RockLists.com

Song · Billy Idol

“White Wedding” by Billy Idol

Released 1983

“White Wedding” by Billy Idol appears on 152 radio countdowns from 48 stations between 1982 and 2026. It was first released in 1983. Its best result is #7 on the WLIR Top 200 Songs of the 1980s. In the combined RockLists rankings it is the #37 alternative song of 1982, #287 alternative song of all time and #52 of the '80s.

152countdowns
48stations
#7best position
0#1 finishes
1top 10 finishes
1982–2026years charted

Watch

Billy Idol - White Wedding Pt 1

Video from YouTube (BillyIdolVEVO). Pressing play loads YouTube's player. Watch on YouTube

"White Wedding" came off Billy Idol, the English singer's self-titled debut album on Chrysalis, the second single he pulled from it. Idol wrote it himself and Keith Forsey produced, and together they made a hard rock record that struts like a punk who has finally worked out what a hook is worth.

It starts cool and slinky, a menacing crawl, then bursts into a chorus built for shouting along, with Idol sneering and snarling over the top like he owns the room. The whole thing is tight, glossy and a little dangerous, the studio sheen barely covering the snarl underneath.

It was never his biggest chart hit, but it has become one of the songs people know him by first.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.

RockLists rankings

Alternative & Modern Rock

Indie & Adult Alternative

Classic Rock

Hard Rock & Metal

All Rock Formats

Year-end countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
1982 24 KROQ Los Angeles, CA KROQ Top 106.7 Songs of 1982 107
1983 21 91X San Diego, CA / Tijuana 91X Top 91 Songs of 1983 91

