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{{Short description|American rock musician (born 1972)}} | |||
{{Infobox musical artist | |||
{{Pp-blp|small=yes}} | |||
|Name = Billie Joe Armstrong | |||
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} | |||
|Img = Billie Joe Armstrong at mic in Cardiff.png | |||
{{Infobox person | |||
|Background = light blue | |||
| name = | |||
|Birth_name = Billie Joe Armstrong | |||
| image = GreenDayIOW230624 (307 of 367) (cropped).jpg | |||
|Born = {{Birth date and age|1972|2|17}}<br/>{{flagicon|USA}} ], ], ] | |||
| caption = Armstrong performing at the ] 2024 | |||
|Instrument = ], ], ], ], ], ], ] | |||
| image_size = | |||
|Genre = ]<br> ]<br> ]<br> ] | |||
| alias = {{hlist|Fink|Wilhelm Fink|Reverend Strychnine Twitch}} | |||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|02|17}} | |||
| birth_place = ], U.S. | |||
| occupation = {{flatlist| | |||
* Singer | |||
* musician | |||
* songwriter | |||
* actor | |||
* businessman | |||
}} | }} | ||
| spouse = {{plainlist| | |||
'''Billie Joe Armstrong''' (born ], ], in ], ]) is best known for his role as the main songwriter, lead ], ], and ] for the rock band ]. | |||
* {{marriage|Adrienne Nesser|1994|}} | |||
}} | |||
| partner = <!--partner parameter is for unmarried life partners, not dating or fiances--> | |||
| children = 2 | |||
| relatives = ] (brother-in-law) | |||
| awards = ] | |||
| signature = File:Billie Joe Armstrong signature.svg | |||
| module = {{Infobox musical artist | |||
| embed=yes | |||
| instrument = {{flatlist| | |||
* Vocals | |||
* guitar | |||
<!-- only most commonly used instruments --> | |||
}} | |||
| years_active = 1987–present | |||
| genre = {{flatlist| | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ]<ref name="egerdahl">{{cite book |last1=Egerdahl |first1=Kjersti |title=Green Day: A Musical Biography |date=2010 |publisher=Greenwood Press |isbn=9780313365973 |page=23 |quote=Armstrong briefly played guitar in the hardcore band Corrupted Morals, another Lookout! band.}}</ref> | |||
}} | |||
| label = {{hlist|]|]|]|]}} | |||
| current_member_of = {{flatlist| | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* the Armstrongs | |||
* the Boo | |||
* the Upside Downers | |||
}} | |||
| past_member_of = {{flatlist| | |||
* Desecrated Youth<ref name="altpress16">{{cite web |last1=Darus |first1=Alex |title=Billie Joe Armstrong rocking a backyard gig at 16 is straight punk |url=https://www.altpress.com/billie-joe-armstrong-punk-band-16/ |website=Alternative Press |date=March 22, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819164034/https://www.altpress.com/billie-joe-armstrong-punk-band-16/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
* Corrupted Morals<ref name="egerdahl"/> | |||
}} | |||
| website = | |||
}} | |||
}} | |||
'''Billie Joe Armstrong''' (born February 17, 1972) is an American musician and actor. He is best known for being the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band ], which he co-founded with ] in 1987. He is also a guitarist and vocalist for the ] band ], and provides lead vocals for Green Day's side projects ], ], ] and ]. Armstrong has been considered by critics as one of the greatest punk rock guitarists of all time.<ref name="foguitar">{{cite web |title=From Sex Pistols to The Clash: Punk rock's 10 greatest guitarists of all time |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/punk-10-greatest-guitarists-ramones-clash-sex-pistols/ |website=] |date=February 17, 2021 |access-date=April 28, 2022 |archive-date=February 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218131323/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/punk-10-greatest-guitarists-ramones-clash-sex-pistols/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 16, 2022 |title=20 greatest punk-rock guitarists of all time |url=https://www.altpress.com/features/best-punk-rock-guitarists-steve-jones-joan-jett/ |access-date=May 8, 2022 |website=Alternative Press |archive-date=May 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508154134/https://www.altpress.com/features/best-punk-rock-guitarists-steve-jones-joan-jett/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 6, 2020 |title=The 100 greatest guitarists of all time |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time/9 |access-date=May 8, 2022 |website=Guitar World |archive-date=May 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508154134/https://www.guitarworld.com/features/the-100-greatest-guitarists-of-all-time/9 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Armstrong developed an interest in music at a young age, and recorded his first song at the age of five. He met Dirnt while attending elementary school, and the two instantly bonded over their mutual interest in music, forming the band Sweet Children when the two were 14 years old. The band later changed its name to Green Day. Armstrong has also pursued musical projects including numerous collaborations with other musicians. | |||
Armstrong has acted in several films and TV series, including '']'', '']'', '']'', '']'', and '']''. In addition to co-writing the book and lyrics for '']'', a ] featuring several of Green Day's songs, Armstrong portrayed the role of St. Jimmy in the show for several weeks during its run on ]. | |||
Armstrong's business ventures include founding ] to help support other bands in 1997, coinciding with the release of '']''. Adeline signed acts such as ], ], and ]. The record company shut down two decades later in August 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigbombopunk.com/en/entrevistas/2013/12/17/adeline-records/|title=Entrevista con Adeline Records|author=Cazza|work=bigbombopunk.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810073153/http://www.bigbombopunk.com/en/entrevistas/2013/12/17/adeline-records/|archive-date=August 10, 2014}}</ref> Armstrong also co-founded ] (formerly Oakland Coffee Works) in 2015. | |||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Armstrong was born in ],<ref>{{cite AV media | title = Driven: Green Day | medium = VH1 | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz0rCuUX5D0 | access-date = February 23, 2015 | time = 2:05 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151031162458/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz0rCuUX5D0 | archive-date = October 31, 2015 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> on February 17, 1972,<ref name="17 February 2016">{{cite web|last1=Else|first1=Loren|title=Today in History: Yellow ribbons tied on trees and light standards|url=http://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/today-in-history-yellow-ribbons-tied-on-trees-and-light/article_53eba0ad-b363-5e4b-bfe9-0257710345e2.html|website=Post Bulletin|date=February 17, 2016 |access-date=February 17, 2016}}</ref> the youngest of six children of Ollie Jackson (born 1932)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/05/13/sons-on-a-roll-but-moms-the-rock/|title=Son's on a roll, but mom's the rock|work=]|date=May 13, 2007|access-date=July 13, 2019|archive-date=July 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713044513/https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/05/13/sons-on-a-roll-but-moms-the-rock/|url-status=live}}</ref> and Andrew Marsicano Armstrong (1928–1982).<ref name=RS>] (November 17, 2005), " {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710233029/http://www.greendayauthority.com/articles/85/1/ |date=July 10, 2012 }}". '']''. (987):50–56</ref> He was raised in ]. His father, a jazz musician and truck driver for ], died of ] on September 10, 1982, when Armstrong was 10 years old.<ref name=RS/> The song "]" is a memorial to his father. Armstrong has five siblings, including three older sisters, Marci, Hollie, and Anna, and two older brothers, David and Alan. His mother worked as a waitress at Rod's Hickory Pit in ], where he and ] later played their first gig in 1987.<ref name=RS/> His great-great-grandparents Pietro Marsicano and Teresa Nigro were Italian immigrants from ], who settled in ] prior to relocating to ], in 1869.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://napoli.repubblica.it/cronaca/2018/02/16/news/potenza_il_leader_dei_green_day_e_di_origini_lucane-188983065/ |title=Potenza, il leader dei Green Day è di origini lucane |work=la Repubblica |date=February 16, 2018 |access-date=February 24, 2018 |language=it |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224173845/http://napoli.repubblica.it/cronaca/2018/02/16/news/potenza_il_leader_dei_green_day_e_di_origini_lucane-188983065/ |archive-date=February 24, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Armstrong attended Hillcrest Elementary School in Rodeo, where a teacher encouraged him to record a song titled "Look for Love" at the age of five<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/hear-5-year-old-billie-joe-armstrong-look-for-love/|title=Hear 5-Year-Old Billie Joe Armstrong Singing 'Look for Love'|author=Childers, Chad|publisher=LoudWire|date=July 19, 2015|access-date=July 16, 2019|archive-date=July 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716205840/https://loudwire.com/hear-5-year-old-billie-joe-armstrong-look-for-love/|url-status=live}}</ref> on the ] label Fiat Records.<ref name=RS/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recordmecca.com/view_item.aspx?id=82 |title=Look for Love |publisher=Record Mecca |access-date=August 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721124647/http://www.recordmecca.com/view_item.aspx?id=82 |archive-date=July 21, 2011 }}</ref> After his father died, his mother married a man whom her children disliked, which resulted in Armstrong's further retreat into music.{{citation needed|date=June 2016}} At the age of 10, he met future bandmate ] in the school cafeteria, and they immediately bonded over their love of music.<ref name=RS/> He became interested in ] after being introduced to the genre by his brothers.<ref>{{cite magazine | author=Armstrong, Billie Joe | year=2005 | title=The Sex Pistols | magazine=Rolling Stone | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7235474/58_the__pistols | access-date=October 28, 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090520012914/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7235474/58_the__pistols | archive-date=May 20, 2009 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> He has cited ], ], ], and ] as musical influences. The first concert he ever attended was Van Halen in 1984. After Hillcrest Elementary, Armstrong attended Carquinez Middle School and ], both in ], and later transferred to ] in ]. On his 18th birthday, he dropped out to pursue a musical career.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} | |||
Armstrong grew up in ], ]. He's the youngest of six children. His father, Andy, was a retired ] ], who worked as a ] musician and truck driver for ] to support the family. He died from ] on ], ] when Billie Joe was 10. His mother Ollie worked as a waitress at Rod's Hickory Pit, where Billie Joe and ] got their first gig during their teen years. | |||
==Career== | |||
Billie Joe's interest in music started at a young age. He recorded a song titled "Look For Love" at the age of 5 on the Bay Area label "Fiat Records".<ref>http://www.recordmecca.com/view_item.aspx?id=82</ref> As a teenager he originally was into ], but got into punk after hearing the ] song ].<ref>{{cite web | author= ]| year= 2005 | title="The Sex Pistols" | work=Rolling Stone| url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/7235474/58_the_sex_pistols | accessdate= October 28 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> He attended ], and then ], dropping out on ], ], to pursue his musical career. While in high school he was nicknamed "Two Dollar Bill", because he was supplying the school with ]s for two dollars.<ref>http://www.greendayauthority.com/TheBand/billiejoe.php</ref> | |||
In 1987, aged 15, Armstrong formed a band called Sweet Children with his childhood friend ]. In the beginning, Armstrong and Dirnt both played guitar, with Raj Punjabi<ref name="youtube">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17qdMUdvVvM|title=YouTube|via=YouTube|date=January 26, 2017 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216090341/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17qdMUdvVvM|archive-date=February 16, 2018}}</ref> on drums<ref name="metropolis">{{cite web |url=http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyomusicconcerts/concert/359/tokyomusicconcertsinc.htm |title=Metropolis – Music and Concerts: Green Day |publisher=Archive.metropolis.co.jp |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102214651/http://archive.metropolis.co.jp/tokyomusicconcerts/concert/359/tokyomusicconcertsinc.htm |archive-date=November 2, 2013 }}</ref> and ] on bass. Punjabi was later replaced on drums by ], also known as Al Sobrante. After a few performances, Hughes left the band in 1988; Dirnt then began playing bass and they became a three-piece band. They changed their name to Green Day in April 1989, choosing the name because of their fondness for ].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1997442,00.html |title=10 Questions for Billie Joe Armstrong |magazine=] |date=June 28, 2010 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130817114314/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1997442,00.html |archive-date=August 17, 2013 }}</ref> | |||
In 1989, Green Day released their debut EP '']'' through ]. They recorded their debut studio album '']'' and the extended play '']'' in 1990, which were later combined with ''1,000 Hours'' into the compilation '']'' in 1991. | |||
==Sweet Children and Green Day== | |||
In 1987, Armstrong formed a band called "Sweet Children" with childhood friend ]. In 1989, they joined up with drummer ] and became known as Green Day, allegedly choosing the name for their fondness of ].<ref>http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyomusicconcerts/concert/359/tokyomusicconcertsinc.htm</ref>. That same year they recorded the EP ], on ]. Sobrante eventually left Green Day in order to go to college, ] replaced Sobrante. ] made his debut on Green Day's second album, ]. With their next album, ], the band broke through into the mainstream, and have remained one of the most popular rock bands of the ] and ] with over 85 million records sold worldwide{{Fact|date=February 2007}}. | |||
