Billy Idol Reveals 1984 Near-Fatal Heroin Overdose in Tribeca Documentary

Billy Idol, the 69-year-old punk rocker, has revealed in his new documentary "Billy Idol Should Be Dead" that he nearly died from a heroin overdose in 1984 in London. At the peak of his success with the album Rebel Yell, Idol returned to England to celebrate but ended up consuming strong heroin with friends, leading to a life-threatening collapse where he turned blue and was revived with an ice-cold bath on a rooftop. Idol explained that heroin was widely embraced in the '80s rock scene, with many of his peers also struggling with addiction, and the drug was mistakenly seen as something that could unleash creativity rather than danger. He ultimately quit heroin after a chaotic episode in Bangkok, which involved causing significant hotel damages and police intervention, marking a turning point in his battle with addiction. Idol now describes himself as "California sober," emphasizing harm reduction and abstaining from addictive substances. The documentary premiered at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival and explores both his rise to fame and his addiction struggles.