Latest news with #AmericanIdiot
Ottawa Citizen
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Ottawa Citizen
Bluesfest Day 7: Green Day conquers the masses
Article content Green Day, one of the United States' most popular punk-influenced bands, descended on Bluesfest for the first time Friday, deploying a volley of hits during a momentous main-stage performance that drew a huge crowd to the plaza of the Canadian War Museum at LeBreton Flats Park. Article content Under clear skies and refreshingly cool temperatures, the legendary rockers worked hard to make it a great show, winning over a crowd that had been buzzing with anticipation for weeks. Article content Article content In fact, it was hard to tell who was more into it, the fans of all ages packed shoulder to shoulder singing along to every word, or the band members rejoicing that they weren't at home in Trump's America. Article content Article content 'This is Ottawa. This is Canada,' bellowed singer-songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong at one point. 'This is not America.' Article content In that spirit, the protest-minded American Idiot made a perfect starting point, with lyrics tweaked to reflect the current political situation. It was followed by the still-relevant, anti-war anthem, Holiday, and the 2009 advisory Know Your Enemy, which also carries some pertinent messages for today's voters (and featured a fan from the audience shout-singing along on stage). Come to think of it, most of the Green Day catalogue has aged remarkably well, largely thanks to the combination of smart songwriting and the resurgence of an uncertain political climate. Core members Armstrong, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt, now in their 50s, looked to be in great shape, too. Article content Article content Instead of dwelling on the issues of the day, however, they made the concert great fun, feeding off the energy that emanated from the crowd. When he wanted to gauge reaction, Armstrong shouted 'Hey-O' and listened for the echo. When he wanted to rage, it was 'Let's go crazy, Ottawa.' Article content Armstrong was so impressed with everything that he announced a new headquarters for the California-based band. 'I'm not going home,' he declared. 'We are Green Day from Ottawa, from now on.' Article content The love grew with each song, from Boulevard of Broken Dreams to Longview, Welcome to Paradise, Dilemma, 21 Guns, Basket Case and more. A final singalong, this time on the melodic Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), lulled listeners into a sense of bliss as the show ended, only for a dazzling fireworks display to provide the real climax. Article content
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Celebrates 4th of July With ‘F–k Donald Trump' Chant in Belgium
While Donald Trump celebrated the 4th of July at the White House by signing his controversial 'big, beautiful' bill, Green Day were a world away in Belgium marking the nation's independence day in their signature agit-punk manner. Singer Billie Joe Armstrong, who has made his long made his harsh feelings about the president crystal clear from the stage, did it again on Friday during GD's headlining set at the Rock Werchter festival when he led the crowd in an anti-Trump chant to mark the nation's 249th birthday. 'F– Donald Trump,' Armstrong encouraged the audience to chant in the middle of a performance of 'Holiday,' the latest in the singer's repeated broadsides against the American president. As has become customary, Armstrong also once again tweaked the lyrics to the band's signature political bombtrack, 'American Idiot,' shouting 'I'm not part of the MAGA agenda.' More from Billboard Liam Gallagher Praises Fan Kicked Off Stage at Green Day Concert for Playing Oasis Hit 5 Must-Hear New Country Songs: Erin Enderlin, Randy Houser, Charley Crockett & More Spice Girls' Mel B Marries Longtime Boyfriend Rory McPhee in London In a seeming nod to Jimi Hendrix's legendarily incendiary performance of the 'Star-Spangled Banner' at Woodstock in 1969, Armstrong played a touchingly gentle bit of the National Anthem, singing high and sweet about the 'dawn's early light' while plucking out the melody on an electric guitar. The bit ended with a woman in the crowd shouting 'F–k Donald Trump!' as the lyrics faded from 'at the twilight's last gleaming' into the American Idiot ballad 'What Me Up When September Ends.' Last month, Armstrong celebrated Green Day's debut appearance at the Download Festival in the U.K. with another broadside against the administration. 'Donald Trump in his administration is a fascist government,' Armstrong told the crowd a day before Trump presided over his long-awaited D.C military parade. 'And it's up to us to fight back.' Armstrong also got the Download audience to join him in calling Trump a 'fat bastard.' Though 'American Idiot' was originally written in response to the George W. Bush administration, Armstrong has been swapping the 'redneck agenda' line out to slam the 'MAGA agenda' — and occasionally former DOGE boss Elon Musk's 'Elon Agenda' — during recent Green Day shows. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Metro
