The INSANE Story Of Rock Star BILLY SQUIER is So Sad

[@Johnnynix52]

"In the Dark" is one of the best rock songs of the 80s

[@garyporcello]

Yes it was "" everybody wants you also ..he still has one of my all time..x mas song.""" X mss! Is tge time to say I love you"":..

[@matthewmille]

The entire Don’t Say No album was fire. I feel Lonely Is the Night is the best but I won’t argue with anyone saying this about any of his songs, especially from Don’t Say No.

[@mikefisher2673]

​@@matthewmilleyour right not a bad song on it what a great album from 81.

[@billyt9987]

One the best albums

[@robertleinweber6037]

Totally agree. Great sonics.

[@KevinLogsdonMusic]

My parents met at a Billy Squier concert in 1984. I exist because of Billy Squier. Thanks, Billy!

[@lalaboards]

Coolest story on the internet this evening .

[@Jgeneraledger23]

The fcuked-their arses off after meeting up, under the same roof as The Man-The Myth-The Legend ! Don't squander a good thing, Kev!

[@FloridaDude68]

He’s a gifted musician. He did something that most musicians never do… he had several hits. It is very rare to even have one hit

[@sandysmith9869]

I don't care about Billy Squire's music videos. I like his music. That's all that matters to me.

[@robertpolnicky7702]

All of my rock fan buddies back when he was popular said the very same thing. They didn't care if his video looked gay. Judas priest had a gay member. No one cared.

[@popcorn9791]

Wow...that's like really interesting.

[@DogSlobberGardens-i7f]

The video revolution was strange. Crappy videos "ruined" some really good artists and bands, and lots of other mediocre-to-awful people became huge stars based on one video. A friend once told me that he didn't like music videos, good or bad, because they interfered with him interpreting the song in his head however it moved him. And there's something to that.

[@DogSlobberGardens-i7f]

@@robertpolnicky7702 tbf a lot of people acted *shocked* when Rob Halford came out. Ummm... have you ever seen him onstage or in a video? If you didn't know the band's music, it would have been reasonable to assume he was a member of the Village People for pete's sake. Then of course there were all the drag queens singing glam metal songs about young girls - that must have been confusing to a lot of folks, too.

[@brettschermeister9389]

​@robertpolnicky7702 i didn't know rob was gay. I was a very young teenager when I first heard priest. In high school it came out he was. It just shocked me. I mean his lyrics just took with me. In my niativity, I couldn't believe it. But as I got more mature and listened to his lyrics, I was like ahhhhh, I get it now. Still love priest, they are one of my top 5 favorite bands. I also didn't know Freddie mercury was gay until he had aids. Now, I realize 90% of all the songs I liked were about sex.

[@rl9579]

I met Billy in 93 at a gym on the upper west side in New York. He was one of the nicest people I have ever met in NY. He even took me to Powerstation where he recorded an Album. A few years later I ran into him at a local restaurant and the girl I was with was starstruck he was again a normal nice guy.

[@andreatalbot2868]

He still has a fan base. He should jump on one of those 80s concerts with Foreigner, Loverboy etc👍

[@goodcruisin1]

I'd go

[@chrisnizer]

He wasn't particularly gracious to his fans, at least that was our (my sister and myself) experience. Saw him onboard a flight from Tucson to LAX back in the early 80's. He and Gatekeeper sat on the opposite side just a row behind...in coach/economy seating. He never said one word to anyone other than Gatekeeper. Gatekeeper even ordered his drinks from the flight attendants. If the plane would have crashed, Gatekeeper would have screamed 😱 for them both too!

[@DogSlobberGardens-i7f]

@@chrisnizer rockstars have an obligation to write, record, and perform onstage. They do not have an obligation to be friendly and accommodating to every random person they see on a plane.

[@chrisnizer]

@DogSlobberGardens-i7f YOU are the only one talking about any "obligations." And stick to speaking for yourself. We don't need your input on everything, just not that important in spite of whatever your ego is telling you. Maybe start with a puppy to give you the attention you're desperately seeking. Might even lead to interaction with a human being! No guarantee, you're gonna be a tough sell...for obvious reasons. But it's certainly not outside the realm of possibility.