In 1990, Armstrong provided lead guitar and backing vocals on three songs for ]' final EP '']'', which featured ] on drums. Tré became Green Day's drummer in late 1990 after Sobrante left to go to college. Cool made his debut on Green Day's second album, '']'' (1991). | |||
==Collaborations== | |||
Apart from working with Green Day, and side-band ], Armstrong has proved himself busy in the music world, collaborating with many artists over the years. He has co-written for ] ("Unforgiven"), former Avengers singer ] ("The Angel and The Jerk" and "New Day"), co-wrote a song with ] ("Radio"), sung backing vocals with ] on ]' "Do Miss America", where they acted as the backing band for ] on his "Skull Ring" album ("Private Hell" and "Supermarket"). Armstrong has produced an album for ], and is also rumored to be part of a side project, ]. The Network released an album called ]. Many long-time Green Day fans who listened to the record remarked that it sounds just like a Green Day album{{Fact|date=March 2007}}, also Money Money 2020 was released on ], a record label co-owned by Billie Joe. | |||
In 1991, Armstrong joined the band ], consisting of bassist ], drummer ], and fellow vocalist/guitarist Sarah Kirsch. Kirsch left the group in 1992, and was replaced by ]. The group has released several extended plays and albums from 1991 to the present, and performs live shows on an intermittent basis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/bands/pinheadgunpowder|title=Pinhead Gunpowder|access-date=May 5, 2018|website=Punk News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731200450/https://www.punknews.org/bands/pinheadgunpowder|archive-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
==Guitars== | |||
Billie Joe received his second--and most famous--guitar, a Fernandes Stratocaster copy that he named "Blue", when he was eleven. He modified the guitar to have a ] pickup in the bridge position. He initially installed a Bill Lawrence pickup but later switched to the Duncan JB model. He toured with this guitar from the band's early days and into their first few major-label tours. "Blue" also appears in several of their music videos starting with ], and appearing most recently in ]. Billie has made several replicas of this guitar and uses them at concerts. | |||
Today Armstrong mainly uses ] and ] Guitars. Twenty of his Gibson guitars are ] models from the mid to late-].<ref>http://www.gibson.com/bja/interview2.htm</ref> His Fender collection includes: ], ], ], ], and his Fernandes, "Blue". He states that his favorite guitar is a 1956 Gibson Les Paul Junior he calls "Floyd". He bought this guitar in 2000 just before recording their album '']''.<ref>http://www.gibson.com/bja/interview.htm</ref> | |||
In 1993, Armstrong played live several times with California punk band ]. Rancid's lead singer, ], asked Billie Joe Armstrong to join his band, but he refused due to his progress with Green Day. However, Billie Joe Armstrong was credited as a co-writer on Rancid's 1993 song, ]. | |||
Armstrong also has his own line of ] guitars from Gibson. | |||
With their third LP, '']'' (1994), Green Day broke through into the mainstream, and have remained one of the most popular rock bands of the 1990s and 2000s with over 60 million records sold worldwide.<ref>Myers, Ben. " {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011103336/http://www.disinfo.com/site/displayarticle15670.html |date=October 11, 2007 }}" April 2006.</ref> The album was followed by '']'' (1995), '']'' (1997), and '']'' (2000). | |||
Armstrong collaborated with many artists. He co-wrote ] 2001 song "]". He has also co-written songs with ] ("The Angel and The Jerk" and "New Day"), and sung backing vocals with ] on ]' "Do Miss America" (where they acted as the backing band for ] on his album '']'' ("Private Hell" and "Supermarket"). Armstrong produced an album for ]. He was part of the Green Day side project ] from 2003 to 2005, which became active again in 2020. The Network released two albums: 2003's '']'' and 2020's '']''. | |||
Hoping to clear his head and develop new ideas for songs, Armstrong traveled to New York City alone for a few weeks in 2003, renting a small apartment in the ] of ].<ref name="Spitz150">Spitz, 2006. pg. 150</ref> He spent much of this time taking long walks and participating in jam sessions in the basement of Hi-Fi, a bar in Manhattan.<ref name="Spitz151">Spitz, 2006. pg. 151</ref> However, the friends he made during this time drank too much for his liking, which was the catalyst for Armstrong's return to the ].<ref name="Spitz151" /> After returning home, Armstrong was arrested for driving under the influence on January 5, 2003, and released on $1,200 bail.<ref name="Spitz151" /> | |||
] | |||
In 2004, Green Day debuted '']'', their first ]. The album has sold more than 15,000,000 copies worldwide, fueled by the hit singles "]", "]" and "]".<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Rob|last=Sheffield|title=Green Day's American Idiot|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumrevews/american-idiot-20040930|magazine=]|location=New York City|date=September 30, 2004|access-date=January 15, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303205804/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/american-idiot-20040930|archive-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref> In 2009, Green Day released '']'', the band's second rock opera, which was another commercial success.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Rob|last=Sheffield|title=Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/21st-century-breakdown-20090427|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 27, 2009|access-date=January 15, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305132919/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/21st-century-breakdown-20090427|archive-date=March 5, 2013}}</ref> Between these two projects, Armstrong was the lead vocalist of the Green Day side project ], who formed in 2007 and have performed intermittent live shows ever since. Foxboro Hot Tubs released one album, '']'', in 2008.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Green Day Side Project Releases New Single|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-239-1325833|date=April 1, 2008|magazine=]|access-date=May 5, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912012739/http://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-239-1325833|archive-date=September 12, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Foxboro Hot Tubs--Stop Drop and Roll!!! (2008)|first=Aubin|last=Paul|url=https://www.punknews.org/review/7264/foxboro-hot-tubs-stop-drop-and-roll|date=May 6, 2008|publisher=Punk News|access-date=May 5, 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912060502/https://www.punknews.org/review/7264/foxboro-hot-tubs-stop-drop-and-roll|archive-date=September 12, 2012}}</ref> | |||
In 2009, Armstrong formed a band called ], along with members of ] and NYC punk rocker ]. They released one song, along with a video, called "Depression Times".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Alex |title=Check Out: Rodeo Queens (Green Day + Jesse Malin) – 'Depression Times' |url=https://consequence.net/2010/12/check-out-rodeo-queens-green-day-jesse-malin-depression-times/ |website=] |date=December 6, 2010 |access-date=October 10, 2019 |archive-date=October 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016021246/https://consequence.net/2010/12/check-out-rodeo-queens-green-day-jesse-malin-depression-times/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
In 2009, ''American Idiot'' was adapted into a ], also called '']''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Downs |first=David |url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/eastbay/punk-rock-opera/Content?oid=1370982 |title=Review of ''American Idiot'' |date=September 2, 2009 |publisher=Eastbayexpress.com |access-date=August 14, 2011 |archive-date=August 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230809023303/https://eastbayexpress.com/punk-rock-opera-1/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The musical won two ]. Armstrong appeared in ''American Idiot'' in the role of St. Jimmy for two stints in late 2010<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/956025/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-makes-american-idiot-debut |title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Makes ''American Idiot'' Debut |first=Jason |last=Lipshutz |magazine=Billboard |date=September 29, 2010 |access-date=September 30, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629053055/http://www.billboard.com/articles/photos/live/956025/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-makes-american-idiot-debut |archive-date=June 29, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/143434-PHOTO-CALL-Billie-Joe-Armstrong-Debuts-in-Broadways-American-Idiot |title=Billie Joe Armstrong Debuts in Broadway's ''American Idiot'' |first=Matthew |last=Blank |work=Playbill |date=September 29, 2010 |access-date=September 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002211542/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/143434-PHOTO-CALL-Billie-Joe-Armstrong-Debuts-in-Broadways-American-Idiot |archive-date=October 2, 2010 }}</ref> and early 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://broadwayworld.com/article/Billie_Joe_Armstrong_to_Return_to_AMERICAN_IDIOT_Jan_1_20101130|title=Billie Joe Armstrong to Return to American Idiot|website=Broadway World|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228081746/http://broadwayworld.com/article/Billie_Joe_Armstrong_to_Return_to_AMERICAN_IDIOT_Jan_1_20101130|archive-date=December 28, 2010}}</ref> | |||
In 2012, Green Day released a trio of albums: '']'', '']'', and '']''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Green Day To Release First Disc In Album Trilogy This September|first=Jason|last=Lipshutz|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/green-day-new-album-uno-dos-tre-billie-joe-armstrong-311227|date=April 11, 2012|magazine=]|access-date=May 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180506035105/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/green-day-new-album-uno-dos-tre-billie-joe-armstrong-311227|archive-date=May 6, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, Armstrong appeared on Season 3 of NBC's '']'' as an assistant mentor for ]'s team.<ref> {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In 2013, Armstrong and singer-songwriter ] released the album '']'', consisting of covers of songs from ]' album '']''.<ref name="stereogum">{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1534781/qa-billie-joe-armstrong-norah-jones-unveil-duets-lp-hear-long-time-gone/franchises/interview/ |title=Q&A: Billie Joe Armstrong & Norah Jones Unveil Duets LP + Hear 'Long Time Gone' |first=T. Cole |last=Rachel |work=] |date=October 23, 2013 |access-date=October 24, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404163327/http://www.stereogum.com/1534781/qa-billie-joe-armstrong-norah-jones-unveil-duets-lp-hear-long-time-gone/franchises/interview/ |archive-date=April 4, 2014 }}</ref> The first single from the album, "Long Time Gone", was released on October 23. | |||
===2012 substance abuse=== | |||
On September 21, 2012, during a Green Day performance at Las Vegas' ], Armstrong became agitated onstage and stopped the band's set midway through their performance of the 1994 hit song "]". In an expletive-filled rant, Armstrong criticized the event's promoters for allegedly cutting short the band's performance, before smashing his guitar and storming off stage.<ref>{{cite web |last=Willman |first=Chris |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/live/green-day-epic-punk-tantrum-becomes-talk-iheartradio-170318701.html |title=Green Day's Epic Punk Tantrum Becomes The Talk of iHeartRadio Festival, Day 1 | Maximum Performance (NEW) – Yahoo Music |publisher=Yahoo! Music |date=September 22, 2012 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103105647/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/live/green-day-epic-punk-tantrum-becomes-talk-iheartradio-170318701.html |archive-date=November 3, 2013 }}</ref> The band later issued a statement apologizing for the incident and clarifying that their set had not actually been cut short.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.oregonlive.com/celebrity-news/index.ssf/2012/09/green_days_billie_joe_armstron.html |title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong has onstage meltdown, will seek treatment: Favorite People |work=The Oregonian |date=September 24, 2012 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103070521/http://www.oregonlive.com/celebrity-news/index.ssf/2012/09/green_days_billie_joe_armstron.html |archive-date=November 3, 2013 }}</ref> The incident occurred just four days prior to the release of Green Day's ninth studio album, '']''<ref>{{cite web|last=Sperounes |first=Sandra |url=http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/09/24/album-review-green-days-uno/ |title=Album review: Green Day's ¡Uno! | Edmonton Journal |publisher=Blogs.edmontonjournal.com |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101201158/http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2012/09/24/album-review-green-days-uno/ |archive-date=November 1, 2013 }}</ref> | |||
