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omg I love Lowlife

Some new stuff and some repeated, bits of the close up of Billie talking about how deep he had gone, some bits in the studio with Billie talking about the message board and Rob talking about signing the band. Couple of little bits with Mike and Tre. There is a different, hilarious bit about poor Jason being passed out in bed, will not tell any more. I laughed out loud in quite a few places, it’s very enjoyable.

Watched the doc! It’s very good though there is footage from BIAB and HLAHG in it, there is also great footage from the Warfield show, some recent chat with the boys in Otis (way too little imo) and some wild and hilarious stuff from the tour, very enjoyable, need to see it again.

I'm not really into this huge desire to talk about/get C&V but I will add what Rob Cavallo writes in the AI 20 booklet. "So, I got together with the band and they tole me they had written an entire album's worth of material. Wow! Awesome! But there was a problem. The guys were sounding, for whatever reason, just a little bit rusty. The music was good but was it really their best? I took it to my boss (the prescient Tom Whaley . He agreed with me. He said "let's meet with the band". A few days later in the Warner Bros executive conference room, Tom says to me and the guys " we appreciate what you guys have gone through and appreciate this new album. And while we are prepared to release it, we are not prepared to give it the big push (meaning marketing $) because we don't believe this is the best work you are capable of". BOOM! He was so brutally direct! I think I was sweating profusely. Billie looked directly at me and asked "is that what you think too?" "Yes I said, nodding my affirmation. Billie said "ok, let me think about this and process it, and we'll get back to you." Two days later, we were all back in the same conference room. Billie starts "So I';ve been thinking about what you guys said last time....and I think you're right. We want to make out best record and we want you guys to like it and to give it the big push. And we are willing to do what it takes to make that happen. The question is: Tom, are you willing to do it also?" Tom said "sure, what do you need?" The rest is about Rob going to work with them Monday to Friday in Berkeley.

Just listened to the demo disk: the alternate version of American Idiot was a revelation. Obviously the final version with the "proper" lyrics is more impactful but it's so singular and iconic in my head the idea of it being anything other than what it just is is incredible to hear. The original version of Homecoming was so cool. For some reason it didn't cross my mind that we'd get to hear Mike's snippets that kicked the whole project off so it was a joy when it came up. So creative in the use of different instruments: the piano bits, the synth, the period ringtone, aces. And I love the part where they're really leaning in to the A Quick One homage. It's interesting to hear how much of the final song is there divorced from the American Idiot storyline (ditto that with Cluster Bomb). I adore Everybody's Breaking Down as a full song, so swingy, so groovy, what a bop. "Run for cover and hit the lights" Billie's vocal delivery made me melt. Like others have mentioned, it sounds like it could've come right off Warning. Lowlife is so interesting, it feels like hearing an alternate universe version of JoS mixed with Strange Days Are Here To Stay. It's really refreshing hearing such a familiar album in a new context! Can't wait to delve into the live stuff.

On this day last year (26 October 2023), Green Day played 14 songs on Amazon Music Live. More photos: 8 years ago (26 October 2016), Green Day played The Pageant in St. Louis, MO on the Revolution Radio club tour. More photos: 14 years ago (26 October 2010), Green Day played in Lima, Peru on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. It was their first show in Peru. More photos: 15 years ago (26 October 2009), Green Day played in Sheffield, England on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. 20 years ago (26 October 2004), Green Day played the Giant Center in Hershey, PA on the American Idiot Tour. 29 years ago (26 October 1995), Green Day played the Community Arena in Sudbury, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. "Glorious days, oh glorious days! Who else camped out overnight for that 45-minute Green Day concert?" — Adam David Boyle "I recall camping out for Green Day tickets. What a gongshow that was. It was basically just an excuse to party. There was that Indian who was stealing stuff or breaking stuff, and someone smashed him on the head with a beer bottle, he got messed up! Erin Van Horn being attacked by a hooker. Ban Gammon and I hanging with Herb at that freaky grotto. Someone smashed an acoustic guitar when the sun was coming up, it could have been Nick Kohut. Funny thing was that there were so many tickets that there was really no need to camp out for them. It's odd that I remeber all that stuff better than I remember last week..." — Scott Ballard 33 years ago (26 October 1991), Green Day played in Bielefeld, Germany. 34 years ago (26 October 1990), Green Day played at 924 Gilman Street.

Then in the documentary they go back to the story about it being stolen. Dammit guys, we’re not that dumb 😂

To me it looks like most of the American Idiot songs were already on Cigarettes and Valentines. But then they rewrote some parts to make a cohesive story out if it, rerecorded and rebranded it. So today I think that these two albums are way more similar than I thought they would be. And so it makes sense that Mike said that we already heard most of the C&V songs, because most of them were already released on AI.

This song is on repeat since this morning. I wanna cry.

zero percent chance, maybe a song or two made it’s way there but Green Day was not writing an album about robots.

Lots of epic footage from The Warfield in the documentary, the full songs too! (including Homecoming)

The AI Alternate version sounds like it was written/recorded before Billie Joe went to NY in late 02/early 03, with how different the lyrics were. I remember reading that he had written the song prior to the trip, and a lot of the songs on the album he ended up writing while walking around the city, so maybe that was the original version he wrote, and came up with the new lyrics/direction of the album while there. Idk. I'm probably very wrong on that. Also, some of the songs sound like they might've been originally considered for Cigarettes and Valentines before getting scrapped and rewritten. Radio Baghdad, Lowlife, Novacaine, Everyone's Falling Down, Just Another Year, all sound like continuations from Warning. Just my opinion/theory, but probably wrong. Again. Regardless, I'm loving the demos! They sound great. I need to order the physical album when I get the money.

