Courtesy of NYC Environmental ProtectionBilly Idol has a message for people who drive vehicles in New York City: “Don’t idle!”
The veteran rocker is taking part in a new environmental campaign spearheaded by the Big Apple’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, encouraging people to not leave their vehicles idling.
Idol joined de Blasio at City Hall Thursday to announce the launch of the “War on Idling” initiative. The campaign features the slogan “Billy never idles — and neither should you!” Idol’s also lent his image to billboards, posters and t-shirts, and his voice to TV, radio and online ads.
Introducing Idol at Thursday’s gathering, de Blasio said, “He cares about our city, he cares about our Earth, his music has moved so many people and given a lot of us a sense that maybe there was a better way to do things. And today he has shown us there’s a better way to do things.”
The rocker then took the podium and explained that he was motivated to take part in the initiative because he lived on New York’s Long Island for a few years when he was a child, and music fans in the city helped him “ignite” his solo career in the 1980s.
“I just wanted to give back to the city,” Billy said. “And…when I heard about this campaign, it just made sense. It’s amusing, but at the same time it’s very serious. If you can, shut off your engine and save my health…[H]elp my lungs. I need my lungs to breathe and sing.”
Idol then led the crowd in a chant of “Billy never idles!
You can watch the whole ceremony at WABC TV’s YouTube channel, and find out more about the campaign at BillyNeverIdles.nyc. Check out a promo spot at NYC Water’s YouTube channel.
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