[@chrisnizer]

@DogSlobberGardens-i7f Why on Earth would anyone need you to validate their experience?? Humans have been doing that without your "help" for plenty long time.⌛️ Maybe share an experience of your OWN. Musicians in general and Billy Squire in particular don't need you to be their Gatekeeper. Tough sell yes indeed, whoever that is gets my deepest most sincere sympathies.

[@AndrewReevesArt]

He was great - shame on the labels for not further developing his talent. He had it all.

[@nemesisjuggernaut7920]

Absolutely. More so for trying to micromanage his work

[@tallguynmass]

Absolutely wore out the "Don't Say No" cassette in 1981. I consider that a nearly perfect album from front to back. Glad to see a fellow Mass. guy hit the big time. Not many people can say they accomplished what Billy did as a musician.

[@hobartw9770]

He still made it 100 times further than most humans ever will.

[@markymarkrmarkymarkr3676]

Atleast 🥺

[@JohnJano]

TRUE!😊

[@kenmcbride6515]

Several life times

[@kprimm1967]

one of the very best of all time. Don't say no is a perfect album!

[@randythomas2339]

Best concert I've ever been to was Billy Squier opening for Queen. Everyone was singing along to both bands. I will never forget it.

[@MichaelGorman-l7y]

I saw this show in Detroit and I remember him playing really loud. He rocked out for sure and it was a good show.

[@MustangJen777]

Seen that concert in 1983 in Phoenix, Az

[@dan71559]

One stupid video killed his career but not his incredible talent. Billy Squire will always be a standout musician.

[@frankbeltran9372]

He owns his own publishing and the Big Beat is hugely sampled in rap. He doesnt need to work. What a great talent. Long Live The Squier!!

[@UFOROX]

The most sampled songs

[@twiddledeebarna3257]

He is a musician not a dancer. He is a amazing artist! People need to get over it.

[@brettschermeister9389]

It was the times. People forget how it was back then.

[@jeank8061]

I've been recently revisting some of Billy Squier's early 80s hits - and they're SO good. The awkward Rock Me Tonight video was so unfortunate, but it seems like an overreaction to sink the career of such a talented guy

[@StarshipTrooper2050]

Check out the song “She’s A Runner” Awesome song!

[@reeb9016]

Yeah, I was a bit like, "What's up with this video?" But it didn't make me think he was gay. I was really surprised it sunk him like it did. I had bought the album and wasn't as impressed with it as his previous albums, but it wasn't bad.

[@ChristineBroughton]

I was lucky enough to see Billy Squire 4 times in concert, and he was then one of the best musical artists of the 80s. My sister just bought me His greatest hits, and I am looking forward to listening to it again and again. ❤

[@Stanley-x4w]

Emotions in emotions was kick ass

[@michelletrippi7782]

Wore that one out!

[@thomascosden540]

Early Billy Squire. Early ‘80’s. Early Iron Maiden. Early ‘80’s. Judas Priest in the early ‘80’s. I just want to go back to the early ‘80’s.

[@michaelpeacestewart]

His songs are legendary

[@junkerscott]

He needs to do a farewell tour. So many of us who didn’t get to see him in the 80s need a chance to see him.

[@cygnusrider]

He could reform the Don't Say No lineup with the exception of the late Bobby Chouinard. I would love to see them on stage.

[@spencerarnold6422]

❤ He is and always will be part of my teenage years in high school. We listened to him for years, lots of hits, and a talented rock legend.

[@ericchild8845]

I grew up listening to all his hits on the radio. I bought each and every album he released starting with Don’t Say No and ending with Hear and Now. I do recall his attempt to climb Mt. Everest, though vaguely. He was ahead of his time for sure. He deserves to be in the RR HoF if he isn’t already.

[@cygnusrider]

I did not let the Rock Me Tonite video change my thoughts about Billy and his music. I liked him since 1981. He made some really good arena rock. The later albums all had some good songs that still stand up today.

[@Jason-cm6uh]

"The Stroke" was THE HIT at the roller rink when I was a kid!

[@kevinmack8411]

Yup.. even in Anchorage Alaska lol

[@kevinmack8411]

Yup..even in Anchorage Alaska lol

[@gewglesux]

bwhahahahha you aint kidding.... folks trying to dance/ skate to that... but those were good times

[@musicmamma]

His music has always been top-notch, since day 1. Video, or no video. Rock on, Billy!!