Two days after the incident at the ], Green Day announced that Armstrong was seeking treatment for an unspecified substance abuse problem.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greenday.com/news/news-70741 |title=NEWS – Green Day Official News |publisher=Greenday.com |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105000407/http://www.greenday.com/news/news-70741 |archive-date=November 5, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Billie Joe Armstrong enters treatment">{{cite web | url=http://www.upvenue.com/article/1684-billie-joe-armstrong-seeks-substance-abuse-treatment.html | title=Billie Joe Armstrong Seeks Substance Abuse Treatment | date=September 23, 2011 | access-date=September 23, 2012 | work=UpVenue | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927015752/http://www.upvenue.com/article/1684-billie-joe-armstrong-seeks-substance-abuse-treatment.html | archive-date=September 27, 2012 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> As a result, scheduled appearances on '']'' and '']'' were canceled.<ref>{{cite news |last=Martens |first=Todd |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-rant-las-vegas-rehab-20120923,0,6169013.story |title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong rants in Las Vegas, off to rehab |work=] |date=September 24, 2012 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106030459/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-rant-las-vegas-rehab-20120923,0,6169013.story |archive-date=November 6, 2013 }}</ref> According to Claudia Suarez Wright, Tre Cool's ex-wife and the mother of Armstrong's godson, Armstrong had been drinking heavily in Las Vegas prior to the ], following approximately one year of sobriety.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/green-day/66329 |title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong had been 'drinking a lot' the night of his breakdown |work=NME |date=September 26, 2012 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102123203/http://www.nme.com/news/green-day/66329 |archive-date=November 2, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_21628360/hicks-billie-joe-armstrong-was-sober-year-until |title=Hicks: Billie Joe Armstrong was sober for a year until last weekend – San Jose Mercury News |work=Mercury News |date=September 25, 2012 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102035701/http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_21628360/hicks-billie-joe-armstrong-was-sober-year-until |archive-date=November 2, 2013 }}</ref> | |||
Armstrong gave an interview to '']'' in March 2013 in which he said that he had "been trying to get sober since 1997, right around ''Nimrod''".<ref name="rs2013">{{cite magazine|last1=Fricke|first1=David|title=Billie Joe Armstrong: The Rolling Stone Interview|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/the-rolling-stone-interview-billie-joe-armstrong-20130314|access-date=January 5, 2017|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 14, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106010314/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/the-rolling-stone-interview-billie-joe-armstrong-20130314|archive-date=January 6, 2017}}</ref> He discussed how, during the 21st Century Breakdown tour of 2009–2010, "There were meltdowns on that tour that were huge".<ref name="rs2013" /> Armstrong detailed his addiction, in particular how it had escalated in the months prior to the release of the ''¡Uno!'', ''¡Dos!'', and ''¡Tre!'' albums and the performance at iHeartRadio, stating that during the band's 2011 summer tour of Europe, "I was at my pill-taking height at that time, medicating the shit out of myself".<ref name="ReferenceA">RollingStoneMagazine-issue-1178-March14-2013-Pg39</ref> Armstrong gave details of a gig at Irving Plaza in New York just over a week before the iHeartRadio incident, in which he "Threw back four or five beers before we went on and probably had four or five when we played. Then I drank my body weight in alcohol after that. I ended up hungover on the West Side Highway, laying in a little park."<ref name="ReferenceA" /> | |||
Green Day canceled all remaining concert dates for 2012 and early 2013 as Armstrong continued dealing with his personal problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2012/10/29/20315706-wenn-story.html|title=CANOE – JAM! Music: Green Day scrap upcoming tour|publisher=Jam.canoe.ca|access-date=November 25, 2013|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130115065452/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/2012/10/29/20315706-wenn-story.html|archive-date=January 15, 2013}}</ref> In late December 2012, the band announced they would return to touring at the end of March 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/02/16300249-green-day-announce-return-to-touring-in-march?lite | title=Green Day announce return to touring in March | first=Chris | last=Michaud | date=January 2, 2013 | access-date=January 11, 2013 | publisher=NBC News | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105013113/http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/02/16300249-green-day-announce-return-to-touring-in-march?lite | archive-date=January 5, 2013 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Armstrong later said that the substances he had been abusing were alcohol and prescription pills for anxiety and insomnia.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/celebrities/index.ssf/2013/02/billie_joe_armstrong_rehab_1.html |title=Billie Joe Armstrong on pill-popping: Backpack sounded like 'giant baby's rattle' |work=The Star-Ledger |date=February 28, 2013 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103224438/http://www.nj.com/entertainment/celebrities/index.ssf/2013/02/billie_joe_armstrong_rehab_1.html |archive-date=November 3, 2013 }}</ref> | |||
===2013 onward=== | |||
] | |||
Armstrong also collaborated with the comedy hip hop group ] in their song "I Run NY" from '']'' released on June 7, 2013.<ref name="Lonely Island's The Wack Album">{{cite web|title=Lonely Island's The Wack Album|url=http://laist.com/2013/06/08/the_lonely_islands_record_release_p.php|publisher=Laist.com|access-date=June 9, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611022951/http://laist.com/2013/06/08/the_lonely_islands_record_release_p.php|archive-date=June 11, 2013}}</ref> He starred alongside ] in the 2014 film '']''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Yamato|first=Jen|title=Leighton Meester, Billie Joe Armstrong, Debra Messing To Star in Frank Whaley's 'Like Sunday, Like Rain'|url=https://deadline.com/2013/09/leighton-meester-billie-joe-armstrong-debra-messing-to-star-in-frank-whaleys-like-sunday-like-rain-590319/|website=]|access-date=September 18, 2013|date=September 19, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920005318/http://www.deadline.com/2013/09/leighton-meester-billie-joe-armstrong-debra-messing-to-star-in-frank-whaleys-like-sunday-like-rain/|archive-date=September 20, 2013}}</ref> For his work in the film, Bilie Joe won the Breakout Performance Award at the 2014 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.willfilm.org/Winners|title=2014 Info|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516014629/http://www.willfilm.org/Winners|archive-date=May 16, 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=May 15, 2018}}</ref> Armstrong wrote songs for ''These Paper Bullets'', a rock musical adaptation of '']'', which premiered at ] in March 2014.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/billie-joe-armstrong-to-write-songs-for-yale-repertory-theater-show/ | title=Billie Joe Armstrong to Write Songs for Yale Repertory Theater Show | first=Patrick | last=Healy | work=] | date=March 14, 2013 | access-date=March 15, 2013 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317011759/http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/billie-joe-armstrong-to-write-songs-for-yale-repertory-theater-show/ | archive-date=March 17, 2013 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> | |||
In 2014, Armstrong joined ] for a number of shows beginning on April 19 at ]. Frontman ] had been suffering with back problems and spent the majority of the gig lying on a sofa while Armstrong helped play his parts. Westerberg referred to Billie Joe as an "expansion of the band".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-joins-the-replacements-at-coachella-20140419|title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Joins the Replacements at Coachella|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 19, 2014|access-date=March 18, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314032623/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-joins-the-replacements-at-coachella-20140419|archive-date=March 14, 2015}}</ref> Armstrong joined the Replacements on stage again at the ] in Atlanta in May.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/1680996/the-replacements-played-another-festival-set-with-billie-joe-armstrong/video/|title=The Replacements Played Another Festival Set With Billie Joe Armstrong|work=Stereogum|access-date=March 18, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108051107/http://www.stereogum.com/1680996/the-replacements-played-another-festival-set-with-billie-joe-armstrong/video/|archive-date=November 8, 2014}}</ref> | |||
In November 2014, Armstrong moved with his son Joseph to New York<ref>{{cite web|url=http://iconosquare.com/viewer.php#/detail/904546794228595243_1481313501|title=Log in — Instagram|work=iconosquare.com}}{{Dead link|date=January 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and began working on another acting role, in the film '']''. It was Armstrong's first lead acting role. The film centers on the mid-life crisis of a husband and father who attempts to revisit his punk past, and was released in 2016. It included new songs written and performed by Armstrong.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/judy-greer-fred-armisen-billie-joe-armstrong-geezer-1201352793/|title=Judy Greer, Fred Armisen Join Billie Joe Armstrong in 'Geezer' (EXCLUSIVE)|author=Dave McNary|work=Variety|date=November 10, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119181843/http://variety.com/2014/film/news/judy-greer-fred-armisen-billie-joe-armstrong-geezer-1201352793/|archive-date=January 19, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://loudwire.com/green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-role-upcoming-film-geezer/|title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Lands Role in 'Geezer'|work=Loudwire|date=November 12, 2014 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415211714/http://loudwire.com/green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-role-upcoming-film-geezer/|archive-date=April 15, 2015}}</ref> The film got mixed reviews, although Armstrong's own performance was generally praised, with '']'' writing that he had "a low-key charm suggesting that, if he desired it, he could get more onscreen gigs in between albums."<ref>{{cite news |title= Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Is Entirely Credible Acting in the Comic Drama 'Ordinary World' |url= https://www.villagevoice.com/2016/10/12/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-is-entirely-credible-acting-in-the-comic-drama-ordinary-world/ |first=Michael |last=Nordine |date= October 12, 2016 |newspaper=The Village Voice |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180214014532/https://www.villagevoice.com/2016/10/12/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-is-entirely-credible-acting-in-the-comic-drama-ordinary-world/ |archive-date=February 14, 2018 }}</ref> | |||
In October 2016, Green Day released their album '']''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://pitchfork.com/news/67465-green-day-announce-new-album-revolution-radio/ |title= Green Day Announce New Album Revolution Radio |first= Jazz |last= Monroe |date= August 11, 2016 |website= Pitchfork|access-date= May 5, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180506035155/https://pitchfork.com/news/67465-green-day-announce-new-album-revolution-radio/ |archive-date= May 6, 2018 |url-status= live |df= mdy-all }}</ref> In July 2017, Armstrong formed a ] with ] of ], named the Armstrongs.<ref>{{cite magazine |url= http://www.spin.com/2017/07/green-day-rancid-billie-joe-tim-armstrongs-supergroup/ |title=Billie Joe and Tim Armstrong Form Punk Supergroup 'The Armstrongs' |magazine=Spin (magazine)|date=July 14, 2017 |access-date=July 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715125257/http://www.spin.com/2017/07/green-day-rancid-billie-joe-tim-armstrongs-supergroup/ |archive-date=July 15, 2017 |last1=Cush |first1=Andy }}</ref> | |||
In April 2018, Armstrong formed the rock band ], and on April 20, the band released their debut studio album '']''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.spin.com/2018/04/the-longshot-billie-joe-armstrong-love-is-for-losers-stream/ |title=Billie Joe Armstrong's New Band The Longshot Release First Full Album:Listen |first=Winston |last=Cook-Wilson |date=April 20, 2018 |magazine=]|access-date=April 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425032216/https://www.spin.com/2018/04/the-longshot-billie-joe-armstrong-love-is-for-losers-stream/ |archive-date=April 25, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Shortly after, Armstrong announced that he and the Longshot would embark on a summer tour. Aside from Armstrong, the band's lineup consists of Kevin Preston and David S. Field of the band ] on lead guitar and drums, respectively, and longtime Green Day live member Jeff Matika on bass.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/billie_joe_armstrong_the_longshot_summer_tour_dates_2018 |title=Billie Joe Armstrong's New Band, The Longshot, Announce Summer Tour |first=Maggie |last=Dickman |date=April 20, 2018 |magazine=] |access-date=April 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424075030/https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/billie_joe_armstrong_the_longshot_summer_tour_dates_2018 |archive-date=April 24, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
In 2019, Armstrong co-wrote and performed the track "Strangers & Thieves" on the album '']'' by ].<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Hudak |first1=Joseph |title=Jesse Malin and Lucinda Williams Celebrate Hard-Fought Survival on 'Sunset Kids' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/jesse-malin-sunset-kids-review-lucinda-williams-878565/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 4, 2019 |access-date=October 10, 2019 |archive-date=October 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191003220614/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/jesse-malin-sunset-kids-review-lucinda-williams-878565/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
