<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-heading'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1.</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>First Solo Artist to Top the US Charts</h3><p class='facts-text'>Billy Idol became the first solo artist from the United Kingdom to top the US charts when his 1984 single “Eyes Without a Face” peaked at number four.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-heading'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2.</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Started Career With Punk Band Generation X</h3><p class='facts-text'>Before going solo, Billy Idol was the lead singer of punk rock band Generation X, which released their self-titled debut album in 1978.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-heading'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3.</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Turned Down a Role in Grease</h3><p class='facts-text'>Billy Idol was offered a role in the 1982 sequel to the classic musical Grease, but he turned it down as he felt that it would tarnish his punk image.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-heading'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4.</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Wrote Songs for Other Artists</h3><p class='facts-text'>Billy Idol has written songs for other artists, including Bon Jovi and David Bowie, as well as for the movie soundtrack for 1984's The Flamingo Kid.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-heading'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5.</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Was a Buddhist Monk</h3><p class='facts-text'>Billy Idol spent two weeks living as a Buddhist monk in Thailand in 1988. He claims that he learned how to meditate while there and it had a profound effect on his life.</p></div></div>