Studio Album · No. 5

Cyberpunk Songwriting Credits by Billy Idol

1993 Chrysalis 20 tracks 71:38

Produced by Robin Hancock  ·  Engineered by Robin Hancock, Ross Donaldson, Ed Korengo

Chrysalis Electronic RockElectronicaHard Rock
Artist
90%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 18 of 20 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 18 / 20 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 20 tracks with documented writers, by whether Billy Idol carries a lyricist or composer credit.

90%
18 trackswritten by Billy Idol 2 tracksoutside writers
Billy Idol's roles on this album

Share of the 20 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist90%
Composer90%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

20
Tracks
9
Lyricists
1
Producers
1993
Released
Data Insight

Eighteen of the twenty are his and none of them are his alone. Mark Younger-Smith is on almost all of them, which makes this the most sustained co-writing partnership of his career after Stevens.

Cyberpunk came out on Chrysalis in June 1993, a twenty track concept album about technology that was badly received and ended his run on the label.

Track Listing & Credits 20 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Untitled (Opening Manifesto)
Gareth BranwynBilly Idol Gareth BranwynWilliam Michael Albert Broad Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
2
Wasteland
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
3
Untitled (Pre-Shock)
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
4
Shock to the System
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
5
Tomorrow People
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
6
Adam in Chains
Billy IdolRobin Hancock William Michael Albert BroadRobin Hancock Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
7
Neuromancer
Billy IdolRobin HancockAce Mackay-SmithGreg Stump William Michael Albert BroadRobin HancockAce Mackay-SmithGreg Stump Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
8
Power Junkie
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
9
Untitled (That Which Beareth Thorns)
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
10
Love Labours On
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
11
Heroin
Lou Reed Lou Reed Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
12
Untitled (Injection)
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
13
Shangrila
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
14
Concrete Kingdom
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
15
Untitled (Galaxy Within)
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
16
Venus
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
17
Then the Night Comes
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
18
Untitled (Before Dawn)
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
19
Mother Dawn
Durga McBroomMartin Glover Durga McBroomMartin Glover Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)
20
Recap
Billy IdolMark Younger-Smith William Michael Albert BroadMark Younger-Smith Robin Hancock Billy Idol (Performer)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 10 contributors

BI
Billy Idol
Writer · Performer
On this album18 written
WM
William Michael Albert Broad
Writer
On this album18 written
MY
Mark Younger-Smith
Writer
On this album15 written
RH
Robin Hancock
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
AM
Ace Mackay-Smith
Writer
On this album1 written
DM
Durga McBroom
Writer
On this album1 written
GB
Gareth Branwyn
Writer
On this album1 written
GS
Greg Stump
Writer
On this album1 written
LR
Lou Reed
Writer
On this album1 written
MG
Martin Glover
Writer
On this album1 written

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Frequently Asked Questions Cyberpunk

Who wrote Cyberpunk?
Billy Idol and Mark Younger-Smith on eighteen of the twenty tracks, with no solo Idol credit. "Heroin" is Lou Reed's and "Mother Dawn" is by Durga McBroom and Martin Glover.
Did any single chart in the Hot 100?
No. "Shock to the System" and "Adam in Chains" both missed the chart.
How did it sell?
The discography publishes certifications for it rather than a sales figure.
Who produced it?
Robin Hancock.
Who engineered it?
Robin Hancock, with Ross Donaldson on additional engineering and Ed Korengo mixing.
What happened after it?
The album's reception ended his time on Chrysalis, and he released no new studio album for twelve years.
How long is the album?
71:38 across twenty tracks, several of them short spoken interludes.

Sources

Wikipedia: Cyberpunk Wikipedia: Billy Idol discography Wikipedia: Billy Idol Cover Art Archive: Cyberpunk by Billy Idol