – CZ Albums – Top 100 – 46. týden 2014" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  23. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Billy Idol – Kings & Queens Of The Underground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  24. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Billy Idol – Kings & Queens Of The Underground" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  25. ^ "Billy Idol: Kings & Queens of the Underground" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
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  27. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Billy Idol – Kings & Queens Of The Underground" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  28. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Billy Idol – Kings & Queens of the Underground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  29. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart on 26/10/2014 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Billy Idol – Kings & Queens of the Underground". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  31. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 26/10/2014 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  32. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart on 26/10/2014 – Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  33. ^ "Billy Idol Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  34. ^ "Billy Idol Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  35. ^ "Billy Idol Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  36. ^ "Billy Idol Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
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  41. ^ "Amazon.com: Kings & Queens of the Underground: Music". Amazon. 16 August 2023.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_%26_Queens_of_the_Underground