[@77blueWater]

Fantastic singer, guitarist, and songwriter.

[@germancaperarojas4023]

That is no sad story, that is the tell of a fighter, true to his roots, and is one the greatest of all time. He and his 1979 band should be inducted in the R&R hall of fame ASAP, before he gets any older.

[@adearmom]

I'm with you! He should be in the Hall of Fame!

[@cygnusrider]

He should get that band back on the road. Please Billy, think about it.

[@tony3683]

I saw Billy open for Foreigner in November of 1981 at Roberts Stadium in Evansville Indiana. Like his career, the stadium is just a fond memory.

[@TheChef470]

His current Net worth is 80 million.......tragic.

[@adearmom]

I hate how they're making him sound! I'll always love his music!!

[@rickaitkins6539]

I know, riiight! This video is sad and worthless. Billy will probably sue them for Defamation of character.

[@cagoodson70]

Must be really hard to survive. How sad 😢

[@dlonegunman]

Their video for “Rock Me Tonight” was gay af , but it was a good song.

[@andreatalbot2868]

Back then, gay seemed like a bad thing. IMO, thanks to Boy George, it started to be accepted. Our generation X evolved and accepted all👍

[@ventues9751]

Yes !!! It was A Great Song !!!

[@george25199]

The gay video did him in .

[@CraigzyRock]

Unfortunately that was all it took back then for the crowd to move on. The fans were extremely homophobic back then. It was harsh!

[@billdivine9501]

@@CraigzyRockwhat about Queen? They were huge! People didn’t care that Mercury was gay.

[@adearmom]

Peter Frampton got in the Hall of Fame! Billy Squier should be a breeze to get in. The guy was brilliant!

[@stepheni5079]

Eddie VH looked like Squire back in the 80's, same look, hair etc

[@ianpryor3255]

Seen him in Detroit in the early 80's. He was fantastic!

[@tombrzozowski173]

Saw him twice in Lakeland in the 80's!! Had so much energy! He ran back and forth and jumped the whole time! Incredible amount of energy!! And GREAT music and show!! One of my all time memories and thats with seeing AC/DC 5 times and on down the list! I ALWAYS remember his concerts! Alot blend together 😅 but not this one! Oh and skid row later on!

[@joeschmoe8685]

Lonely is the night is a classic! The intro is one of the most iconic opening licks in rock history. When people talk about who is underrated I go straight to him.

[@ronwingeart4345]

Still a Fan and always will be🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@BruceWalther-s2l]

Well, I'm glad to see Billy Squier's career didn't fade into total obscurity and he has not been ill for a decade or anything all that tragic. I wish I would have at the least bought his "16 Greatest Strokes" album ... or the acoustic Happy Blue. Cool to hear Billy S is a bluesman at heart, too.

[@TeeCee_Luckee]

I was 18, I never heard anyone bashing squire at that time. Maybe they were but videos were so new I was just thankful to be able to watch them. And there were plenty of cheesy videos. This guy has a wonderful collection of rock and roll songs. You can see from his early videos he's double-jointed and kind of feminine. I guess it was just a sad perfect storm. I love his music 🎶

[@Stephensorrentino]

Billy is iconic. His songwriting, his performances are second to none. I saw him open for foreigner probably in 1982-ish and he blew up Nassau Colosseum on Long Island. It was amazing. He is truly a rockstar.

[@GuitarJams-zs7yf]

Hard to believe people would go against Billy Squier for being gay especially since the #1 band of all time Queen had a openly gay singer.

[@brettschermeister9389]

I never knew Freddie mercury was gay until he got aids. I was in high school then. I didn't think any of my rock idols were gay. Now I hear the lyrics and I'm like ok, now I see it.

[@scentdragon8648]

Except he's not or he's kept it a well hidden secret throughout his 22 years of marriage to his wife.

[@smb7647]

It was the prancing in leggins that did him in

[@Sunchild714]

@@smb7647 LOL

[@markhamilton8765]

Freddy was not “openly gay”.

[@vsenefsky]

Lord knows how big Billy was in the early 80's. We had him, Rick Springfield, Night Ranger, Def Leppard, some of the greatest artists of all time.

[@edpoe1108]

I saw Billy at a meet & greet held at a bookstore in Columbus, Oh. back in 1998. He said that the promotion of grunge music in the early 90s is what really set back his career.