In February 2020, Green Day released their thirteenth album, '']''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/father-of-all-mw0003318931 | title=Green Day - Father of All | work=AllMusic | access-date=January 24, 2024 | author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas | author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine | archive-date=January 24, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240124235235/https://www.allmusic.com/album/father-of-all-mw0003318931 | url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Green Day's fourteenth album, ], was released on January 19, 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/saviors-mw0004124667 | title=Green Day - Saviors | work=AllMusic | access-date=January 24, 2024 | author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas | author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine | archive-date=January 19, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119211043/https://www.allmusic.com/album/saviors-mw0004124667 | url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
==Artistry== | |||
Armstrong is known for his frequent use of palm-muted, power chord-driven guitar riffs, and melodic guitar solos. His strumming style makes use of techniques such as stubbing and fret hand muting, which allows him to strum power chords harder while attacking all six strings on the guitar.<ref>{{Cite web |last=editorspublished |first=Total Guitar |date=May 22, 2020 |title=How to play guitar like Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/lessons/how-to-play-guitar-like-green-days-billie-joe-armstrong |access-date=November 13, 2024 |website=guitarworld |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==Instruments== | |||
] | |||
] "Blue" replica in 2010]] | |||
Armstrong's first guitar was a Cherry Red Hohner acoustic, which his father bought for him. He received his first electric guitar, a ] that he named "Blue", when he was ten years old in 1982, the same year his father died. His mother got "Blue" from ], who taught Armstrong to play guitar for 10 years. Armstrong says in a 1995 ] interview, "Basically, it wasn't like guitar lessons because I never really learned how to read music. So he just taught me how to put my hands on the thing." Cole bought the guitar new from David Margen of the band ]. Cole installed the ] L500XL Humbucker pickup in the bridge position at an angle, similar to ]'s guitar ], which caused Armstrong to be very influenced by Van Halen. The L500XL is the same pickup that was used by ] of ], Armstrong replaced the L500XL with a white Yamaha Pacifica humbucker at ]. | |||
Armstrong later reinstalled the Bill Lawrence L500XL pickup before recording ], although he switched to a black ] SH-4 JB in 1995. He toured with this guitar from the band's early days and still uses it to this day.<ref>WDR 1Live " {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718233339/http://www.einslive.de/includes/bildergalerie.jsp?gal=1765&kap=1&img=7 |date=July 18, 2011 }}" April 2006.</ref> | |||
] writes that, "Armstrong ] his teacher's guitar, partly because the blue instrument had a sound quality and Van Halen-worthy fluidity he couldn't get from his little red Hohner. He prized it mostly, however, because of his relationship with Cole, another father figure after the death of Andy."<ref>{{cite book | last = Spitz | first = Marc | author-link = Marc Spitz | title = Nobody Likes You: inside the turbulent life, times, and music of Green Day | url = https://archive.org/details/nobodylikesyouin00spit | url-access = registration | publisher = Hyperion | year = 2006 | page = | isbn = 9781401302740 }}</ref> | |||
Both middle and neck pickups are disconnected and the pickup selector is locked in the bridge position. This also applies to his backup guitar and "Blue" copies, mainly Fender Stratocasters. "Blue" appears in a number of Green Day music videos such as "]", "]", "]", "]", "]", "]", "]", and "]". "Blue" also appears on the album cover of '']''. The "BJ" on Blue stands for Billie Joe, inspired by ], whose Stratocaster has his own initials ("SRV") on the pickguard.{{cn|date=February 2023}} | |||
Today, Armstrong mainly uses ] and ] guitars. Twenty of his Gibson guitars are ] models from the mid- to late-1950s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gibson.com/bja/interview2.htm |title=Gibson USA & Green Day present |publisher=Gibson.com |date=June 24, 2008 |access-date=August 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317044125/http://www.gibson.com/bja/interview2.htm |archive-date=March 17, 2010 }}</ref> His Fender collection includes ], ], ], a ] hollowbody, ] and his copies of "Blue" from ]. Recently he has begun giving away guitars to audience members invited to play on stage with Green Day, usually during the songs "Knowledge" or "Longview". He states that his favorite guitar is a 1956 Gibson Les Paul Junior he calls "Floyd", which he bought in 2000 just before recording the album '']''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gibson.com/bja/interview.htm |title=Gibson USA & Green Day present |publisher=Gibson.com |date=June 24, 2008 |access-date=August 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727175734/http://www.gibson.com/bja/interview.htm |archive-date=July 27, 2010 }}</ref> | |||
Armstrong also has three of his own ] signature models from Gibson. The first has been in production since 2006 and is modeled closely after "Floyd".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Billie-Joe-Armstrong-Les-Paul-Jr.aspx|title=Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Jr|publisher=]|access-date=December 5, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201052307/http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Billie-Joe-Armstrong-Les-Paul-Jr.aspx|archive-date=December 1, 2010}}</ref> The second began production in 2012 and is a TV Yellow double-cutaway Junior. Both models include a Gibson "H-90" pickup, exclusive to Armstrong's models. Gibson has also released an extremely limited run of acoustic signature guitars. ] has release lower-priced version of his signature Gibson Les Paul Junior in 2022. | |||
Armstrong's amplifiers consist of a pair of ] 100-watt ] reissues he acquired sometime before Green Day's Woodstock '94 performance and had modified for increased ]. Nicknamed "Meat" and "Pete," the two amps are run in conjunction for a fuller sound, with a ] used for solos. For clean tones, Armstrong uses a rackmount Custom Audio Electronics 3+ SE tube preamp, and all three amplifiers are run through a pair of Marshall 1960B cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers.<ref name="Kies">{{cite web |last1=Kies |first1=Chris |title=Rig Rundown: Green Day |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/videos/rig-rundown/green-day |website=premierguitar.com |publisher=Premier Guitar |access-date=May 10, 2024}}</ref> In 2019, ] released Armstrong's signature ], the Dookie Drive, which aimed to reproduce his dual-Marshall setup and was decorated with the cover art from the ''Dookie'' album. MXR later rebranded the pedal as the FOD Drive.<ref name="Curwen">{{cite web |last1=Curwen |first1=Trevor |title=MXR FOD Drive review |url=https://www.guitarworld.com/reviews/mxr-fod-drive-review |website=guitarworld.com |date=April 8, 2021 |publisher=Guitar World |access-date=May 10, 2024}}</ref> | |||
Armstrong plays several other instruments as well as guitar. He recorded harmonica and ] parts on '']'' and '']'', piano parts on '']'', '']'' (2010), '']'', and ], and plays drums and bass occasionally. | |||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
] citizenship in 2018]] | |||
In Minneapolis, in 1990, Billie first met his wife, ]. They dated for a while and had a short split. In this time both Billie and Adrienne met other partners; Adrienne was engaged to be married, and Billie was seeing another girl. However Billie and Adrienne were eventually married on ], ] in a 5 minute ceremony. The day after their wedding, Adrienne found out she was pregnant. Their son, Joseph, was born on ], ].<ref>""</ref> Three years later on ], ], another boy, Jakob Danger Armstrong, was born. | |||
In June 2018, Armstrong was given honorary citizenship of ], the Italian commune from where his paternal great-great-grandparents hailed, by Viggiano's mayor Amedeo Cicala.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ondanews.it/billie-joe-armstrong-dei-green-day-scopre-le-sue-origini-e-riceve-la-cittadinanza-onoraria-di-viggiano/|title=Billie Joe Armstrong, leader dei Green Day, scopre le sue origini e riceve la cittadinanza onoraria di Viggiano|date=June 24, 2018|work=Ondanews.it|access-date=June 24, 2018|language=it-IT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624181135/http://www.ondanews.it/billie-joe-armstrong-dei-green-day-scopre-le-sue-origini-e-riceve-la-cittadinanza-onoraria-di-viggiano/|archive-date=June 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Armstrong is a member of the board of directors of ], a sanctuary for former research chimpanzees funded in large part by the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://projectchimps.org/about/about-project-chimps/|title=Project Chimps' mission is to provide lifelong exemplary care to chimpanzees retired from research|website=projectchimps|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=February 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206152129/https://projectchimps.org/about/about-project-chimps/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, Green Day saw several ] radio stations pull their songs after Armstrong described the city as a "shithole" following the ] of the ] to the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-banned-from-las-vegas-radio-stations-after-billie-joe-armstrong-calls-the-city-a-shithole-3798117 |title=Green Day banned from Las Vegas radio stations after Billie Joe Armstrong calls the city 'a shithole' |work=NME |first=Hollie |last=Geraghty |date=September 30, 2024 |access-date=October 3, 2024}}</ref> | |||
Armstrong is a fan of soccer<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/27/green-day-uk-tour-album-saviors |title=Green Day announces UK tour and new album 'Saviors' |work=The Guardian |date=December 27, 2023 |access-date=December 27, 2023 |last1=Garland |first1=Emma |archive-date=December 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227164224/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/27/green-day-uk-tour-album-saviors |url-status=live }}</ref> and is one of the co-owners of ]. | |||
===Business ventures=== | |||
In 1997, Armstrong co-founded ], a rock and punk rock record label which had, in recent years, been managed by Pat Magnarella, Green Day's manager.<ref name="Adeline">{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/labels/Adeline |title=About Adeline Records |publisher=Punknews.org |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102014731/http://www.punknews.org/labels/adeline |archive-date=November 2, 2013 }}</ref> Adeline Records closed in August 2017 following Magnarella's split from Green Day. | |||
In April 2015, Armstrong opened ''Broken Guitars'' (now Oakland Guitars), a guitar shop in Oakland, California with fellow ] member and longtime ] associate, ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/CultureSpyBlog/archives/2015/03/06/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-to-open-broken-guitars-in-oakland|title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong to Open Broken Guitars in Oakland|newspaper=]|access-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223071915/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/CultureSpyBlog/archives/2015/03/06/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-to-open-broken-guitars-in-oakland|archive-date=December 23, 2015}}</ref> | |||
In December 2015, Armstrong and ] launched a coffee company, ]. The company sells organic coffee beans and is said to be the first company to use mass-produced compostable bags and pods.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cac3846a-a89d-11e5-9700-2b669a5aeb83.html|title=US band Green Day branches out into compostable coffee bags|newspaper=]|access-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226005716/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cac3846a-a89d-11e5-9700-2b669a5aeb83.html#axzz3v5LUYGeS|archive-date=December 26, 2015}}</ref> | |||
===Fashion=== | |||
] | |||
Armstrong has been noted for his ] style, which influenced his followers of previous and current generations to the point of being known as a "style icon".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.menstylefashion.com/5-punk-rock-icons-how-to-achieve-their-look/|title=5 Punk Rock Icons – How to Achieve Their Look|work=Men style fashion|first=Eunisse|last=De Leon|date=June 23, 2021|accessdate=August 12, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812205126/https://www.menstylefashion.com/5-punk-rock-icons-how-to-achieve-their-look/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also launched an eye liner with ] named "Basket Case", which is a cosmetic that he implemented as part of his singing character since his beginnings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allure.com/story/kat-von-d-basket-case-eyeliner-available-now|title=The Kat Von D x Green Day Basket Case Eyeliner Is Here|work=Allure|first=Sophie|last=Wirt|date=January 5, 2018|accessdate=August 12, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812205545/https://www.allure.com/story/kat-von-d-basket-case-eyeliner-available-now|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
===Political views=== | |||
