Rock star and environmentalist Billy Idol has urged NYC residents to shut their “damn engines” off when not driving.
“Billy never idles and neither should you,” is the slogan for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s new anti-idling campaign. Idol provides the voiceover for the campaign ad. It’s a bit melodramatic, but he gets his point across. “Idling is polluting. I mean bollocks, are you trying to choke us all?”
That said, Idol skirts elitism by saying, “This city has some of the most hard working, creative and awesome people. Don’t clog our lungs with your car fumes.”
Watch: Billy Never Idles
New York City mayor Mayor Bill de Blasio officially launched the campaign on February 27. Idol joined de Blasio at the campaign launch where ‘White Wedding’ played before de Blasio began his announcement. “It’s a nice day to start again,” he said referencing the song’s lyrics.
The press release gave further details on the campaign’s intentions. “[Idling] chokes our air, hurts the environment, and is bad for New York,” said de Blasio.
“I love New York City and I’m delighted to lend my support to a campaign benefitting our environment,” said Idol. “Like most New Yorkers, I‘m troubled when I see cars and trucks sitting idle while polluting our neighbourhoods.”
While it’s obviously a convenient tie-in with Idol’s surname, his involvement also seems like a bucket list moment for de Blasio. “I have to tell you I’ve been a fan of his for a long, long time,” the mayor said at the launch. “And I’ve been a fan of his because his music said something.
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“I always loved deeply the simple line from ‘Eyes Without A Face’. ‘I spend so much time believing all the lies.‘ And I think that’s very pertinent to what we’re going to talk about today – it’s very pertinent to many things going on in our society.”
Last year de Blasio famously said Donald Trump will not be “welcome back in New York City” after he leaves the White House. Billy Idol was last in Australia in late January/early February 2020.
