Biker chicks abound. A dude on a motorcycle shows up with spiked hair and a distinctive sneer. A bride destroys some toasters. The groom forces a wedding ring on the bride's finger. The ring makes her finger bleed.

Billy Idol (real name: William Albert Michael Broad) once claimed that "Christ was a punk rocker." Billy himself served as a new-wave punker for the masses, the perfect star for MTV's lean early years. "White Wedding," which seemed awfully original and artistic 20 years ago, has not held up well over the years. However, the originality of Billy's persona and catchy lyrics endures. The song itself served as Billy's breakthrough into the U.S. market and peaked at No. 36 on the charts. The Rolling Stone Album Guide summed up Billy's career well: "Idol became an early proponent of rock video; his sneering leather 'n peroxide punk pose was custom-made for the new medium. Still, he retains the knack for crafting obvious, but unforgettable hit singles; there's usually one stone-cold knockout punch per album."

In 1991, Idol was involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident. In 1994, he suffered a near-fatal drug overdose. In 1998, he appeared in a cameo as himself in The Wedding Singer, starring Adam Sandler. In 2001, he was the focus of a VH1 Behind the Music special. "There is nothing fair in this world | There is nothing safe in this world | and there's nothing sure in this world..."

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