Armstrong supported ] during the ] and ],<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://rollingstone.com/news/story/21472095/artists_lend_voices_to_obama_campaign|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329073845/http://rollingstone.com/news/story/21472095/artists_lend_voices_to_obama_campaign|archive-date=March 29, 2009|title=Artists Lend Voices to Obama Campaign|date=July 10, 2008|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-status=dead|access-date=April 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greendayauthority.com/news/3717/ |title=Billie Joe and Adrienne directly endorse Barack Obama for the U.S. presidency |publisher=Greendayauthority.com |date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101225215/http://www.greendayauthority.com/news/3717/ |archive-date=November 1, 2013 }}</ref> and ] in the ].<ref>{{cite tweet|user=billiejoe|author=Billie Joe Armstrong|number=645127841886044160|date=September 19, 2015|title=I know there are certain issues that we don't agree on. but I do believe there are issues we can COME TOGETHER on.}}</ref> Following Sanders' defeat in the Democratic primaries, Armstrong declared his support for ].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BLT6b7aBKPI/ |title=no more lies, no more false equivalence, no more racism, no more sexual assault, no more trump.. no wonder your sons are such fucking assholes.. i am proud to say i am most definitely with her |access-date=August 4, 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216090341/https://www.instagram.com/p/BLT6b7aBKPI/ |archive-date=February 16, 2018 }}</ref> He was critical of ] during the election and throughout Trump's presidency, calling him a "]" and a "puppet of the ]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-puppet-illuminati-1841255|title=Green Day say 'fascist' Trump could be a 'puppet for the Illuminati'|website=]|date=November 10, 2016|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-date=June 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628013513/https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-puppet-illuminati-1841255|url-status=live}}</ref> comparing him to ],<ref>{{Cite web|first=Luke Morgan|last=Britton|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-america-nme-interview-1819877|title=Green Day on Donald Trump and current state of America: 'I can't believe we're still alive'|website=]|date=November 3, 2016|access-date=February 13, 2021|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124184508/https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-america-nme-interview-1819877|url-status=live}}</ref> and blaming "uneducated white working-class people" for his rise to power.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-stupid-white-people-1822731|title = Green Day blame rise of Trump on stupid white people|website = ]|date = November 6, 2016|access-date = February 13, 2021|archive-date = June 18, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210618171228/https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-stupid-white-people-1822731|url-status = live}}</ref> In a 2017 ''Rolling Stone'' interview, he stated that he does not align himself with any political party and described himself as an ].<ref name="greene">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/a-backstage-conversation-with-green-day-128391/|title=Green Day Talk Trump, 'American Idiot' Legacy, Band's Future|first1=Andy|last1=Greene|magazine=]|date=March 27, 2017|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-date=June 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628013522/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/a-backstage-conversation-with-green-day-128391/|url-status=live}}</ref> He again supported Sanders during the ], later endorsing ] after Sanders lost the primary.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CEm6dY5l234/?igshid=1wbjnsagc44l3 |title=@billiejoearmstrong on Instagram - Billie Joe Armstrong endorses Biden-Harris |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007192132/https://www.instagram.com/p/CEm6dY5l234/?igshid=1wbjnsagc44l3 |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the ] decision '']'', Armstrong announced his plans to renounce his United States ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Segarra |first=Edward |date=June 26, 2022 |title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong says he's 'renouncing' US citizenship after Roe v. Wade is overturned |website=] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/06/26/billie-joe-armstrong-renouncing-citizenship-roe-v-wade-reversal/7742058001/ |access-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627080451/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/06/26/billie-joe-armstrong-renouncing-citizenship-roe-v-wade-reversal/7742058001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
Armstrong has spoken out in support of ] people. In a 2024 interview with '']'', Armstrong spoke to the ways that he is still weaving his queerness into his songwriting. The newspaper asked him about Green Day's opinions on the ], to which the singer responded, "I just think they're fucking close-minded." "It's like people are afraid of their children," he told the newspaper. "Why would you be afraid? Why don't you let your kid just be the kid that they are?"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Factora |first=James |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Green Day's Billie Joe Says the Moral Panic Around Trans Kids is "F*cking Closed-Minded" |url=https://www.them.us/story/green-days-billie-joe-says-the-moral-panic-around-trans-kids-is-fcking-closeminded |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Condon |first=Ali |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong calls anti-trans panic 'f***ing close-minded' |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/01/17/green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-anti-trans-panic/ |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
===Relationships and sexuality=== | |||
{{overly detailed|section|date=July 2021}} | |||
Armstrong has identified himself as ], saying in a 1995 interview with '']'', "I think I've always been bisexual. I mean, it's something that I've always been interested in. I think people are born bisexual, and it's just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of, 'Oh, I can't.' They say it's taboo. It's ingrained in our heads that it's bad, when it's not bad at all. It's a very beautiful thing."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/25/green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-bisexual/|title=AOL Radio – Listen to Free Online Radio – Free Internet Radio Stations and Music Playlists|publisher=Spinner.com|access-date=November 25, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806155541/http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/25/green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-bisexual/|archive-date=August 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.out.com/detail.asp?id=26574 |title=Billie Joe Armstrong: Idiot Savant |publisher=Out.com |date=March 10, 2010 |access-date=August 14, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929135520/http://out.com/detail.asp?id=26574 |archive-date=September 29, 2010 }}</ref> In February 2014, he again discussed his bisexuality in a ''Rolling Stone'' article about the Green Day album ''Dookie'', which he described as "touch on bisexuality a lot".<ref name="rollingstone.com"/> | |||
Armstrong met his first serious girlfriend, Arica Pelino, at ] on his 16th birthday. She became known as the "first official Green Day fan," listening to the first four-track recordings by Armstrong and Sean Hughes, encouraging the band, touring with them and acting as an occasional photographer for them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8ani3jrvy1r0t5s5o4_250.png |title=Archived copy |access-date=May 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005041324/http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8ani3jrvy1r0t5s5o4_250.png |archive-date=October 5, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/arica-pelino-mn0001988138 |title=Arica Pelino | Credits |website=] |access-date=May 4, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805035149/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/arica-pelino-mn0001988138 |archive-date=August 5, 2016 }}</ref><ref>Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p36</ref> She inspired many of Green Day's songs, including "Christie Road", which was written about the local railroad tracks where she and Armstrong would sneak out to meet.<ref>Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p36-37</ref> When Armstrong began living in punk houses and warehouses at the age of seventeen, including the warehouse above a West Oakland brothel which ultimately inspired the song "Welcome to Paradise",<ref name="Spitz, M 2006, p48">Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p48</ref> she would often stay with him, later saying, "I would stay with him sometimes in these warehouses full of ]s."<ref name="Spitz, M 2006, p48"/> The couple split in late 1991. Arica is the sister of former Green Day touring member ] and the sister-in-law of Janna White, who is married to Green Day touring guitarist ].{{explain|date=July 2024}} | |||
Shortly after his split with Pelino, Armstrong began dating a woman he has identified only as "Amanda". She produced and distributed her own ] and was an "iron-willed" ], which enthralled Armstrong.<ref>Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p69-70</ref> Amanda, however, was unimpressed with Armstrong; though the couple dated for some time, she ultimately left him in 1994 and joined the ], leaving him feeling suicidal.<ref>Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p70</ref> Armstrong stated in an interview with ''Spin'' about the inspiration behind the Green Day song "Armatage Shanks" in 1995: "It was right before ''Dookie'' came out and I was really at odds with myself. I was like, 'Man, do I really want to do this?' A lot of time I was thinking about suicide, how it's so easy to kill yourself, but it's so hard to stay alive. I was in a break-up with my then-girlfriend, a total, raving punk rocker who didn't approve of me being on a major label. She moved down to ] saying she couldn't live in a world with ] and such. It was fucking me up pretty bad."<ref>Spin, December,1995, p139</ref> Armstrong has written many songs about Amanda, both during their relationship and afterwards, including "She", "Good Riddance", "Stuart and the Ave", "Sassafras Roots", "Amanda", "She's a Rebel", "Extraordinary Girl", and "Whatsername". The character of Whatsername on the album ''American Idiot'', and in the ''American Idiot'' musical, is based on Amanda.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=billiejoe|author=Billie Joe Armstrong|number=35365988027338752|date=February 9, 2011|title='She' is about a girl named Amanda. So is Sasafrats roots(title by Mike) and so is 'whatsername' .. Ooh .. That's a good factoid}}</ref> | |||
In 1990, Armstrong met Adrienne Nesser (the sister of professional skateboarder ]) at one of Green Day's early performances in ]. They married on July 2, 1994, with Nesser discovering that she was pregnant the day after their wedding. Their first son, Joseph Marciano "Joey" Armstrong, was born on February 28, 1995. Joey went on to play drums in the ]-based band ]. Their second son, Jakob Danger Armstrong, was born on September 12, 1998. Jakob is a guitarist and singer-songwriter who released his first material online in 2015 and currently plays with the band Ultra Q (formerly Mt. Eddy). In a February 2014 interview with ''Rolling Stone'', Armstrong described his sudden marriage and fatherhood: "I was very impulsive at that time. I think that impulsive behavior was meant to counteract the chaos in my life."<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Fricke|authorlink=David Fricke|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/dookie-at-20-billie-joe-armstrong-on-green-days-punk-blockbuster-20140203|title='Dookie' at 20: Billie Joe Armstrong on Green Day's Punk Blockbuster|magazine=]|date=February 3, 2014|access-date=March 18, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717021934/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/dookie-at-20-billie-joe-armstrong-on-green-days-punk-blockbuster-20140203#ixzz2sIQituX0|archive-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref> | |||
Billie Joe Armstrong has stated that he is ],<ref>"", ] interview with Billie Joe Armstrong (24th January, 1995)<br>''"I think I've always been bisexual. I mean, it's something that I've always been interested in. I think everybody kind of fantasizes about the same sex. I think people are born bisexual, and it's just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of Oh, I can't. They say it's taboo. It's ingrained in our heads that it's bad, when it's not bad at all. It's a very beautiful thing."''</ref> which is the subject of '']'' track "Coming Clean". In his 1995 interview, he explained his sexual attraction to men and women. He also kisses men in concerts.<ref><br>''"It's an old tradition of Billie's that at every one of his concerts he kisses a guy."''</ref> | |||
==Awards== | ==Awards== | ||
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Green Day}} | |||
*] awarded him an "Esky" for Best Frontman in the Esky Music Awards in the April 2006 issue. | |||
*'']'' magazine awarded him the Worst Dressed Star and Hero of the Year in 2005 | |||
{| class="wikitable" style="table-layout: fixed;" | |||
*The ] awarded him Outstanding Male Vocalist in 2001 and 2004 | |||
|- | |||
*Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards Blimp for Favorite Band/Group - April 2005 and 2006 | |||
!width="40"| Year | |||
*Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards Blimp for Favorite Song for Wake Me Up When September Ends - April 2006 | |||
! style="width:420px;"| Award | |||
*Grammy for Best Rock Album for American Idiot - February 2005 | |||
!width="85"| Presented By | |||
*Grammy for Record of the Year for Boulevard of Broken Dreams - February 2006 | |||
|- | |||
*Won 6 MTV VMA Moonmen for Boulevard of Broken Dreams and 1 for American Idiot - August 2005 | |||
| 2008 ||50 Sexiest People in Rock ('''#1''')<ref>{{cite web|title=Sexiest people|url=http://www.listal.com/list/kerrang-50-sexiest-people-rock|publisher=Kerrang|access-date=January 25, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212061631/http://www.listal.com/list/kerrang-50-sexiest-people-rock|archive-date=February 12, 2013}}</ref> (Readers Choice) || ] | |||
*Won 2 American Music Awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Album (American Idiot) and Favorite Alternative Artist - November 2005 | |||
|- | |||
*Won 2 ASCAP Honor Awards for Creative Voice and Song of the Year (Boulevard of Broken Dreams) - May 2006 | |||
| 2010 || Top Frontmen of All Time ('''#25''')<ref>{{cite web|title=Best frontmen af all time|url=http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/Features/en-us/all-top-50-0827.aspx|publisher=Gibson.com|access-date=January 25, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131202643/http://www2.gibson.com/news-lifestyle/features/en-us/all-top-50-0827.aspx|archive-date=January 31, 2013}}</ref> (Readers Choice) || ] | |||
