NHL snags Billy Idol for Winter Classic entertainment
Continuing in the grand tradition of Def Leppard and KISS, the National Hockey League will present Billy Idol* at the 2015 NHL Winter Classic.
FYI: Next year marks the 30-year anniversary of the release of “Rebel Yell.”
Idol will appear before the puck is dropped at Nationals Park and sing one of his many hits, perhaps even that classic ode to masturbation “Dancing With Myself.” He’ll then be joined by more than 150 members of all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces for a special salute, although not the one Billy used in his punk days we imagine.
The NHL also announced that singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw will sing during the first intermission, celebrating the 11-year anniversary of his debut album “Chariot.”
During the second intermission, country singer Lee Greenwood and the U.S. Army Chorus will present a rousing rendition of “God Bless The USA,” the most jingoisty of jingoist songs not performed by Toby Keith. Just in case you were worried there wouldn’t be an overt sledgehammer of ‘Merican pride during the D.C. Winter Classic featuring a world-famous Russian and several dozen Canadians.
* Hey, we snark, but KISS was awesome at the LA Stadium Series game and at the very least provided us with the Greatest Photo Of Gary Bettman In The History Of Ever.
