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Posted: 6/22/06
May Green Day Report
Try not to drop dead of shock, but it has actually been a busy month for the guys in Green Day. They haven't played any surprise shows, or released any new music, but they are out of their undoubtedly pimpin' hidey-holes and back up in theoretically polite society once again.
Here's what they've been up to:
The month started off with the guys answering some more questions for the Idiot Club Q&A. They gave some interesting answers to questions, including revealing the fact that they were actually thinking of breaking up after the "Warning" tour, but then they decided to give it one more shot with AI, and we all know where that went!
They also divulged the very interesting tidbit that when they're up onstage, they can see everybody and everything in the crowd around them. Mike mentioned that he recognized a lot of people during the U.S. tour that had been coming out to every show. So there you go, fan freaks, your fanaticism does not go unnoticed.
Of course, they also answered a lot of questions with severe lameness. One person asked what was next for Green Day, and they answered "Tomorrow." And someone else asked about what kind of regular stuff they do, and they answered "The same things as anyone else." Come on, guys! You can't spare a little dirt for your millions of drooling worshipers?
On the other hand, there was a decent amount of communication goodness this month that we can hardly bitch about. On May 14th, Green Day released this message to fans in the Idiot Club:
"Hello everybody its been a while since we filled you all in to what's going on in Green Day world. We finished touring at the begining of the year and have all taken some much needed vacation. We have started to get together and work on a bunch of cool projects. It is a very creative time for us and we look forward to working on them for the next year or so. We will be sure to keep you all updated as to what is going on. Everyone is doing great and we are enjoying the time at home. We are humbled by all the support everyone around the world has shown us over the last two years. But most of all we want to thank you all as fans for being the best damn fans in the world!! We really appreciate it. Thank you!...
Billie, Mike, Tre" (www.greenday.com)
As you might guess (or as you might be responsible for), there was a big uproar because non-Idiot Club fans felt like their efforts were going unappreciated, so the message was released to the general public on the 16th. And of course, the general public is the REAL Idiot Club, and always will be, so now the dust has settled, Green Day fans everywhere feel loved, and all is right with the world once again.
One Billie Joe Smoothie, Please
Billie Joe did an interview for Blender Magazine this month, in which he had some interesting things to say on going his own way:
"There were rumors I wanted to do a solo thing, but I'm in a gang. Breaking up was never an option."
On changing the band's style for AI:
"We had to recognize that it's okay to be flamboyant, it's okay to jump into different styles, as long as you lead with a sense of humor about yourself."
On being a dad:
"I just want to be involved, have a healthy relationship with my boys and set some kind of example for them about how to be a good man."
And on what it takes to be a solid citizen:
"I think America needs to be offended now more than ever."
"A very American thing about me is that I'm not afraid to criticize America. I'm a rock n' roll minuteman. A rock n' roll terrorist."
A good interview with a hawt pic. And now you don't have to shell out cash for the magazine because you know all the juicy bits. That is, unless you want the picture to cut out and stick on your wall next to a picture of you so that it looks like you and Billie Joe are best friends, which you tell the kids at school about, but they just laugh, so you go home and tell all your troubles to BJ, because he's the only one that really understands, and the two of you just totally rock out on guitars for the rest of the night…
American Idiot, I mean Idol, I mean Idiot, I mean…
Speaking of creepy, surreal teenage rock star fantasies, the guys in Green Day also weighed in this month on American Idol, which has become so hugely popular that winners are actually getting more votes than President Bush did to win the last U.S. Federal election.
Billie Joe had this to say: "I think how America votes on 'American Idol,' the next presidential election they should vote in the same way and have a massive TV show that's once a week that keeps you updated. ... The new way of voting. Screw singers. Let's go for the politicians this time."
And Tre agreed. "That's a good idea, Billie. And for 50 cents a pop, all those calls could pay for all the campaigning." With all the effort Green Day has been putting into getting their fans out to vote, you can tell that they find it a bit frustrating that people care more about the outcome of a reality TV show than they do their country's presidential election.
Oh well, America will surely produce even better reality shows once the nation is in the grip of a heartless totalitarian government…oh wait, that's already happening!
Oh, the Pressures and Obligations of Stardom!
Green Day did a little reality TV of their own this month, appearing onstage at several awards shows. On May 11th, Billie Joe and Mike were at the 15th Annual Music Videos Production Awards to present their buddy and video direction Sam Bayer with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Bayer directed all the guys' recent videos, as well as some serious all-time classics, like Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," Blind Melon's "No Rain," and the Cranberries, "Zombie."
All three guys also made it to the Pop Music Awards in Beverly Hills on the 22nd, an annual event hosted by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. In a somewhat tragic turn of events, Green Day tied for Song of the Year (for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams") with Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together."
Of course, Carey didn't actually receive the award because she doesn't write her own music and sure as hell didn't write that fucking song. A grim day, indeed, en route to the generification of Green Day.
Green Day also won the Creative Voice Award for being artists who do as much politically and for their communities as they do musically. ASCAP President Marilyn Bergman said that, "Both as singers and songwriters, Green Day are one of the most musically ambitious, innovative groups, as relevant today as when they emerged on the scene as new artists." So at least the guys got acknowledge for not actually being Mariah Carey-style corporate tools.
Previous winners of the award include such bands as Metallica, so we'll just have to wait and see how long Green Day can actually survive without putting on the royal ASS CAP, Lars Ulrich-style.
Elvis Impersonators
At least one member of Green Day did actually get out there and play some music this month. Billie Joe performed at a VH1 tribute to Elvis Costello on May 19th. The two punk heroes jammed together on some Green Day tunes, some classic Costello songs, including an unrehearsed acoustic version of "Allison," and then tore the place up with the whole Impersonators band, rocking out to Costello hits like "Radio Radio," and "Pump it Up."
It was a seriously cool show, so watch for it coming up soon on VH1, and try not to be TOO hard on yourself for not being there.
The Gossip Mill
Not so much gossip this month as sometimes hilarious, sometimes scandalous side-notes. For anyone that enjoys gaming, and a good Green Day parody, check out Fred the Monkey's version of "Wake Me Up When September Ends at:
http://www.fredthemonkey.com/cartoons/wakemeupatE3.html. It's pretty funny, and don't worry, Billie Joe is not offended by the shameless co-opting of his lyrics.
You Know You've Become Too Famous When…
In recent weeks, 'Green Day' has started to be picked up and used as a term for a major cash grab. When things are looking bad, but then they suddenly turn around and you're a rich bitch, then you're have a Green Day.
This turn of phrase first got popular at the track, and now everybody's using it. So just in case you believed that there was some shred of Green Day left that hadn't been hopelessly commercialized, you can now give up on that dream.
See y'all next month for more exciting adventures of the Green Crusaders!
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