*Won 2 MTV Europe Awards for Best Album and Best Rock Group - November 2005 | |||
|- | |||
*Accidentally tripped down stairs on the way down at the KCA'S/Kids Choice Awards while receiving his award for best album/song | |||
|} | |||
==Discography== | ==Discography== | ||
<!-- Please do not add compilation albums to the discography --> | <!-- Please do not add compilation albums to the discography --> | ||
===Solo releases=== | |||
;Albums | |||
* '']'' (2013, with ]) | |||
* '']'' (2020) | |||
;Singles | |||
* "Look for Love" (1977) | |||
* "Long Time Gone" (2013) | |||
* "]" (2020)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/2FYNBNvvPgrUYC87Lqvz6W|title=I Think We're Alone Now|date=April 17, 2020|via=]|access-date=April 18, 2020|archive-date=April 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418125653/https://open.spotify.com/album/2FYNBNvvPgrUYC87Lqvz6W|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
* "]" (2020) | |||
* "]" (2020)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/4s7Nan6D8QC02ORXGM0slB?si=fQnGpl2-QHObD_a4b4la7w|title=The Thing You Do!|date=August 28, 2020|via=]|access-date=September 8, 2020|archive-date=June 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630003947/https://open.spotify.com/track/4s7Nan6D8QC02ORXGM0slB?si=fQnGpl2-QHObD_a4b4la7w|url-status=live}}</ref> | |||
* "]" (2020) | |||
* "]" (2020) | |||
* "Corpus Christi" (2020) | |||
* "War Stories" (2020) | |||
* "Amico" (2020) | |||
* "Not That Way Anymore" (2020) | |||
* "]" (2020) | |||
* "]" (2020) | |||
* "]" (2020) | |||
===Green Day=== | ===Green Day=== | ||
{{Main|Green Day discography}} | |||
*'']'' (2004) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica | |||
*'']'' ( |
* '']'' (1990) – lead vocals, guitar | ||
* '']'' (1991) – lead vocals, guitar, drums and backing vocals on "Dominated Love Slave"<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Kerplunk!|title-link=Kerplunk (album)|others=Green Day|year=1992|type=CD liner|publisher=]|id=0015133-02}}</ref> | |||
*'']'' (Compilation) (2001) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica | |||
*'']'' ( |
* '']'' (1994) – lead vocals, guitar | ||
* '']'' (1995) – lead vocals, guitar | |||
*'']'' (1997) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica | |||
* '']'' (1997) – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica on "Walking Alone"<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Nimrod|title-link=Nimrod (album)|others=Green Day|year=1997|type=CD liner|publisher=]|id=0015133-02}}</ref> | |||
*'']'' (1995) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar | |||
* '']'' (2000) – vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Warning|title-link=Warning (Green Day album)|others=Green Day|year=2000|type=CD liner|publisher=]|id=0015133-02}}</ref> | |||
*'']'' (1994) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Percussion on "All By Myself (hidden track)" | |||
* '']'' (2004) – lead and backing vocals, guitar<ref name="liner notes">{{cite AV media notes|title=American Idiot|others=]|publisher=]|year=2004|type=CD liner }} Retrieved September 17, 2023</ref> | |||
*'']'' (1992) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Drums on "]" | |||
* '']'' (2009) – lead and backing vocals, guitar, piano<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/21st-century-breakdown-mw0000812729/credits |title=21st Century Breakdown - Green Day |website=AllMusic |access-date=September 17, 2023 |archive-date=October 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002064320/https://www.allmusic.com/album/21st-century-breakdown-mw0000812729/credits |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
*'']'' (1990) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar | |||
* '']'' (2010) – vocals, guitar, piano | |||
* '']'' (2012) – vocals, guitar | |||
* '']'' (2012) – vocals, guitar | |||
* '']'' (2012) – vocals, guitar, piano | |||
* '']'' (2016) – lead vocals, guitar, piano | |||
* '']'' (2020) - lead vocals, guitar | |||
* '']'' (2024)<ref name="SaviorsNME">{{cite web |last=Dunworth |first=Liberty |title=Green Day announce album 'Saviors' and share new single |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-share-new-single-and-announce-album-saviors-preorder-3520437 |website=] |access-date=October 24, 2023 |date=October 24, 2023 |archive-date=October 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029125347/https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-share-new-single-and-announce-album-saviors-preorder-3520437 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="SSL" /> - lead vocals, guitar | |||
===Pinhead Gunpowder=== | ===Pinhead Gunpowder=== | ||
''Vocals and guitar on all'' | |||
*] (2003) -- Vocals, Guitar | |||
* '']'' (1994) | |||
*] EP (2000) -- Vocals, Guitar | |||
* '']'' (1994) | |||
*] EP (1999) -- Vocals, Guitar | |||
*] (1997) |
* '']'' (1997) | ||
* '']'' (]) (1999) – also production | |||
*] (1995) -- Vocals, Guitar | |||
* '']'' (2003) | |||
*] (1995) -- Vocals, Guitar | |||
* '']'' (EP) (2008) | |||
*] EP (1992) -- Vocals, Guitar | |||
* '']'' (2024) | |||
===The Network=== | ===The Network=== | ||
*] (2003) |
* '']'' (2003) – guitar, vocals | ||
* '']'' (2020) | |||
* '']'' (2020) - lead vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals, drums | |||
===Foxboro Hot Tubs=== | |||
==Notes== | |||
* '']'' (2008) – lead vocals<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/review/7264 |title=Foxboro Hot Tubs – Stop Drop and Roll!!! |date=May 6, 2008 |publisher=Punknews.org |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120522201757/http://www.punknews.org/review/7264 |archive-date=May 22, 2012 }}</ref> | |||
<div class="references-small"> | |||
<references /> | |||
</div> | |||
== |
===The Boo=== | ||
* ''The Boo'' (EP) (2011) – bass | |||
{{wikiquote|Billie Joe Armstrong}} | |||
{{Commons}} | |||
* | |||
*, as well as information on his stint in Common Rider | |||
* {{imdb name|id=0035626|name=Billie Joe Armstrong}} | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* | |||
* after his arrest in 2003 for drunk driving. | |||
===The Shrives=== | |||
<!-- Metadata: see ] --> | |||
* ''Turn Me On'' (EP) (2015) – bass | |||
===The Longshot=== | |||
{{Green Day}} | |||
* ''The Longshot'' (EP) (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums | |||
* '']'' (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums | |||
* ''Devil's Kind'' (Single) (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums | |||
* ''Bullets'' (Single) (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums | |||
* ''Razor Baby'' (EP) (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums | |||
* ''Return to Sender'' (EP) (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums | |||
==Filmography== | |||
===Film=== | |||
{|class="wikitable sortable" | |||
!Year | |||
!Title | |||
!Role | |||
!Notes | |||
|- | |||
|2003 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Himself | |||
|Documentary of The ] | |||
|- | |||
|2004 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Fink | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|2005 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Himself | |||
| | |||
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|- | |||
|2006 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|] | |||
|Voice | |||
|- | |||
|2007 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|rowspan="6" | Himself | |||
|Voice | |||
|- | |||
|2008 | |||
|'']'' | |||
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|- | |||
|2011 | |||
|'']'' | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|rowspan="2" |2012 | |||
|'']'' | |||
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|- | |||
|'']'' | |||
| | |||
|- | |||
|rowspan="2" |2013 | |||
|'']'' | |||
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|'']'' | |||
| St. Jimmy | |||
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|2014 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Dennis | |||
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|- | |||
|2016 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Perry Miller | |||
| | |||
|} | |||
===Television=== | |||
{|class="wikitable sortable" | |||
!Year | |||
!Title | |||
!Role | |||
!Notes | |||
|- | |||
|1997 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Face | |||
|Voice<br>Episode: "The Man Who Shot Cane Skretteburg" | |||
|- | |||
|2001 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Himself | |||
|Episode: "Green Day" | |||
|- | |||
|2002 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Irv Kratser | |||
|Episode: "Simon Redux" | |||
|- | |||
|2010 | |||
|''Behind the Music: Remastered'' | |||
|Himself | |||
|Episode: "Green Day" | |||
|- | |||
|rowspan="2" |2012 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Jackie's Pickup | |||
|Episode: "Kettle-Kettle-Black-Black" | |||
|- | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Himself | |||
|5 episodes | |||
|- | |||
|2016 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|] | |||
|Episode: "Legends" | |||
|} | |||
===Video games=== | |||
{|class="wikitable sortable" | |||
!Year | |||
!Title | |||
!Role | |||
!Notes | |||
|- | |||
|2005 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|rowspan="2" | Himself | |||
|Likeness | |||
|- | |||
|2010 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|Also likeness and archive footage | |||
|} | |||
===Stage=== | |||
{|class="wikitable sortable" | |||
!Year | |||
!Title | |||
!Role | |||
!Notes | |||
|- | |||
|2010–2011 | |||
|'']'' | |||
|St. Jimmy | |||
|76 performances | |||
|} | |||
==References== | |||
{{reflist|30em|refs= | |||
<ref name="SSL">{{cite web |title=Top-Tier Producer Rob Cavallo Captures the 'Big Studio Sound' in Private Studio with Solid State Logic BiG SiX |url=https://www.solidstatelogic.com/media/rob-cavallo-captures-big-studio-sound-with-big-six |quote=He is currently producing the newest Green Day album due out early next year |website=] |date=May 2, 2023 |access-date=September 20, 2023 |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529194836/https://www.solidstatelogic.com/media/rob-cavallo-captures-big-studio-sound-with-big-six |url-status=live }}</ref> | |||
{{Persondata | |||
|NAME=Armstrong, Billie Joe | |||
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES= | |||
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=Singer; Guitarist; Punk rock Musician | |||
|DATE OF BIRTH= ] ] | |||
|PLACE OF BIRTH=] | |||
|DATE OF DEATH= | |||
|PLACE OF DEATH= | |||
}} | }} | ||
==External links== | |||
{{Sister project links | |||
|1= |collapsible=yes |display=Billie Joe Armstrong |position=right |style= | |||
|commons=Category:Billie Joe Armstrong | |||
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* {{Twitter}} | |||
* {{IMDb name|0035626}} | |||
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{{Grammy Award for Record of the Year 2000s}} | |||
{{2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}} | |||
}} | |||
{{Green Day}} | |||
{{Pinhead Gunpowder}} | |||
{{Authority control}} | |||
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Latest revision as of 15:28, 22 December 2024
American rock musician (born 1972)
Billie Joe Armstrong | |
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Armstrong performing at the Isle of Wight Festival 2024 | |
Born | (1972-02-17) February 17, 1972 (age 52) Oakland, California, U.S. |
Other names |
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Occupations |
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Spouse |
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Children | 2 |
Relatives | Steve Nesser (brother-in-law) |
Awards | Full list |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
Instruments |
|
Years active | 1987–present |
Labels | |
Member of |
|
Formerly of |
|
Musical artist | |
Signature | |
Billie Joe Armstrong (born February 17, 1972) is an American musician and actor. He is best known for being the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt in 1987. He is also a guitarist and vocalist for the punk rock band Pinhead Gunpowder, and provides lead vocals for Green Day's side projects Foxboro Hot Tubs, the Network, the Longshot and the Coverups. Armstrong has been considered by critics as one of the greatest punk rock guitarists of all time.
Armstrong developed an interest in music at a young age, and recorded his first song at the age of five. He met Dirnt while attending elementary school, and the two instantly bonded over their mutual interest in music, forming the band Sweet Children when the two were 14 years old. The band later changed its name to Green Day. Armstrong has also pursued musical projects including numerous collaborations with other musicians.
Armstrong has acted in several films and TV series, including Like Sunday, Like Rain, Ordinary World, King of the Hill, Haunted, and Drunk History. In addition to co-writing the book and lyrics for American Idiot, a jukebox musical featuring several of Green Day's songs, Armstrong portrayed the role of St. Jimmy in the show for several weeks during its run on Broadway.
Armstrong's business ventures include founding Adeline Records to help support other bands in 1997, coinciding with the release of Nimrod. Adeline signed acts such as the Frustrators, AFI, and Dillinger Four. The record company shut down two decades later in August 2017. Armstrong also co-founded Punk Bunny Coffee (formerly Oakland Coffee Works) in 2015.
Early life
Armstrong was born in Oakland, California, on February 17, 1972, the youngest of six children of Ollie Jackson (born 1932) and Andrew Marsicano Armstrong (1928–1982). He was raised in Rodeo, California. His father, a jazz musician and truck driver for Safeway, died of esophageal cancer on September 10, 1982, when Armstrong was 10 years old. The song "Wake Me Up When September Ends" is a memorial to his father. Armstrong has five siblings, including three older sisters, Marci, Hollie, and Anna, and two older brothers, David and Alan. His mother worked as a waitress at Rod's Hickory Pit in El Cerrito, California, where he and Mike Dirnt later played their first gig in 1987. His great-great-grandparents Pietro Marsicano and Teresa Nigro were Italian immigrants from Viggiano, who settled in Boston prior to relocating to Berkeley, California, in 1869.
