Catching Up
Obviously I have some gaps in my knowledge of Billy Idol's career, but I filled them in by reviewing "A Brief History" at www.billyidol.com. A few semi-random excerpts:

...Mr Broad decided when Billy was just 2 that they should all set off to follow ‘the American Dream’ & they relocated to Long Island in New York; it was here that sister Jane arrived two years later. The Broads returned to the UK after about four years, Billy bringing back many happy memories, in particular of the cars & the music....

...Worthing High School provided Billy’s education & it was here that one of the teachers unwittingly became responsible for Billy’s eventual stage name. Not realising that Billy was actually bored at school, he described him as ‘idle’ in his school report. It was a comment which would stay in Billy’s mind for a long time....