The Chant That Created A #1 Hit For Billy Idol

On this day back in 1987, Billy Idol turned a rock cover into a cultural phenomenon. His original studio version of “Mony Mony” had already been out for a few years, released in 1981 on his debut album. But it was the live version, officially released on October 2nd, 1987, that took the song over the top. That recording went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Idol his only U.S. chart-topper.

And the reason it became legendary? The chant. Fans had already started their own call-and-response at clubs and college parties:

“Hey! (Hey!) Say what? (Say what?) Get laid, get [expletive]!”

No, it wasn’t on the original record. Idol never sang it. But by the time the live single hit the airwaves, the chant was inseparable from the song. When Billy performed “Mony Mony” in concert, he would pause between the verses, grin, and let the audience shout it loud enough to shake the rafters.

That tradition still carries on today. Spin Idol’s version at any party, and you’ll hear the chant erupt from the crowd, sometimes louder than the music itself. What began as a fan-made joke became one of the most famous examples of how live music can change the destiny of a song.

So why did Billy cover “Mony Mony” in the first place? He said he loved how raw and infectious the 1968 Tommy James & The Shondells original was. It had that sweaty, sing-along, party energy he wanted to inject into his own sets. Idol once admitted he thought it was the “perfect song for a drunken bash”, loud, simple, and built for dancing. It wasn’t about remaking a classic; it was about capturing that wild, unpolished spirit and turning it loose on a new generation.

Billy Idol may not have invented the chant, but on October 2nd, 1987, he owned it, and turned “Mony Mony” into a number one anthem forever tied to audience participation.

Doug O’Brien