[@raymondkunkel9615]

Yes but no grunge is gone thank god

[@michellespivey1185]

Come on, Billy, bless us with your talents again. You were my favorite musician in the 80s and I saw you more than anyone else. Your return will be welcomed!

[@benbusy7295]

I met billy In Nashville in the early 90s and we partied . it was 7 or 8 of us and we got shit faced

[@joelsmith4816]

Only a miniscule amount of people can create 50 songs and more that are complete jams. Love you Billy!!!

[@billyshane3804]

"Don't Say No" is an absolutely brilliant rock'n'roll album.

[@Sangria]

The title of this video along with the video itself IS the tragic downfall of KZbin

[@ColfaxJones]

exactly right, see my comment I left 6 days after yours. I'm certain this video was AI generated and a waste of everyones time.

[@jeffbauer3425]

His number 1. mistake, was not saying to the video director.... " Hey look, I dont like your idea of this video. I don't like the direction you're going here ". Always lookout for number 1. Which is you .

[@DM-il1hf]

Then the director calls the label head & he calls the band telling them to listen to the director or else find a new label and/or a new career.

[@jeffbauer3425]

@DM-il1hf Billy Squire was a huge success back then. I hardly think any record label would risk losing such a huge profitable artist because he didn't agree with a gay video director . No . Squire and his manager weren't paying attention to the details, of image .

[@toniwalser3989]

The videos were good, because it was the early years of MTV, which helped promote many unknown talented artists that may not have gotten the notoriety that they deserved. Billy Squire obviously had an extremely strong voice and good songs that if not for MTV may never have been heard and catapulted him to the status that he deserved after working so hard to get to where he deserved to be.

[@toniwalser3989]

MTV really helped Billy Squire's musical career. His songs were great and so were his videos. Unfortunately, some people thought he was gay due to the way the videos were directed and the way the songs were portrayed. As much as I liked Billy Squire, even I thought he might be gay, which he wasn't.

[@lj6278]

This is such an AI word salad. It's basically repeating similar phases. Billy was great until he went all gay in that video.

[@H-mu4bo]

So true. This is generic and droney, and the author just put "Billy Squier autobiography" and the AI algorithm spat this out. About 5 mins work but brings in a steady stream of dollars.

[@dwightplock1162]

He wasn’t gay, the producer of the video was . Billy was just kinda like, “ok whatever sells my music”.

[@garyporcello]

"" rock you @ night. Video killed him. He sunk..faster than the titanic..to bad..

[@TheColdrush22]

I agree w/the first two sentences. It's really weird. YOU're gay for the third sentence, though.

[@ParanormalResponse]

I literally just told my girlfriend that, No need to watch this.

[@davemoyer505]

Billy ROCKED!!!!👍🎸🇺🇸❤️

[@davidraymer397]

He was a major hitmaker in the 80s, and fell victim to changing musical tastes in the 90s and 2000s. He is back on top again. Good job Billy.

[@Kevin-e9p8u]

Dont Say No is one of the best rock albums of all time.

[@soylentkris]

The picture at 2:22 is Warren DeMartini

[@joseangelbocanegra5549]

That's what I was just fixing to comment! Ha!

[@KnockAndAskToday]

Straight away I see DeMartini and it reminds me of how many other times videos like this have random incorrect pictures.

[@markr.devereux3385]

i will say he developed a great voice. Saw him in concert and he was as they said energetic and sang perfectly. The hits came and went. Havent thought much about SQUIRE since those days.

[@bb-gc2tx]

its not to sad billy is most sampled artist in hip hop history he is a very wealthy man

[@JohnnyLee-hz7xy]

And, smart. He's one of very few artists that own all their masters. He also retains all publishing rights to his image & discography

[@DogSlobberGardens-i7f]

@@JohnnyLee-hz7xy good for him, because he's still getting played regularly on the classic rock stations.

[@charliedillon1400]

@@JohnnyLee-hz7xy JJ French from Twisted Sister bought back their catalogue when grunge came and killed hair metal. Now he is very wealthy because they play those TS songs at pro sports arenas and he get mailbox money.

[@wildlifewonders73]

Such a talented and iconic musician! I grew up hearing him everywhere and lived!

