The 80's rocker’s 2010 summer gigs will launch with a couple shows in Russia and will be followed by a show at the Sweden Rock Festival and his second appearance at Download Festival at Donington Park in the UK.

European tour stops include multiple dates in Germany, along with Switzerland, Serbia, Macedonia, Czech Republic plus more.

On February 16th 2010, Billy Idol was announced as one of the acts to play the Download Festival in Donington Park. He was quoted:

"With all of these great heavyweight and cool bands playing Download this year, I'm going to have to come armed with my punk rock’n’roll attitude, Steve Stevens, and all of my classic songs plus a couple of way out covers! Should be fun!"

Part of the infamous Bromley Contingent and a fan of the Sex Pistols, Billy Idol was inspired to front the popular British punk band Generation X from 1976 until the band’s break-up in 1981. From there, he decided to try his luck in America. “I definitely took punk with me wherever I’ve gone,” Idol says. “That was the whole idea really. I wanted to transform my music, but I didn’t want to ever lose sight of that punk rock attitude. Whether we turned to hard rock or disco or whatever the hell else we did over the years, that helped give the music a spirit it would not have had if I hadn’t come out of the punk movement.”

His manager then hooked Idol up with guitar genius Steve Stevens and a crucial musical partnership was forged. Idol’s first solo album was released by Chrysalis in 1982, but it didn’t hit its chart peak in the UK until 1985 when the self-titled album’s ‘White Wedding’ was a major club hit and hit No.6 in the UK, fueled by heavy video play on MTV. ‘White Wedding’ also crossed over to the Top 5 of the Mainstream US Rock chart, while ‘Hot In the City’ made the Top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100, and ‘Billy Idol’ was certified gold with U.S. sales totaling more than 500,000 units.

“It’s funny what you have to do to carve out your own niche,” Idol says on his website, when asked about the new collection’s Idolize Yourself title.

“But everyone should idolize themselves, shouldn’t they?” The niche that Billy Idol has created over these past few decades is impressive. Beyond the platinum sound and the platinum hair, Idol is respected as the original punk rocker who long ago found a way to take that sneering punk attitude into the pop and rock mainstream, carving out songs that have lasted a lifetime."

Tour dates:

June

5 - Moscow, Russia - SCCH Russia
7 - St. Petersburg, Russia - Ice Hall
9 - Helsinki, Finland - Ice Hall
11 - Malmo, Sweden - Sweden Rock Festival
13 - Donington Park, UK - Download Festival
16 - NR Nurenburg, Germany - Arbenburg, Burg
18 - Athens, Greece - Karaiski Stadium
20 - Skopje, Macedonia - Skopsko Lizgaliste
21 - Belgrade, Serbia - Belgrade Arena
22 - Zagreb, Croatia - T Music Festival
24 - Ljubjiana, Slovenia - Hala Tivoli
25 - Vienna, Austria - Danube Island Free Festival
27 - Prague, Czech Republic - Sasazu
29 - Ravensburg, Germany - Oberschubenhalle

July

1 - Sopron, Hungary - Volt Festival
3 - Germany - TBA
4 - Bremen, Germany - Freeload Festival
8 - Bonn, Germany - Museumplatz
9 - Huttweil, Switzerland - Rocksound Festival
11 - Weert, Holland - Bospop Festival