April 7, 2001 – Billy Idol is following the March 27 release of his Greatest Hits album (Chrysalis/Capitol) with television appearances as well as two exclusive shows April 24 at New York City's Bottom Line.

The British singer/songwriter and rock icon -- known for such classics as "Rebel Yell," "White Wedding" and "Cradle of Love" -- will perform Monday, April 23 on the "Late Show with David Letterman." Idol will also be the subject of a VH1 "Behind The Music" special debuting Sunday, April 15. In addition, he'll be taping his own "Storytellers" for VH1 in New York City April 19 (airdate TBA).

In anticipation of his "Storytellers" performance, Idol -- together with longtime guitarist/collaborator Steve Stevens -- has reworked some of their classic material, giving the songs unique arrangements for the program. Fans will get the chance to hear the rearranged songs prior to the "Storytellers" airdate at Billy's Bottom Line performance.

You might say how appropriate that the man who once said "give me headlines not deadlines" would wait so long before allowing his record company to release a Greatest Hits album, which comes eight years after the release of his last studio album. All of Idol's rhythm-rock classics are featured alongside his own hit interpretations of Tommy James' "Mony Mony" and the Doors' "L.A. Woman."

The album includes two previously unreleased tracks, one live and one recently recorded. The live acoustic version of "Rebel Yell" is taken from a performance at L.A. station KROQ's 1993 Acoustic Christmas concert. Gene Sandbloom, assistant program director, KROQ says: "It was an amazing performance, made even more special by the fact that it was impromptu. It's certainly one of the most memorable moments in the history of the KROQ Acoustic Christmas shows. People still talk about it."

Also featured is a new studio collaboration with his long-time friend and producer Keith Forsey. The song "Don't You (Forget About Me)" was written and produced in 1985 by Forsey and recorded with Simple Minds. Many people at the time recognized Forsey's signature sound and assumed on first listen that it was Billy. Later, rumors spread that the song was written by Keith with Billy in mind. Appropriate, therefore, that Billy should choose to reunite with Keith and legendary sideman Steve Stevens to record their own brand new version of the song. "I always wished I could've had a crack at that song," says Billy, "because my producer Keith Forsey wrote it. It's funny. At the time I remember there were lots of people who used to come up to me and say 'I love your new single' -- they thought it was me."

At the same time, Billy and Stevens are working together in the studio on new material they hope to have released in 2002. Says Idol: "I think part of the idea for putting this Greatest Hits out is to kind of encapsulate the first part of what we did so then we can move on."