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong kicks fan off stage for playing Oasis song
A Green Day fan has been booted off stage after trying to troll the band. Forming in 1987, the American rock band's line-up includes lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tré Cool. They rose to fame with their debut album Dookie in 1994, later releasing hits like American Idiot, Wake Me Up When September Ends and Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Over the past 38 years Green Day have sold around 74 million records worldwide and have been nominated for 20 Grammy Awards. Despite their success, someone at one of their recent concerts tried to poke fun at them – and it didn't go down well. On Monday night the band were playing at the Luxexpo in Luxembourg. Like they usually do, they invited a fan from the crowd onto the stage to play guitar on the show closer Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life). However, the person picked wasn't too keen on actually taking part and started playing the wrong chords, with Billie Joe looking visibly confused. 'You told me you could play this one!' he said, attempting to remind the fan of the proper key, before the man instead started to strum the intro to Oasis' Wonderwall. Reacting immediately, Billie Joel was unimpressed, declaring: 'Oh, f*** me.' He then grabbed the guitar from the man and declared 'nice try' and 'wrong song', before the attention-seeker was ushered off the stage by a security guard. Not willing to let the moment pass by the musician then played the song himself. Many people slammed the man, saying he wasted a 'once in a lifetime opportunity'. 'Why do people keep taking once in a lifetime opportunities from real Green Day fans,' Yvonne commented on Instagram. 'The crappy thing about this is he not only ruined his chance to play with an amazing band, but someone else lost out too. Such a shame,' Kathy shared. 'Dude had ONE shot to play with them, and he fumbles it like that? Bruh,' Denny added. However, Oasis star Liam Gallagher saw the funny side, posting on X the next day: 'Best song of the night.' In 2022 Liam's brother and bandmate Noel also declared that he though other bands should emulate them. 'I've always thought most bands should play Oasis songs, anyway. The Foo Fighters should definitely do a couple. Green Day could do even more than one or two. Radiohead? I mean, let's face it. It'd be a better night out,' he said. In a few days' time Oasis will make their-long awaited stage return – kicking off their reunion tour in Cardiff on Friday. Last year Green Day also had a run-in with a fan during a gig. More Trending While playing at Hurricane Festival in Germany, Billie Joe could pointed directly at a fan in the crowd and flipping them off. Soon after he threw his microphone down and took off his guitar, pointing directly at the fan and mouthing words at them, looking incredibly annoyed. Other attendees later explained that the fan in question has been repeatedly spraying the singer with a water gun while he was performing. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Cassie Ventura releases statement after ex Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex trafficking verdict MORE: Dave Grohl and wife Jordyn Blum make first public appearance after secret love child revealed MORE: Sean 'Diddy' Combs found not guilty of sex trafficking in bombshell trial
Boston Globe
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Wilbury's ‘American Idiot' is a triumphant, headbanging, full-frontal assault
Get Globe Rhode Island Food Club A weekly newsletter about food and dining in Rhode Island, by Globe Rhode Island reporter Alexa Gagosz. Enter Email Sign Up And so, too, does the Advertisement 'American Idiot' has made its way onto the Advertisement Written by Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong and Broadway/Metropolitan Opera veteran Michael Mayer, the musical enriches the album's thin and scattered narrative with intriguing theatricality. And with the aid of Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Tom Kitt, who wrote the score for the modern opera 'Next to Normal,' the album's angst-ridden guitar riffs, omnipresent and inventive bass lines, and angry, rapid-fire drumming are complemented with more traditional pit instrument orchestrations. All this makes 'American Idiot' something unique: a musical that bears a resemblance to the traditional theatrical artform, but which comes draped in defiance, sarcasm, and youth-fueled exuberance. In this Wilbury production, under director Josh Short and musical director Milly