Billy Idol shares advice for new artists after receiving lifetime achievement award

Billy Idol has reflected on his decades-long career in music after revealing he once believed his time in the industry would be short-lived.

The 70-year-old rock icon received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the American Music Awards in Las Vegas, where he credited fans and a sense of creative freedom for his unexpected longevity.

Accepting the honor on stage, Idol said his early days in punk rock were driven more by passion than expectation of success.

“When I started out in punk rock, back in 1976, we thought it may only last about six months, let alone 50 years,” he said. “But we were doing it for the love and because music was the only thing that gave us a sense of freedom.”

He added that he and his peers believed commitment to their craft would eventually be rewarded. “We believed in what we were doing, and we thought maybe if we just dreamed into this life and gave it everything we had, it would give it all back to us in spades. And that's exactly what happened.”

Idol, who began his career with the punk band Generation X before achieving global success as a solo artist, said the award was as much about his fans as it was about his own journey.

“Thank you to the American Music Awards for this honor. And most importantly, thank you to all the fans. I've been able to live my dream and it's really all because of you,” he said.

He also used the moment to encourage emerging artists to pursue music with the same spirit that defined his early career.

“Pick an instrument. Find out who you are and be it,” he said, addressing aspiring musicians.

American Music Awards executive producers Barry Adelman and Alexi Mazareas praised Idol’s influence ahead of the ceremony, calling him a “true rock legend” whose work has “transcended generations and genres.”

They added that Idol’s career has left “an indelible mark on popular culture and the music industry,” highlighting both his music and his high-energy stage presence.