23 August 2025 (gig)
26 August 2025
One of the best touring couplings of this summer has been the pairing of Billy Idol and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, as Idol and Jett actually have a lot in common.
Both started in groundbreaking bands in 1970s (Jett in The Runaways and Idol with Generation X) only to go solo in the early '80s and to much more success than their former bands had achieved. Their vibrant videos were also featured in high rotation on MTV, making them pioneers of the video revolution in the 1980s.
Billy Idol and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts performed at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, Massachusetts, on August 23, 2025.
Jett pulled off a killer 60-minute set that began with "Victim of Circumstance", which went right into her version of The Runaways' iconic "Cherry Bomb" and greatly involved the audience during "Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)."
A real treat was when Jett announced she was going to do the first song she ever wrote for The Runaways, "You Drive Me Wild".
Always hailed as one of the best backing groups ever, The Blackhearts currently consist of Dougie Needles, Hal B. Selzer and Michael McDermott, whose energy just added to Jett's natural charismatic charm.
After a cover of The Replacements' "Androgynous" and "Love Is Pain" (from Jett's 1981 album, "I Love Rock 'n Roll"), the group started with a marathon of hits.
"Everyday People" led into the massive smash, "I Love Rock 'n' Roll". Jett's interpretation of the Tommy James & the Shondells' classic,
"Crimson & Clover" gave way to the pain-ridden lyrics of "I Hate Myself for Loving You" and ended perfectly with "Bad Reputation".
Billy Idol, one of the most mesmerizing singers ever, kicked things off with "Still Dancing" before tearing into 1986's
"Cradle of Love" and the atmospheric "Flesh for Fantasy".
Drawing on his latest release, "Dream Into It," Idol did a sparkling version of "77". While "77" is done on the new album as a duet with Avril Lavigne, Idol handled both parts seamlessly onstage.
One of the night's best moments was 1987's "Mony Mony" (another Tommy James & the Shondells' cover) followed by a wicked version of The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter." The most impressive part of "Gimme Shelter" was one of Idol's backup singers, Jessica Childress, who handled Merry Clayton's (who sang on The Stones' recorded version of "Gimme Shelter") role in the song magnificently and would certainly have make Clayton proud.
"Blue Highway/Top Gun Theme" and "Rebel Yell" (which Idol said was inspired by a bottle of alcohol that Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ron Wood were sharing at a party in 1983) ended the set.
A blistering encore was highlighted by "Dancing with Myself" (originally a Generation X number), "Hot in the City" and a furious "White Wedding" closed out one of the best concerts of this summer.