Massey, there is enough youth-fueled exuberance to light up all of Rhode Island. It is accompanied by a team of terrific local musicians that include Chloe Cordeiro on drums, Ernie Lau on violin, James Lucey on bass, Nick Mendillo on guitar, and Christine Perkins on cello. They are particularly good when leaning into ballads like 'Wake Me Up When September Ends,' but someone needs to turn up the volume so that their spot-on rendition of the no-frills anthem 'St. Jimmy' and the hard rocking 'Give Me Novacaine' causes a greater ripple of vibration in our ribcage. After all, this is a punk rock opera. Short and his designers – Scott Osborne (scenic), Alexander P. Sprague (lighting), and Andy Russ (sound and video) – make sure that this production does not resemble the traditional theatrical artform too closely. There's more performance space than seating – which includes ramps, scaffolding, a trap door, a band stand and a band pit. Everything is littered with urban decay and surrounded by large video screens that display images that establish a sense of time, place and mindset. Actors rock punk fashion is courtesy of designer Dustin Thomas. Advertisement Much of the aforementioned defiance and sarcasm is communicated through Ali Kenner Brodsky's choreography as performed by an ensemble of frustrated, passionate, and aimless youth, played by the talented Perry Barkett, Jenna Benzinger, Alexander Boyle, Sofia DaSilva, Michael Eckenreiter, Grace Graham, Annabelle Iredale, Elisabet Ober, Paige O'Connor, Henry Stanton, and Justin Alice Voena. The dance emerges as edgy, explosive movement that would seem organic and guttural if not for the occasional moments when it appears a tad premeditated. Eckenreiter, as Johnny, has the prerequisite hair, physicality, acting chops, and guitar virtuosity to play an endearing antihero. Just not the extraordinary voice needed to sell his solos or stand out in shared songs like 'Jesus of Suburbia' and 'Tales of Another Broken Home.' Fortunately, extraordinary voices – as well as incredible intensity and remarkable stage presence – can be found in Benzinger as Johnny's short-term girl, Whatsername; O'Connor as the walking pharmacy, St. Jimmy; Boyle and Stanton as Johnny's best friends, Tunny and Will; and Iredale as Heather, Will's pregnant girlfriend. Green Day was inducted into the AMERICAN IDIOT Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. Music by Green Day with Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong. Directed by Josh Short. At Wilbury Theatre Group, WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley St., Providence. Through June 22. Tickets are $5-$35. 401-400-7100, Advertisement Bob Abelman is an award-winning theater critic who formerly wrote for the Austin Chronicle. Connect with him
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Rock Icon Says This 90s Band Is 'Bigger Than the Ramones'
When you think of punk, you think of the Ramones, right? The New York City quartet ushered in the sound we now know as punk in the 1970s. But to of The Smashing Pumpkins, one band has eclipsed the Ramones: Green Day. 'I think it had something to do with the fact that they just got their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,' Billy told Rolling Stone. 'I'm watching them get their star and…I had this moment where I was reminiscing and I was like, 'Wow, I've known these guys for over 30 years, and we just did this tour. Oh my God, they're bigger than the Ramones.'" The 58-year-old alternative icon explained his reasoning in putting his fellow '90s rockers ahead of the band many consider invented punk. 'In the world I grew up in, the Ramones were number one,' he said. 'In a way, they always will be number one because they were first.' "But then I realized, 'Oh my God, Green Day has actually done it. They are bigger than the Ramones. Their influence is greater, their reach is greater, and certainly their success is greater,'' said Corgan. Both Green Day and The Smashing Pumpkins formed in the late 1980s but experienced massive success in the early '90s. The Pumpkins became synonymous with alternative rock with Siamese Dream, released in 1993, and 1995's Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Green Day ushered in the punk explosion with 1994's Dookie. A decade later, they experienced a career renaissance with the release of American Idiot and remain one of the biggest rock bands on the planet. The Pumpkins toured with Green Day in 2024. 'It was awesome,' Billy told Rolling Stone. 'Green Day was so gracious. We couldn't have had a better summer. It was one of my favorite tours of all time.' 'They were so gracious in being hosts, not only to us, but to Rancid and the Linda Lindas,' said Corgan. 'It was just the spirit of what it's supposed to be when you put bands together. It was one of the best experiences we've ever had, and we're forever grateful to them.'