Armstrong attended Hillcrest Elementary School in Rodeo, where a teacher encouraged him to record a song titled "Look for Love" at the age of five on the Bay Area label Fiat Records. After his father died, his mother married a man whom her children disliked, which resulted in Armstrong's further retreat into music. At the age of 10, he met future bandmate Mike Dirnt in the school cafeteria, and they immediately bonded over their love of music. He became interested in punk rock after being introduced to the genre by his brothers. He has cited Van Halen, Ramones, the Replacements, and Hüsker Dü as musical influences. The first concert he ever attended was Van Halen in 1984. After Hillcrest Elementary, Armstrong attended Carquinez Middle School and John Swett High School, both in Crockett, California, and later transferred to Pinole Valley High School in Pinole, California. On his 18th birthday, he dropped out to pursue a musical career.
Career
In 1987, aged 15, Armstrong formed a band called Sweet Children with his childhood friend Mike Dirnt. In the beginning, Armstrong and Dirnt both played guitar, with Raj Punjabi on drums and Sean Hughes on bass. Punjabi was later replaced on drums by John Kiffmeyer, also known as Al Sobrante. After a few performances, Hughes left the band in 1988; Dirnt then began playing bass and they became a three-piece band. They changed their name to Green Day in April 1989, choosing the name because of their fondness for marijuana.
In 1989, Green Day released their debut EP 1,000 Hours through Lookout! Records. They recorded their debut studio album 39/Smooth and the extended play Slappy in 1990, which were later combined with 1,000 Hours into the compilation 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours in 1991.
In 1990, Armstrong provided lead guitar and backing vocals on three songs for the Lookouts' final EP IV, which featured Tré Cool on drums. Tré became Green Day's drummer in late 1990 after Sobrante left to go to college. Cool made his debut on Green Day's second album, Kerplunk (1991).
In 1991, Armstrong joined the band Pinhead Gunpowder, consisting of bassist Bill Schneider, drummer Aaron Cometbus, and fellow vocalist/guitarist Sarah Kirsch. Kirsch left the group in 1992, and was replaced by Jason White. The group has released several extended plays and albums from 1991 to the present, and performs live shows on an intermittent basis.
In 1993, Armstrong played live several times with California punk band Rancid. Rancid's lead singer, Tim Armstrong, asked Billie Joe Armstrong to join his band, but he refused due to his progress with Green Day. However, Billie Joe Armstrong was credited as a co-writer on Rancid's 1993 song, Radio.
With their third LP, Dookie (1994), Green Day broke through into the mainstream, and have remained one of the most popular rock bands of the 1990s and 2000s with over 60 million records sold worldwide. The album was followed by Insomniac (1995), Nimrod (1997), and Warning (2000).
Armstrong collaborated with many artists. He co-wrote the Go-Go's 2001 song "Unforgiven". He has also co-written songs with Penelope Houston ("The Angel and The Jerk" and "New Day"), and sung backing vocals with Melissa Auf der Maur on Ryan Adams' "Do Miss America" (where they acted as the backing band for Iggy Pop on his album Skull Ring ("Private Hell" and "Supermarket"). Armstrong produced an album for the Riverdales. He was part of the Green Day side project the Network from 2003 to 2005, which became active again in 2020. The Network released two albums: 2003's Money Money 2020 and 2020's Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So!.
Hoping to clear his head and develop new ideas for songs, Armstrong traveled to New York City alone for a few weeks in 2003, renting a small apartment in the East Village of Manhattan. He spent much of this time taking long walks and participating in jam sessions in the basement of Hi-Fi, a bar in Manhattan. However, the friends he made during this time drank too much for his liking, which was the catalyst for Armstrong's return to the Bay Area. After returning home, Armstrong was arrested for driving under the influence on January 5, 2003, and released on $1,200 bail.
In 2004, Green Day debuted American Idiot, their first rock opera. The album has sold more than 15,000,000 copies worldwide, fueled by the hit singles "American Idiot", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends". In 2009, Green Day released 21st Century Breakdown, the band's second rock opera, which was another commercial success. Between these two projects, Armstrong was the lead vocalist of the Green Day side project Foxboro Hot Tubs, who formed in 2007 and have performed intermittent live shows ever since. Foxboro Hot Tubs released one album, Stop Drop and Roll!!!, in 2008.
In 2009, Armstrong formed a band called Rodeo Queens, along with members of Green Day and NYC punk rocker Jesse Malin. They released one song, along with a video, called "Depression Times".
In 2009, American Idiot was adapted into a Broadway musical, also called American Idiot. The musical won two Tony Awards. Armstrong appeared in American Idiot in the role of St. Jimmy for two stints in late 2010 and early 2011.
In 2012, Green Day released a trio of albums: ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!. In 2013, Armstrong appeared on Season 3 of NBC's The Voice as an assistant mentor for Christina Aguilera's team. In 2013, Armstrong and singer-songwriter Norah Jones released the album Foreverly, consisting of covers of songs from the Everly Brothers' album Songs Our Daddy Taught Us. The first single from the album, "Long Time Gone", was released on October 23.
2012 substance abuse
On September 21, 2012, during a Green Day performance at Las Vegas' iHeartRadio Music Festival, Armstrong became agitated onstage and stopped the band's set midway through their performance of the 1994 hit song "Basket Case". In an expletive-filled rant, Armstrong criticized the event's promoters for allegedly cutting short the band's performance, before smashing his guitar and storming off stage. The band later issued a statement apologizing for the incident and clarifying that their set had not actually been cut short. The incident occurred just four days prior to the release of Green Day's ninth studio album, ¡Uno!
Two days after the incident at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, Green Day announced that Armstrong was seeking treatment for an unspecified substance abuse problem. As a result, scheduled appearances on Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Ellen DeGeneres Show were canceled. According to Claudia Suarez Wright, Tre Cool's ex-wife and the mother of Armstrong's godson, Armstrong had been drinking heavily in Las Vegas prior to the iHeartRadio Music Festival, following approximately one year of sobriety.
Armstrong gave an interview to Rolling Stone in March 2013 in which he said that he had "been trying to get sober since 1997, right around Nimrod". He discussed how, during the 21st Century Breakdown tour of 2009–2010, "There were meltdowns on that tour that were huge". Armstrong detailed his addiction, in particular how it had escalated in the months prior to the release of the ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tre! albums and the performance at iHeartRadio, stating that during the band's 2011 summer tour of Europe, "I was at my pill-taking height at that time, medicating the shit out of myself". Armstrong gave details of a gig at Irving Plaza in New York just over a week before the iHeartRadio incident, in which he "Threw back four or five beers before we went on and probably had four or five when we played. Then I drank my body weight in alcohol after that. I ended up hungover on the West Side Highway, laying in a little park."
Green Day canceled all remaining concert dates for 2012 and early 2013 as Armstrong continued dealing with his personal problems. In late December 2012, the band announced they would return to touring at the end of March 2013. Armstrong later said that the substances he had been abusing were alcohol and prescription pills for anxiety and insomnia.
2013 onward
Armstrong also collaborated with the comedy hip hop group Lonely Island in their song "I Run NY" from The Wack Album released on June 7, 2013. He starred alongside Leighton Meester in the 2014 film Like Sunday, Like Rain. For his work in the film, Bilie Joe won the Breakout Performance Award at the 2014 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival. Armstrong wrote songs for These Paper Bullets, a rock musical adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, which premiered at Yale Repertory Theater in March 2014.
In 2014, Armstrong joined the Replacements for a number of shows beginning on April 19 at Coachella. Frontman Paul Westerberg had been suffering with back problems and spent the majority of the gig lying on a sofa while Armstrong helped play his parts. Westerberg referred to Billie Joe as an "expansion of the band". Armstrong joined the Replacements on stage again at the Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta in May.
In November 2014, Armstrong moved with his son Joseph to New York and began working on another acting role, in the film Ordinary World. It was Armstrong's first lead acting role. The film centers on the mid-life crisis of a husband and father who attempts to revisit his punk past, and was released in 2016. It included new songs written and performed by Armstrong. The film got mixed reviews, although Armstrong's own performance was generally praised, with The Village Voice writing that he had "a low-key charm suggesting that, if he desired it, he could get more onscreen gigs in between albums."
In October 2016, Green Day released their album Revolution Radio. In July 2017, Armstrong formed a supergroup with Tim Armstrong of Rancid, named the Armstrongs.
In April 2018, Armstrong formed the rock band the Longshot, and on April 20, the band released their debut studio album Love Is for Losers. Shortly after, Armstrong announced that he and the Longshot would embark on a summer tour. Aside from Armstrong, the band's lineup consists of Kevin Preston and David S. Field of the band Prima Donna on lead guitar and drums, respectively, and longtime Green Day live member Jeff Matika on bass.
In 2019, Armstrong co-wrote and performed the track "Strangers & Thieves" on the album Sunset Kids by Jesse Malin.
In February 2020, Green Day released their thirteenth album, Father of All Motherfuckers.
Green Day's fourteenth album, Saviors, was released on January 19, 2024.
Artistry
Armstrong is known for his frequent use of palm-muted, power chord-driven guitar riffs, and melodic guitar solos. His strumming style makes use of techniques such as stubbing and fret hand muting, which allows him to strum power chords harder while attacking all six strings on the guitar.
Instruments
Armstrong's first guitar was a Cherry Red Hohner acoustic, which his father bought for him. He received his first electric guitar, a Fernandes The Revival RST-50 Stratocaster that he named "Blue", when he was ten years old in 1982, the same year his father died. His mother got "Blue" from George Cole, who taught Armstrong to play guitar for 10 years. Armstrong says in a 1995 MTV interview, "Basically, it wasn't like guitar lessons because I never really learned how to read music. So he just taught me how to put my hands on the thing." Cole bought the guitar new from David Margen of the band Santana. Cole installed the Bill Lawrence L500XL Humbucker pickup in the bridge position at an angle, similar to Eddie Van Halen's guitar Frankenstrat, which caused Armstrong to be very influenced by Van Halen. The L500XL is the same pickup that was used by Dimebag Darrell of Pantera, Armstrong replaced the L500XL with a white Yamaha Pacifica humbucker at Woodstock '94.
Armstrong later reinstalled the Bill Lawrence L500XL pickup before recording Insomniac, although he switched to a black Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB in 1995. He toured with this guitar from the band's early days and still uses it to this day.
Marc Spitz writes that, "Armstrong fetishized his teacher's guitar, partly because the blue instrument had a sound quality and Van Halen-worthy fluidity he couldn't get from his little red Hohner. He prized it mostly, however, because of his relationship with Cole, another father figure after the death of Andy."
Both middle and neck pickups are disconnected and the pickup selector is locked in the bridge position. This also applies to his backup guitar and "Blue" copies, mainly Fender Stratocasters. "Blue" appears in a number of Green Day music videos such as "Longview", "Welcome to Paradise", "Basket Case", "Geek Stink Breath", "Stuck with Me", "Brain Stew/Jaded", "Hitchin' a Ride", and "Minority". "Blue" also appears on the album cover of Insomniac. The "BJ" on Blue stands for Billie Joe, inspired by Stevie Ray Vaughan, whose Stratocaster has his own initials ("SRV") on the pickguard.
Today, Armstrong mainly uses Gibson and Fender guitars. Twenty of his Gibson guitars are Les Paul Junior models from the mid- to late-1950s. His Fender collection includes Stratocasters, Jazzmasters, Telecasters, a Gretsch hollowbody, Rickenbacker 360 and his copies of "Blue" from Fender Custom Shop. Recently he has begun giving away guitars to audience members invited to play on stage with Green Day, usually during the songs "Knowledge" or "Longview". He states that his favorite guitar is a 1956 Gibson Les Paul Junior he calls "Floyd", which he bought in 2000 just before recording the album Warning.