[@BinkyTheGoddessDivine]

This is a great example of why you should never surround yourself with yes-people. You need people around you who will tell you the unvarnished truth, no matter how ugly. That video turned out to be the worst MTV video ever! That was a costly lesson for Billy Squire to learn, because he's a talented artist.

[@Jgeneraledger23]

Part of the trouble was, becoming famous after the age of 30. "Late-Famers" always get less-than Respect... Billy should be in the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame

[@aspenrosen3457]

I always thought it was one of his videos where he was dancing around in a pink shirt lost his male fan base. MTV didn't work out for him.

[@eyedigressmusic1116]

And this happened at a time when men wore makeup, big hair and tight pants.

[@Melmoth191]

"Don't Say No" is the greatest pure rock and roll album of all time. Billy is a genius and he didn't disappear at all.

[@nancymjohnson]

Who put this together? Why did they not mention that Squire was gay? It really wasn’t a secret. I was a DJ in Dallas at the height of his fame. He came on to a male photographer I know who did a session with him. It wasn’t well known at first, but he came out by “The Stroke” days. We talked about it on the air. You can’t believe all of these type videos. Him being gay had little to do with popularity waning. It happens to 95% of bands.

[@TheColdrush22]

He's not gay, you dummy.

[@markr.devereux3385]

I was reading a music magazine back in tha t era and if I remember a female journalist found him creepy and not hygenic. maybe now I see he wasn't into girls too much.

[@bootoxkikka]

I always felt he sounded like Freddie Mercury, or vice versa, and just as creative and original. I can't figure out why anyone would say he dropped out-he didn't. His music still gets a lot of airplay to this day. The Cars, Boston, Aerosmith, and Billy Squier put Boston classic rock on the charts (albeit, Boston was not really a band in my eyes-more like a studio creation).

[@DogSlobberGardens-i7f]

Those are all fair assessments.

[@ericredlefsen5554]

The opening track from Signs Of Life in '84 was a killer, "All Night Long." Rock radio was playing it, the video was great and it sure looked like Billy had another hit album on his hands. Then Rock me Tonight was released as a single and was being played on rock and pop radio, momentum was building - then all hell broke loose when the video hit, a shame. I worked in a record store in 1981 when Don't Say No was released, I couldn't unpack the albums fast enough, every time I turned around the shelves were empty!

[@tracieday8661]

Billy Squire was one of my favorites. I saw him with Def Leppard. Excellent concert.

[@scottbostic6247]

Im 55 now. I had his 2nd album. When I saw the video for "rock me tonight" from the 3rd album , it changed absolutely nothing about how i felt about him. I was 17, 18 at the time. I thought," oh, he's gay". Couldn't have cared less. I'm not gay and didn't care if he was. I wasn't after" him". I was after his music. Even back then, I wasn't homophobic. If you are gay, just understand that I'm not. Hell, I new Rob Halford was gay. I still jammed to them. I really hated what people did to him and loved how he Rocked that Les Paul.

[@charlesmurray3272]

His first "Tale of the Tape" was incredible! songs "Rich Kid", "Who's Your Boyfriend", "You Should Be High Love" some great songs!

[@SalahP.Secondz]

His Christmas song is legendary..gotta play it every year!

[@gloriadignazio2515]

My Kinda Lover and In the Dark rock!!!!!!

[@jeffreymartin2130]

She's a Runner is my favorite. Love is a 4 Letter Word is up there also.

[@Laura-hk4th]

Loved his album & listened to it a lot in the 1980’s

[@schelin1447]

I've had never heard of him before Enough is Enough, but after that album, he was is in my all time fame.

[@DavidHall-d8q]

I was a junior in high school ( Louisville , Kentucky ) when I saw Billy Squier ( Piper ) and John Waits ( The Baby's ) . Those were incredible years ! PK

[@anthonymorton4050]

Saw him with his band piper 1977 great performance

[@randywilliams2505]

He never ever ruled the world of Rock and Roll

[@michaelreardon3958]

Nothing is "tragic" about this man.

[@nemesisjuggernaut7920]

It’s always the labels who wreck an artist. They think they know better, and they come in with their “formulas.” Art is not math. It can be shaped and molded within parameters, but the appeal to the audience lies in the expression of the artist

[@mexigirl64]

Don’t Say No was profound. Great incredible album . I saw Squire in Chicago when Navy pier used to have the Super Bowl of rock 1,2, 3 & 4 and all stages had different performers and Billy Squier was doing a live broadcast and got his autograph.

