Billy Idol and Steve Stevens Inducted Into Hollywood Rockwalk Ahead of Rock Hall

The duo joined more than 150 artists honored by the Rockwalk since 1985, with their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction still to come in November.

Billy Idol and guitarist Steve Stevens were inducted into the Hollywood Rockwalk on June 23 during a ceremony at Guitar Center's flagship Hollywood location on Sunset Boulevard. Hosted by radio personality Richard Blade, the event included a handprint ceremony outside the store and placed the duo alongside more than 150 artists and innovators honored by the Rockwalk since its founding in 1985.

A Ceremony on Sunset Boulevard

The induction was hosted by Richard Blade, the legendary radio personality long associated with the new wave and rock formats that helped launch Idol's career in the early 1980s. Idol and Stevens pressed their handprints into the Rockwalk outside Guitar Center's Sunset Boulevard store, joining a roster that includes Eric Clapton, John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Aerosmith, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Alanis Morissette, Black Sabbath, The Ramones, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash.

Idol reflected warmly on his partnership with Stevens at the event. “I've had a fantastic time with Steve, he's made a lot of my crazy ideas come true,” he said. “You can never really ask for anything more than that. It really is special and incredible, and I've enjoyed every minute of it. It's great to be honored together by Guitar Center on the Rockwalk.”

Stevens echoed the sentiment, framing the honor in terms of the duo's four-decade bond. “It's humbling to now be amongst this incredible group of musicians on Guitar Center's Rockwalk,” he said. “More than anything, this is a testament to over 45 years of great laughs, great songs that now belong to the world, and a great friendship.”

Guitar Center Revives a Dormant Institution

The Rockwalk held at least one induction ceremony every year but one between 1985 and 2018, skipping only 2009. It then went on hiatus, partly due to the pandemic and partly because of shifting priorities at Guitar Center. The program's return began in 2024 with an induction ceremony for Gary Clark Jr.

Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto framed the revival as part of a broader company transformation. “Rockwalk exists to honor the artists who leave a lasting mark on music culture,” Dalporto said. “Billy Idol and Steve Stevens have inspired generations of musicians, created entirely new sounds, and Guitar Center has had the privilege of being part of that journey.” The company is described as re-investing in programs and experiences that have historically connected it to artists and musicians.

A Milestone Year for Idol and Stevens

The Rockwalk induction is one of several major honors arriving for the pair in 2025. On May 25, Idol received a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards, where he and Stevens performed “White Wedding,” “Eyes Without a Face,” and “Dancing With Myself.”

On Nov. 14, the two will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony held at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The occasion carries an additional layer of historical significance: it will be only the second time a sideman has been inducted alongside a solo artist. The first instance came four years ago, when Pat Benatar's husband and primary musical partner, guitarist Neil Giraldo, was included as part of her induction.

What we know

• Billy Idol and Steve Stevens were inducted into the Hollywood Rockwalk on June 23 at Guitar Center's flagship Hollywood location on Sunset Boulevard.
• The ceremony was hosted by radio personality Richard Blade and included a handprint ceremony outside the store.
• The Rockwalk has honored more than 150 artists and innovators since its founding in 1985.
• The Rockwalk went on hiatus after 2018 and returned in 2024 with an induction for Gary Clark Jr.
• Idol and Stevens will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on Nov. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
• Their Rock Hall induction will be only the second time a sideman has been inducted alongside a solo artist; the first was Neil Giraldo with Pat Benatar.
• Idol received a lifetime achievement award at the American Music Awards on May 25, where he and Stevens performed “White Wedding,” “Eyes Without a Face,” and “Dancing With Myself.”

The take

The pairing of Idol and Stevens has always been one of rock's more underappreciated creative partnerships. Where Idol supplied the snarl and the image, Stevens delivered some of the most technically sophisticated guitar work to ever land on mainstream radio, blending rockabilly twang, hard rock crunch, and studio experimentation in ways that still sound distinctive decades later. His solo on “Rebel Yell” alone would qualify as a career-defining moment for most guitarists.

The Rock Hall's decision to induct Stevens alongside Idol as a sideman is genuinely rare. The Hall has historically been reluctant to honor the architects behind solo artists, which is why the Neil Giraldo precedent with Pat Benatar four years ago felt like a policy shift worth watching. Two instances in quick succession suggests the Hall may be more deliberately rethinking how it credits collaborative partnerships that don't fit the traditional band model.

The Rockwalk revival is also worth noting in a broader context. Guitar Center has faced significant financial turbulence in recent years, and re-engaging with legacy programs like the Rockwalk signals an effort to reclaim cultural relevance alongside retail recovery. For a generation of musicians who grew up treating the Sunset Boulevard store as a pilgrimage site, the return of the handprint ceremony carries real symbolic weight.

Why it matters

For Classic Rock fans, the Idol-Stevens Rockwalk induction is a reminder that the most enduring partnerships in the genre are often the ones built on genuine creative chemistry rather than contractual necessity. Stevens has spent more than four decades making Idol's vision sound bigger and stranger than it had any right to be. Seeing that relationship recognized twice in one year, first at the AMAs and now on the Rockwalk, with the Rock Hall still ahead, reflects a long-overdue accounting of how much the guitarist shaped one of the era's defining sounds.

What's next

The next major milestone for Idol and Stevens is their Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, scheduled for Nov. 14 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. That ceremony will mark only the second time in the Hall's history that a sideman has been inducted alongside a solo artist.

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