CLARKSTON – MAY 23: English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, Billy Idol, performing on May 23, 1987, at the Pine Knob Music Theater in Clarkston, Michigan. (Photo by Ross Marino/Getty Images)

In a recent Vulture interview, Billy Idol shared the fascinating story behind his hit song “Rebel Yell.” The idea came during a New York City birthday party for one of The Rolling Stones, where Idol saw Ronnie Wood, Mick Jagger, and Keith Richards drinking from a bowl of dark brown liquor labeled “Rebel Yell.”

Curious, Idol asked if they had made it for the party, but they said it was a real Southern-style Tennessee bourbon. When he asked if they planned to use the name for a song, they declined. Idol seized the opportunity and started writing the song as soon as he got home.

At the time, Idol was dating English dancer Perri Lister, known for Hot Gossip on The Kenny Everett Video Show. The lyrics of “Rebel Yell,” Idol explained, were meant to celebrate their passionate relationship, describing it as a “sexual cry of love” and a tribute to how great women are. This blend of chance inspiration and personal emotion created one of Idol’s most enduring hits.