"Rebel Yell" is the second studio album by English rock singer Billy Idol, released on 10 November 1983 by Chrysalis Records. Following the success of his 1982 self-titled debut album, Idol continued his collaboration with producer Keith Forsey and guitarist Steve Stevens. The album was recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, initially using drum machines such as the LinnDrum and Roland TR-808, before Thommy Price was brought in to play drums on some tracks.
The album’s title was inspired by an event where Idol attended a party with the Rolling Stones and drank Rebel Yell bourbon whiskey. He thought it would make a great name for the album. The recording process was a mix of new wave and hard rock influences, with the title track, "Rebel Yell," being recorded in just three days. Idol faced tension with Chrysalis Records over creative control, even resorting to stealing the master tapes in a bid to pressure the label into changing the album's cover art, which he felt was flawed. Idol later claimed that the tapes were taken to his drug dealer to blackmail the label, threatening to release the recordings as bootlegs if they didn’t comply.
The album's cover art, photographed by Brian Griffin, was another point of contention between Idol and the label. Despite his objections, the company refused to make changes, and the cover was ultimately used as planned. Rebel Yell became a major commercial success, and its singles, particularly "Rebel Yell," "Eyes Without a Face," and "Flesh for Fantasy," became iconic in part due to their popular MTV music videos, which helped cement Idol’s status as an 80s rock icon. Idol’s longtime girlfriend, Perri Lister, even appeared in the video for "Rebel Yell."
