Named after a sociology book by Jane Deverson, Generation X were born out of the
punk movement but crossed over into the mainstream when front man Billy Idol
became the bleach blonde, gurning face of 1980s MTV. Idol was originally a
member of the Bromley Contingent gang who followed the Sex Pistols around and he
played in the raucous punk band Chelsea with Tony James and drummer John Towe,
before leaving to start Generation X in 1976. Whereas most of their peers took a
strict anti-establishment stance, Generation X were fiercely ambitious, becoming
the first punk act to appear on...