[@redbum321]

This man is a great musician and made so many great songs.

[@lawrencealberts898]

That was the era in which MTV transitioned to where seemingly every video had to have choreography in it. Whether or not the artist was more of a singer, versus a dancer/performer. Squier is an example, Benatar another.

[@boxingfan5742]

Wow! I did not know that the Rock Me Tonight video had such a backfire effect. I get that he had some dance moves that appeared a bit effeminate, but a lot of people have some awkward dance moves, and even if he did/does go both ways, what the heck do I care? That song, and a bunch of his other songs, was awesome. I still bounce off the walls when I hear it today. I saw him in concert for that tour in the Hollywood Sportatorium (FL) and had a great time.

[@kevinjones4326]

Squier was most definitely one of my favorites. Don’t Say No is in my top 50 rock albums of all time. I rate his disappearance along with DLR’s departure from Van Halen, as among the most disappointing events in rick music. Fantastic in every regard.

[@nuchvadir]

Saw Piper 12/31/77 open for Kiss. Didn't realize for years that it was Billy Squier😬

[@shanearmstrong7476]

So Sad... He is a pure bad ass. That dude could write killer riffs and his vocal chops are always been under rated. 1 Bad video was horrible as the song was amazing and perfecting chord progressions are spot on.

[@Boogenhagen100]

Look billy, giving up too much creative control on a video is one thing; recognizing that the director is dressing you in pink and having you wave your hands around like some West Hollywood queen is something different. Cmon dude. If you really weren’t gay or whatever you would say no! Immediately.

[@seanhammer6296]

Look at all the big hair, make-up wearing bands of the era. Looking back, they look gay af. But who cares if someone is gay?

[@Rusty-METAL-J]

If you say, "I'm a fan of so & so," If you're truly a fan, nothing Else Matters. It's about the music. BUT... IŦ you later say that you're not a fan anymore, especially when it's not about the music, then you need this truth and I am the honest motherfucker that is giving it to Y'all. You're not a fan of that artist and you never were. You're a P-O-S-E-R. Take your cryin ass home. We're trying to hear the sounds we love. I wasn't born until 1979, but I grew up with Q106.3 Macon, Georgia's Home for Rock, and I have always appreciated Billy's Guitar work. Songs like The Stroke, made me wanna be a Fuckin ROCKSTAR.

[@geneelliott4267]

First concert was Billy opening for Foreigner. Billy totally outdid Foreigner. Long live Billy!

[@rbilleaud]

Listened to Piper. Pretty darn good. Probably not at th4 level of Boston's debut, but definitely worth a listen.

[@ArloIsFromMars]

I love this freaking guy

[@jmpsthrufyre]

Mr Bungles cover of The Stroke (Me) is pretty insane...

[@robertmakiney8708]

Billy, hit the road and play the hits . I’d be there in a hot minute.

[@freddiejay2512]

I’m 0:38 in and I can tell you what happened because I was a huge fan but when the video for Rock Me Tonight came out it changed the trajectory of his career

[@Davidmeek-il7ds]

Love his music! Rock on Billy!

[@ronbaker8383]

Love billy squire. Every other day I jam 1 or 2 of his albums seen him on the creatures of habit tour and it's Christmas time by Billy will be on the radio soon

[@MichaelGorman-l7y]

I saw him warm up for Queen in 1982 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit when I was 17 years old. He put on a good show and I liked his radio songs, but I didn't have any of his albums in my collection.

[@michelletrippi7782]

Very first concert was Billy Squier and Nazareth. Was 12 years old and ticket was like 10 bucks! Im pretty sure i remember him swinging around on a rope for that concert 😅 loved all his stuff growing up in the 80s

[@ScottRomans-l8n]

He had G.E.Smith as a member of the group. Couldn’t have gotten a more amazing guitarist!

[@RobReuter]

He has a few great albums and has a net worth $40 million. Nothing sad about that.

[@matthewmille]

Billy rocks and I hope he puts together a tour. I will definitely attend. That said, this AI generated video regurgitating well know facts alongside pics and videos that have nothing to do with what’s being spoken about sucks.