Billy Idol was left tongue-tied on a US TV chat show when he boasted to the Jewish host he used to wear a swastika.

Idol was asked to comment about British royal Prince Harry's decision to wear the Nazi symbol on his arm at a recent fancy dress party, when he guested on advertising bigwig DONNIE DEUTSCH's new chat show The Big Idea on Tuesday (01FEB05).

But when Idol tried to play down Harry's big mistake and said he too wore a swastika when he was a rebellious teenager, Deutsch took offence.

Idol said, "When we were punk rockers we wore the swastika like the Hell's Angels."

And angry Deutsch cut him short, stating, "I've got a big problem with that, man. Billy, I've got a big problem with that."

Red-faced Idol tried to save face as Deutsch desperately tried to cut to a commercial break.

He rejoined, "I'm not saying, 'Do that now...' I never wore that (swastika) after I was 21 or something. We found out how terrible the sign of the swastika was. We didn't realise.

"We were young kids and all we wanted to do was p**s off the people who fought in the war, who were teaching us. It's one of the most worst symbols in the world."

Deutsch insisted Idol admit he made a mistake wearing the Nazi symbol, even when he was a teenager.

Idol stated, "It's totally a mistake. It's the most hateful symbol in the world. I hate it."

03/02/2005 09:27