Photos By: Tom Rentz

    Billy Idol Electrifies Riverbend on Opening Night


    By: Tom Rentz – On Tour Magazine
    May 21, 2025 – Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH.


    CINCINNATI – The summer concert season roared to life Wednesday night as Billy Idol stormed the stage at Riverbend Music Center, delivering a raucous, full-throttle kickoff to his 2025 tour. With a career-spanning set, a crack band led by guitar virtuoso Steve Stevens, and a crowd ready to dance with themselves all night long, Idol proved once again why he's still one of rock’s most magnetic live performers.


    A Rebel Shouting Once More

    Idol launched the night with the upbeat Dream Into It track “Still Dancing,” setting a vibrant tone that declared, unequivocally, the punk legend isn’t resting on past glories. “Cradle of Love” followed hot on its heels, drawing huge cheers from a multigenerational crowd ready for a dose of early ’90s nostalgia.


    Steve Stevens quickly stepped into the spotlight for the first of two explosive solos, reminding everyone why he’s one of the most underrated shredders in rock. His fierce, flamenco-tinged playing was both melodic and unhinged—in the best way possible.


    A Setlist for the Faithful and the Curious

    Idol smartly balanced new material with hits. “Flesh for Fantasy” oozed seductive cool, while recent cuts like “77” and “Too Much Fun” fit seamlessly into the mix—proof that his songwriting hasn’t dulled with age.


    The haunting “Eyes Without a Face” slowed the tempo, showcasing Idol’s emotive vocal chops before Stevens returned with another solo that felt equal parts psychedelic and cinematic.


    The crowd lit up for the band’s rollicking take on Tommy James’ “Mony Mony,” now a permanent fixture in Idol’s arsenal of anthems. But it was his surprising, powerful rendition of The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter” that gave the night one of its most unexpected highlights—dark, stormy, and utterly commanding.


    Classic Punk to Pop Culture Heroics

    Idol took a trip back to his punk roots with Generation X’s “Ready Steady Go,” followed by a crisp take on the underappreciated “Blue Highway.” Then came a dose of Hollywood flair with Stevens performing the “Top Gun Anthem,” a solo interlude that felt less like a detour and more like a rock opera intermission.


    Naturally, “Rebel Yell” closed the main set with a deafening sing-along. It remains a juggernaut live, with Idol strutting the stage like a man possessed.


    Encore: Four Shots of Pure Idol

    The encore was a perfectly measured four-song sprint:

    • “Dancing With Myself” turned Riverbend into a pogoing sea of arms.
    • “Hot in the City” was a sultry nod to New York nightlife.
    • “People I Love,” a tender cut from Dream Into It, slowed the pace momentarily, offering a rare glimpse of vulnerability.
    • “White Wedding,” naturally, brought the house down.

    Final Thoughts: A Show That Earned Its Stripes

    At 69, Idol remains a force—vocally potent, physically dynamic, and musically sharp. He hasn’t just endured; he’s evolved. His band is tight, the production slick but not overblown, and the energy palpable from pit to pavilion.

    

    Opening night at Riverbend was more than a nostalgia trip. It was a declaration that rock still has a pulse—and Billy Idol is still one of its loudest, proudest lifelines.

    Setlist:

    1. Still Dancing
    2. Cradle Of Love
    3. Steve Stevens Guitar Solo
    4. Flesh For Fantasy
    5. 77
    6. Too Much Fun
    7. Eyes Without A Face
    8. Steve Stevens Guitar Solo
    9. Mony Mony (Tommy James & The Shondells Cover)
    10. Dream Into It
    11. Gimme Shelter (The Rolling Stones Cover)
    12. Ready Steady Go (Generation X Song)
    13. Blue Highway
    14. Top Gun Anthem
    15. Rebel Yell


    Encore:

    16. Dancing With Myself (Generation X Song)

    17. Hot In The City

    18. People I Love

    19. White Wedding