Armstrong also has three of his own Les Paul Junior signature models from Gibson. The first has been in production since 2006 and is modeled closely after "Floyd". The second began production in 2012 and is a TV Yellow double-cutaway Junior. Both models include a Gibson "H-90" pickup, exclusive to Armstrong's models. Gibson has also released an extremely limited run of acoustic signature guitars. Epiphone has release lower-priced version of his signature Gibson Les Paul Junior in 2022.
Armstrong's amplifiers consist of a pair of Marshall 100-watt 1959 Super Lead reissues he acquired sometime before Green Day's Woodstock '94 performance and had modified for increased distortion. Nicknamed "Meat" and "Pete," the two amps are run in conjunction for a fuller sound, with a Boss BD-2 Blues Driver used for solos. For clean tones, Armstrong uses a rackmount Custom Audio Electronics 3+ SE tube preamp, and all three amplifiers are run through a pair of Marshall 1960B cabinets with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. In 2019, MXR released Armstrong's signature overdrive pedal, the Dookie Drive, which aimed to reproduce his dual-Marshall setup and was decorated with the cover art from the Dookie album. MXR later rebranded the pedal as the FOD Drive.
Armstrong plays several other instruments as well as guitar. He recorded harmonica and mandolin parts on Nimrod and Warning, piano parts on 21st Century Breakdown, American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording (2010), ¡Tré!, and Revolution Radio, and plays drums and bass occasionally.
Personal life
In June 2018, Armstrong was given honorary citizenship of Viggiano, the Italian commune from where his paternal great-great-grandparents hailed, by Viggiano's mayor Amedeo Cicala. Armstrong is a member of the board of directors of Project Chimps, a sanctuary for former research chimpanzees funded in large part by the Humane Society of the United States. In 2024, Green Day saw several Las Vegas radio stations pull their songs after Armstrong described the city as a "shithole" following the relocation of the Oakland Athletics to the city.
Armstrong is a fan of soccer and is one of the co-owners of Oakland Roots SC.
Business ventures
In 1997, Armstrong co-founded Adeline Records, a rock and punk rock record label which had, in recent years, been managed by Pat Magnarella, Green Day's manager. Adeline Records closed in August 2017 following Magnarella's split from Green Day.
In April 2015, Armstrong opened Broken Guitars (now Oakland Guitars), a guitar shop in Oakland, California with fellow Pinhead Gunpowder member and longtime Green Day associate, Bill Schneider.
In December 2015, Armstrong and Mike Dirnt launched a coffee company, Oakland Coffee Works. The company sells organic coffee beans and is said to be the first company to use mass-produced compostable bags and pods.
Fashion
Armstrong has been noted for his punk fashion style, which influenced his followers of previous and current generations to the point of being known as a "style icon". He also launched an eye liner with Kat Von D named "Basket Case", which is a cosmetic that he implemented as part of his singing character since his beginnings.
Political views
Armstrong supported Barack Obama during the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, and Bernie Sanders in the 2016 presidential election. Following Sanders' defeat in the Democratic primaries, Armstrong declared his support for Hillary Clinton. He was critical of Donald Trump during the election and throughout Trump's presidency, calling him a "fascist" and a "puppet of the Illuminati", comparing him to Adolf Hitler, and blaming "uneducated white working-class people" for his rise to power. In a 2017 Rolling Stone interview, he stated that he does not align himself with any political party and described himself as an independent. He again supported Sanders during the 2020 presidential election, later endorsing Joe Biden after Sanders lost the primary. Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, Armstrong announced his plans to renounce his United States citizenship.
Armstrong has spoken out in support of transgender people. In a 2024 interview with the Times, Armstrong spoke to the ways that he is still weaving his queerness into his songwriting. The newspaper asked him about Green Day's opinions on the moral panic surrounding transgender youth, to which the singer responded, "I just think they're fucking close-minded." "It's like people are afraid of their children," he told the newspaper. "Why would you be afraid? Why don't you let your kid just be the kid that they are?"
Relationships and sexuality
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Armstrong has identified himself as bisexual, saying in a 1995 interview with The Advocate, "I think I've always been bisexual. I mean, it's something that I've always been interested in. I think people are born bisexual, and it's just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of, 'Oh, I can't.' They say it's taboo. It's ingrained in our heads that it's bad, when it's not bad at all. It's a very beautiful thing." In February 2014, he again discussed his bisexuality in a Rolling Stone article about the Green Day album Dookie, which he described as "touch on bisexuality a lot".
Armstrong met his first serious girlfriend, Arica Pelino, at 924 Gilman Street on his 16th birthday. She became known as the "first official Green Day fan," listening to the first four-track recordings by Armstrong and Sean Hughes, encouraging the band, touring with them and acting as an occasional photographer for them. She inspired many of Green Day's songs, including "Christie Road", which was written about the local railroad tracks where she and Armstrong would sneak out to meet. When Armstrong began living in punk houses and warehouses at the age of seventeen, including the warehouse above a West Oakland brothel which ultimately inspired the song "Welcome to Paradise", she would often stay with him, later saying, "I would stay with him sometimes in these warehouses full of crusty punks." The couple split in late 1991. Arica is the sister of former Green Day touring member Mike Pelino and the sister-in-law of Janna White, who is married to Green Day touring guitarist Jason White.
Shortly after his split with Pelino, Armstrong began dating a woman he has identified only as "Amanda". She produced and distributed her own fan zine and was an "iron-willed" feminist, which enthralled Armstrong. Amanda, however, was unimpressed with Armstrong; though the couple dated for some time, she ultimately left him in 1994 and joined the Peace Corps, leaving him feeling suicidal. Armstrong stated in an interview with Spin about the inspiration behind the Green Day song "Armatage Shanks" in 1995: "It was right before Dookie came out and I was really at odds with myself. I was like, 'Man, do I really want to do this?' A lot of time I was thinking about suicide, how it's so easy to kill yourself, but it's so hard to stay alive. I was in a break-up with my then-girlfriend, a total, raving punk rocker who didn't approve of me being on a major label. She moved down to Ecuador saying she couldn't live in a world with McDonald's and such. It was fucking me up pretty bad." Armstrong has written many songs about Amanda, both during their relationship and afterwards, including "She", "Good Riddance", "Stuart and the Ave", "Sassafras Roots", "Amanda", "She's a Rebel", "Extraordinary Girl", and "Whatsername". The character of Whatsername on the album American Idiot, and in the American Idiot musical, is based on Amanda.
In 1990, Armstrong met Adrienne Nesser (the sister of professional skateboarder Steve Nesser) at one of Green Day's early performances in Minneapolis. They married on July 2, 1994, with Nesser discovering that she was pregnant the day after their wedding. Their first son, Joseph Marciano "Joey" Armstrong, was born on February 28, 1995. Joey went on to play drums in the Oakland-based band SWMRS. Their second son, Jakob Danger Armstrong, was born on September 12, 1998. Jakob is a guitarist and singer-songwriter who released his first material online in 2015 and currently plays with the band Ultra Q (formerly Mt. Eddy). In a February 2014 interview with Rolling Stone, Armstrong described his sudden marriage and fatherhood: "I was very impulsive at that time. I think that impulsive behavior was meant to counteract the chaos in my life."
Awards
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Green DayYear | Award | Presented By |
---|---|---|
2008 | 50 Sexiest People in Rock (#1) (Readers Choice) | Kerrang! |
2010 | Top Frontmen of All Time (#25) (Readers Choice) | Gibson |
Discography
Solo releases
- Albums
- Foreverly (2013, with Norah Jones)
- No Fun Mondays (2020)
- Singles
- "Look for Love" (1977)
- "Long Time Gone" (2013)
- "I Think We're Alone Now" (2020)
- "Manic Monday" (2020)
- "That Thing You Do!" (2020)
- "Kids in America" (2020)
- "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory" (2020)
- "Corpus Christi" (2020)
- "War Stories" (2020)
- "Amico" (2020)
- "Not That Way Anymore" (2020)
- "That's Rock 'n' Roll" (2020)
- "Gimme Some Truth" (2020)
- "A New England" (2020)
Green Day
Main article: Green Day discography- 39/Smooth (1990) – lead vocals, guitar
- Kerplunk! (1991) – lead vocals, guitar, drums and backing vocals on "Dominated Love Slave"
- Dookie (1994) – lead vocals, guitar
- Insomniac (1995) – lead vocals, guitar
- Nimrod (1997) – lead vocals, guitar, harmonica on "Walking Alone"
- Warning (2000) – vocals, guitar, mandolin, harmonica
- American Idiot (2004) – lead and backing vocals, guitar
- 21st Century Breakdown (2009) – lead and backing vocals, guitar, piano
- American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording (2010) – vocals, guitar, piano
- ¡Uno! (2012) – vocals, guitar
- ¡Dos! (2012) – vocals, guitar
- ¡Tré! (2012) – vocals, guitar, piano
- Revolution Radio (2016) – lead vocals, guitar, piano
- Father of All Motherfuckers (2020) - lead vocals, guitar
- Saviors (2024) - lead vocals, guitar
Pinhead Gunpowder
Vocals and guitar on all
- Jump Salty (1994)
- Carry the Banner (1994)
- Goodbye Ellston Avenue (1997)
- Shoot the Moon (EP) (1999) – also production
- Compulsive Disclosure (2003)
- West Side Highway (EP) (2008)
- Unt (2024)
The Network
- Money Money 2020 (2003) – guitar, vocals
- Trans Am (2020)
- Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So! (2020) - lead vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals, drums
Foxboro Hot Tubs
- Stop Drop and Roll!!! (2008) – lead vocals
The Boo
- The Boo (EP) (2011) – bass
The Shrives
- Turn Me On (EP) (2015) – bass
The Longshot
- The Longshot (EP) (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums
- Love Is for Losers (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums
- Devil's Kind (Single) (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums
- Bullets (Single) (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums
- Razor Baby (EP) (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums
- Return to Sender (EP) (2018) – vocals, guitar, bass, drums
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Riding in Vans with Boys | Himself | Documentary of The Pop Disaster Tour |
2004 | Disease Is Punishment | Fink | |
2005 | Bullet in a Bible | Himself | |
2006 | Live Freaky! Die Freaky! | Charles Manson | Voice |
2007 | The Simpsons Movie | Himself | Voice |
2008 | Heart Like a Hand Grenade | ||
2011 | Awesome as Fuck | ||
2012 | One Nine Nine Four | ||
This Is 40 | |||
2013 | ¡Cuatro! | ||
Broadway Idiot | St. Jimmy | ||
2014 | Like Sunday, Like Rain | Dennis | |
2016 | Ordinary World | Perry Miller |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | King of the Hill | Face | Voice Episode: "The Man Who Shot Cane Skretteburg" |
2001 | Behind the Music | Himself | Episode: "Green Day" |
2002 | Haunted | Irv Kratser | Episode: "Simon Redux" |
2010 | Behind the Music: Remastered | Himself | Episode: "Green Day" |
2012 | Nurse Jackie | Jackie's Pickup | Episode: "Kettle-Kettle-Black-Black" |
The Voice | Himself | 5 episodes | |
2016 | Drunk History | Charlie Chaplin | Episode: "Legends" |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2005 | Tony Hawk's American Wasteland | Himself | Likeness |
2010 | Green Day: Rock Band | Also likeness and archive footage |
Stage
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2010–2011 | American Idiot | St. Jimmy | 76 performances |
References
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Armstrong briefly played guitar in the hardcore band Corrupted Morals, another Lookout! band.
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{{cite web}}
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{{cite web}}
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- Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p36
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{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Nimrod (CD liner). Green Day. Reprise Records. 1997. 0015133-02.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - Warning (CD liner). Green Day. Reprise Records. 2000. 0015133-02.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - American Idiot (CD liner). Green Day. Reprise Records. 2004.
{{cite AV media notes}}
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He is currently producing the newest Green Day album due out early next year
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