All-time and decade countdowns

Year#StationCountdownof
– 7 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 200 Songs of the 1980s 200
1988 79 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1988) 496
1988 159 Live 105 Live 105 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1988) 501
1988 65 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 200 Songs of All-Time (1988) 200
1989 54 91X 91X Top 191 Songs of the 1980s (1989) 191
1989 93 WFNX WFNX Top 101 Songs of the Decade (December 1989) 101
1989 198 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1989) 495
1991 185 Live 105 Live 105 Top 300 Songs of All-Time (Memorial Day 1991) 302
1991 263 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (1991 Edition) 1002
1991 390 WNEW-FM WNEW Firecracker 500 (1991) 500
1992 68 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1992) 500
1994 235 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1994) 497
1994 72 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 500 (July 1994) 500
1994 638 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1994) 1000
1995 311 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1995) 500
1995 104 Live 105 Live 105 Revolutionary 300 (July 1995) 300
1995 376 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1995) 1000
1996 148 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1996) 500
1996 89 Q101 Q101 Top 500 Songs of All-Time (1996) 500
1996 157 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1996) 1000
1997 169 104.5 KZEP KZEP Memorial Weekend Top 500 (1997) 500
1997 428 102.3 WBAB WBAB Top 1,023 Rock and Roll Songs of All Time (1997) 1023
1998 100 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 1998) 488
1998 242 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1998) 1000
1999 60 Channel 104.9 Channel 104.9 Top 101 Songs of the '80s (February 1999) 104
1999 378 91X 91X Fat 500 Songs of All-Time (July 1999) 500
1999 100 Q101 Q101 Top 1,011 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1017
1999 219 WLIR / WDRE WLIR Top 300 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 300
1999 210 107.7 The End The End Top 1077 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 1077
1999 1507 CD101 CD101 Top 2000 Songs of All-Time (December 1999) 2000
1999 632 CFNY 102.1 The Edge CFNY Top 1002 Songs of All-Time (November 1999) 1002
1999 176 KISW KISW Top 1000 of All Time (1999) 998
2000 316 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2000) 500
2000 1507 CD101 CD101 Top 2001 Songs of All-Time (December 2000) 2001
2001 316 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2001) 498
2001 1511 CD101 CD101 Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 2002
2001 345 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2001) 500
2001 36 KISW KISW Top 99 Rock Songs (2001) 99
2002 337 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2002) 500
2002 1509 CD101 CD101 Top 2003 Songs of All-Time (December 2002) 2003
2002 154 100.7 WZLX WZLX Memorial 500 (2002) 500
2002 102 KISW KISW Top 999 of All Time (2002) 999
2002 371 92.3 KGON KGON Top 923 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2002) 923
2002 779 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2002 Songs of All-Time (July 2002) 2002
2003 1513 CD101 CD101 Top 2004 Songs of All-Time (December 2003) 2004
2003 386 Fred (XM 44) Fred XM Top 2044 Songs of All-Time (July 2003) 2044
2004 295 Q101 Q101 Top 300 Party Songs of All-Time (July 2004) 300
2004 227 107.7 The End The End Original Alternative 500 (May 2004) 500
2004 1513 CD101 CD101 Top 2005 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 2005
2004 370 92.3 KGON KGON Top 923 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2004) 923
2004 251 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2004) 500
2005 251 WOXY 97X WOXY Modern Rock 500 (2005) 500
2005 1511 CD101 CD101 Top 2006 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 1994
2005 750 99X 99X Freedom of Choice 1000 (2005) 1000
2005 458 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2005) 500
2006 186 Virgin Radio Virgin Radio Top 500 Songs of All-Time (December 2006) 500
2007 1209 CD101 CD101 Top 2008 Songs of All-Time (December 2007) 2008
2008 172 KROQ KROQ Flashback 500 (Memorial Day 2008) 500
2008 1156 CD101 CD101 Top 2009 Songs of All-Time (December 2008) 2009
2009 433 Live 105 Live 105 Memorial 500 Song List (2009) 500
2009 1168 CD101 CD101 Top 2010 Songs of All-Time (December 2009) 2010
2010 1201 CD101 CD101 Top 2011 Songs of All-Time (December 2010) 2011
2010 192 97.9 The Loop The Loop USO Rock 'N' Roll 500 (2010) 500
2011 1253 CD101 CD101 Top 2012 Songs of All-Time (December 2011) 2011
2011 344 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1100 Countdown (2011) 1100
2011 144 97.9 The Loop The Loop Rock N Roll 500 (2011) 500
2012 246 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2012) 500
2012 346 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1200 Countdown (2012) 1200
2012 679 WXPN WXPN 885 Greatest Rock Songs (2012) 885
2013 1293 CD101 CD101 Top 2013 Songs of All-Time (December 2013) 2012
2013 140 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2013) 500
2013 262 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2013) 500
2013 473 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Grand Jam 1000 (2013) 1000
2013 208 Big 100 BIG 500 Labor Day Countdown (2013) 500
2014 1334 CD101 CD101 Top 2014 Songs of All-Time (2014) 2013
2014 294 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX 1K Countdown (2014) 1000
2014 208 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 400 (2014) 400
2014 199 Big 100 BIG 1000 New Year's Countdown (2014) 1000
2015 63 I-95 I-95 Memorial Day Weekend Top 500 (2015) 500
2015 473 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Classic Rock Countdown (2015) 1007
2015 239 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Firecracker 500 (2015) 499
2016 109 103.5 The Fox The Fox Memorial Day 500 (2016) 299
2016 109 100.7 WZLX 100.7 WZLX Top 1007 Countdown for 2016 1007
2016 147 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2016) 500
2016 40 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2016) 500
2017 83 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2017) 500
2017 157 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2017) 500
2017 38 97.9 The Loop 97.9 The Loop Top 540 Countdown (2017) 540
2018 50 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2018) 500
2018 141 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2018) 500
2019 139 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2019) 500
2019 1015 102.5 KZOK KZOK Top 1025 of 2019 1025
2019 110 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2019) 500
2019 58 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2019) 500
2019 143 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2019) 499
2019 122 Big 100 BIG 500 Memorial Day Countdown (2019) 500
2020 149 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2020) 500
2020 716 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2020) 1025
2020 93 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2020) 500
2020 81 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2020) 500
2020 180 Q105.7 Q105.7 Memorial Day 500 (2020) 499
2020 450 DC101 The DC101 Top 500 500
2021 499 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of the '80s 909
2021 259 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2021) 500
2021 542 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2021) 1043
2021 28 100.7 KSLX KSLX Arizona 500 (2021) 499
2021 125 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2021) 500
2021 64 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ 500 (2021) 500
2021 163 WCSX WCSX Rock & Roll 500 (2021) 499
2022 28 94.1 KRNA KRNA Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 309 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2022) 500
2022 749 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2022) 1043
2022 45 99.1 PLR 99.1 PLR Big 500 (2022) 500
2022 220 X96 X96 Top 500 Alternative Songs of All Time 500
2022 142 102.5 KZOK KZOK Classic Rock Top 1025 (2022) 1025
2022 24 100.7 KSLX KSLX Arizona 500 (2022) 500
2022 160 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 176 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2022) 500
2022 106 97.1 The River River 500 (2022) 500
2022 367 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2022) 500
2023 114 The Colorado Sound The Colorado Sound Top 850 Songs of the 1980s 850
2023 142 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 121 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 412 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2023) 500
2023 180 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 292 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2023) 500
2023 31 101.5 WPDH WPDH Top 1015 (2023) 1015
2023 277 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2023) 500
2023 864 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2023) 1043
2023 809 90.9 The Bridge 90.9 The Bridge Top 909 Songs of All Time 909
2023 51 97.1 The Drive 97.1 The Drive Memorial Day Weekend Rock N Roll 500 (2023) 500
2024 54 KQRS KQRS KQ 500 (2024) 499
2024 150 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2024) 498
2024 88 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 529 WYEP WYEP Best Songs of the Past 50 Years 1049
2024 143 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2024) 500
2024 133 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2024) 499
2024 67 KSHE 95 KSHE 95 Rock N' Roll 500 (2024) 500
2024 1018 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2024) 1043
2024 275 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2024) 500
2025 144 Qfm96 Qfm96 Memorial Day 500 (2025) 498
2025 97 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 305 97 Rock 97 Rock N Roll 500 (2025) 500
2025 521 Q104.3 Q104.3 Top 1,043 Classic Rock Songs of All Time (2025) 1043
2025 305 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2025) 500
2026 85 WFPK WFPK Top 500 Songs of the '80s 498
2026 73 WMGK WMGK Philly 500 (2026) 500
2026 106 106.7 WLLZ WLLZ Rock N Roll 500 (2026) 500
2026 44 100.7 KSLX KSLX Arizona 500 (2026) 500
2026 342 102.5 WDVE DVE Memorial Day 500 (2026) 500

Also listed as: white Wedding; White Wedding (Part I).

Charting alongside it in 1982

Best songs of 1982 →
  1. 1Town Called MaliceThe Jam
  2. 2Rock the CasbahThe Clash
  3. 3Should I Stay or Should I Go?The Clash
  4. 4Promised You a MiracleSimple Minds
  5. 5TemptationNew Order
  6. 6I Ran (So Far Away)A Flock of Seagulls

Comments

Log in or create a free account to join the conversation about "White Wedding" by Billy Idol.

Be kind and stay on topic. Guidelines

No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.