Billy Idol’s sole No. 1 hit transforms 1968 hit song into rock anthem

ot 100 — at least not at first. With a cover that’s possibly better than the original version, Idol took “Mony Mony” all the way.
Billy Idol had been a fan of “Mony Mony” since he first heard the original Tommy James and the Shondells version. After leaving the U.K. punk band Generation X for the U.S. and a shot at solo stardom, he recorded a studio version of “Mony Mony” for his 1981 EP “Don’t Stop.” The EP failed to jumpstart Idol’s stateside career, and nothing from it got noticed enough to even make the pop chart.
The story of Billy Idol, pre-eminent 1980s rock star, began when he later scored hits like “White Wedding” and “Eyes Without a Face.” His popularity and momentum were such that by 1987, Idol could finally take a song to No. 1 in the United States. Once again, Idol covered “Mony Mony,” but this time it was a live recording. With louder guitar, lots of synthesizers, a radio-friendly sheen, and a palpable vibe that can only come from an audience of appreciative fans, this “Mony Mony” was captured and assembled from two Seattle shows in 1986. The live version appeared as a new song on Idol’s best-of album, “Idol Songs: 11 of the Best.” In November 1987, Idol’s vital and visceral remake of a remake of “Mony Mony” spent one week at No. 1; Tommy James and the Shondells had only gotten as high as No. 3 back in 1968.