Billy Idol to Rock 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic

One of the major sports highlights of recent years has been the annual New Year's Day outdoor NHL hockey game.

As we head toward 2015, it's been announced that Billy Idol will be on hand to provide entertainment as part of the festivities at the game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Washington Capitals taking place at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on New Year's Day.

The 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will be televised at 1 p.m. EST Thursday on NBC (as well as CBC and TVA) and Idol will provide a pre-game performance from the main stage just before the puck drop. It is not known as of yet which song or songs Idol will perform in advance of the game.

Idol will also invite more than 150 members from all five branches of the U.S. Armed Forces to join him onstage for a military salute prior to the start of the game. The soldiers will also be honored guests for the game.

Idol is promoting his latest album 'Kings & Queens of the Underground,' which features the lead single 'Can't Break Me Down.' The veteran vocalist and his band will be hitting the road in January and February for a new leg of dates supporting the album. The trek gets under way Jan. 21 at the House of Blues in New Orleans, La. and dates can be seen below.

Billy Idol 2015 North American Tour
Jan. 21 -- New Orleans, House of Blues
Jan. 22 -- Atlanta, Tabernacle
Jan. 24 -- Upper Darby, Pa., Tower Theatre
Jan. 25 -- Washington, D.C., Lincoln Theatre
Jan. 28 -- New York, Beacon Theatre
Jan. 29 -- Montclair, N.J. -- Wellmont Theater
Jan. 31 -- Boston, Orpheum Theatre
Feb. 3 -- Montreal, Metropolis
Feb. 4 -- Toronto, Massey Hall
Feb. 6 -- Detroit, Fillmore
Feb. 7 -- Chicago, Riviera Theatre
2/9 -- Denver, Paramount Theatre
2/12 -- Vancouver, Queen Elizabeth Theatre
2/13 -- Seattle, Paramount Theatre
2/15 -- Oakland, Fox Theatre
2/18-9 -- Los Angeles, Wiltern
2/21 -- Las Vegas, Cosmopolitan
2/22 -- Santa Ana, Observatory