In Homecoming (Nobody Cares), Tre is singing about the guys wondering where he went....and then Billie bursts in with "NOBODY CARES!!!" Haha, that is the funniest, coolest part of this entire collection. Mike was fine once Billie got there, they don't need no stinkin drummer. Also, Kenny and I were in there in the studio which is rad.

I really really don't want to argue but to this day I'm still pretty sure C&V was Money Money 2020. I think American Idiot was always supposed to sound like how it sounds.

Box set just arrived, going to be popping in the documentary shortly 🤘

I am shocked that the original film negatives for this music video were still usable.

Omg the alt version of AI is sooooo Warning-esque, very cool. Pulling out Everyone’s Breaking Down from the rest of Homecoming really highlighted for me how much that part sounds like Warning, too. I feel silly for never really noticing that before. Really loved this version of the song. Lowlife is SO COOL? Wow, I love it. I’m hearing a lot of 21CB in it, so interesting. Chorus is also a lot like Strange Days. Love the “I just wanna be alright” line. Homecoming is hilarious. Love some of the weird instrumentation in it and the continued lines about who is in the studio cracked me up.

*revs up the credit card*

My box set was just delivered, right after I got home from work 😎, I got the cd version but kind of think it would’ve been cooler to get the vinyls for this set. Mostly for the big bookelet, but this is still an awesome package!

No. I refuse to think about it!🥹

Yeah, my dumbass will be driving 2 hours just to go to this and it'll probably rain and I'll win nothing and just spend too much money there but 🤷‍♀️ 😂

I managed to buy ticket for Vienna with presale code and then, out of nowhere, they've added the second show. I haven't seen them since Revolution Radio tour, they've been my favorite band for 19 years now, a place I call home, safe zone. So I sad fuck it, fuck the money situation, regret it later, you only live once, and bought the ticket for the second date as well 🥰 I'm still kind of shocked with my impulsive action, but I'm fucking thrilled on the other hand

Not really, MCR is a great band and The Black Parade was a fantastic album. Producers are allowed to work with other artists, you know.

I belive that was busy with my chemchal romance... Bad choice Rob!

They recorded the album twice, one at 880 with Chris Dugan and reto Peter and then again at ocean way with rob, but Rob was providing creative guidance and “producing” that whole time

Currently listening to the demos while working, and this alternate version of American Idiot (the song) is SENDING me.

are we gonna talk about how cool "Homecoming (Nobody Likes You)" is? I mean it's also pretty wacky ngl, but I just love how different it is to the final version. Oh and also, gimme gimme those sweet Tho Who / a quick one while he's away influences too

Today is an epic day. 2004 again.

Dominated Love Slave as well 😅 And Homecoming, Give me Novacaine and I think Holiday and St Jimmy? But yes, like you said, listened and watched to too much stuff😂 I really liked the documentary. That part with Jason being passed out - poor guy 😂 And I'm so fucking in love with the demos. Lowlife! That song is just beautiful 😍

https://genius.com/albums/Green-day/American-idiot-20th-anniversary-deluxe-edition

Those are my exact thoughts atm, but still a bit hesitant... Should I? 😅 I don't even know where I'll be by then

^^I'd like to know that as well. I can't believe it hasn't been uploaded somewhere yet 😔

Homecoming (Nobody Likes You) is definitely the highlight of the set. Everyone is comparing it to A Quick One, While He's Away by The Who, which makes sense. However, one influence that people may be missing is that Billie's "I was away from the studio" section (0:44 – 1:40) is based on The Who's song Happy Jack. Seriously, go check it out on YouTube.

I did not expect half of Homecoming to be a total re-imagining. You can tell that they were still figuring out the direction for the song!

I have been avoiding this thread but I have to take it all back, Warner's box set just delivered and it's beautiful! Complete with a badge, pins and stickers and OMG the intro in the booklet from Rob Cavallo, will endeavour to transcribe and share it with you.

All of the goosebumps with Lowlife. That's the kind of song that made me fall in love with them. Ugh, it's perfect. Also, how can you tell it's been 20 years? "I'M RICK JAMES, BITCH!" -Billie on We Are The Champions 😂

The lyric change from Billie to Jesus in Homecoming. Flash forward to 2009 and Billie wears that black shirt that has ‘Jesus’ written on as a name tag. He’s been telling us all along.

I’m truly speechless for Lowlife. What a fucking beauty.

Clusterbomb is amazing..... Definitely the same one pulled from the Warning sessions. It has all the Warningish vibes to it lol.

I am just 3 minutes into homecoming and oh my god this is the greatest fucking thing ever. And they start it off with one of my favorite guitar riffs of the whole album hell yeah Updated: just started lowlife and got so much happier

I find it hilarious the transition between "where did the drummer go" to "nobody cares" 😂

The irving plaza concert sounds as sweet as a nut, really hits the spot! I've almost forgiven them for cutting 3 songs. almost. Keep 'em coming though, ay, Green Day. Maybe The Warfield next??

It's much more of a direct Who parody that's for sure, and I love all the Billie, Mike and Tre references instead of the AI characters.

ok the homecoming demo is something ... wow lmao 😅 i won't spoil it - you need to listen to it yourselves to experience it

I’ve bought too much of the merch. Excited for when the CD bundle ships but I gotta say that I put on the American Idiot cardigan today for the first time and this thing is so soft and comfy. I’m honestly impressed.

wtf this alt version of american idiot is CRAZY DIFFERENT?????????? that was so fire, the sudden switch up from the usual chord progression was so fun

Lowlife is so fking good

Shes a rebel is super cool! I almost like it more than the final song from an instrumental perspective Its also worth noting - I am up to Radio Baghdad and can confirm these are not the same demos as the 5 reddit demos.