Today in motorcycle history, February 6, 1990

  

   

  Billy Idol - 'Greatest Hits' takes on a whole new meaning when he collides with a car in Hollywood, suffering a broken leg and wrist.

  Another celebrity with a bike to match their ego (too big).  While riding his 1989 Harley-Davidson, Idol allegedly ran a stop sign and hit the car about 8:30 a.m., police said.  Luckily for 1985's "Sneer of the Year", the 31-year-old woman driving the car was not hurt, Officer Don Lawrence said.

  Idol, one-time leader of the British punk band Generation X, was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was in serious but stable condition after seven hours of surgery for a break in his right leg between the knee and ankle and a fractured left forearm. Hospital spokesman Ron Wise said the injuries were not life-threatening.

  Lawrence said police plan to file a complaint against Idol, alleging that he failed to obey a stop sign.  Hey, he's a rebel.

   

  Talking to a British tabloid reporter afterwards Billy cheerfully told them, "I had been celebrating the night before - it could have been a lot, lot worse.  My foot landed on the pavement and it tore off my heel.  But my head just missed the curb or it would have burst like a melon."

  A little punk rock trivia.....Billy Idol’s first band was actually Chelsea. In August of 1976, the kind of creepy singer, Gene October placed an ad in the British music paper, Melody Maker, leading to replies from Billy Idol (guitar), bassist Tony James and drummer John Towe. Their first gig was supporting the "avant-garde and experimental" band Throbbing Gristle at London’s ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts). Two months later, the band split, leaving October to carry on Chelsea, while Idol, Towe and James formed Generation X.