Another interview with Billie Joe - The Quietus

[Stuart&Ave]

Billie Joe did an interview with The Quietus. Once again, it's mostly about the presidential election. I like the little details that the writer included between the questions/answers. I'm sorry, the link is not working and I don't know how to make it work (nevermind, it seems to be ok).

http://thequietus.com/articles/21309-green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-interview

[stories and songs]

Just read this! So good.

[Shahd]

Despite the fact that I'm sick of politics at this point, the writer made the article interesting, and I also liked all those little details he wrote

[jumpsalty]

Ha, love that the management are clearly scared his political outbursts might hurt sales when he quite clearly doesn't care himself

[unextraordinarygirl]

I feel like Billie is taking this all so personally and it's really affecting him. I don't like the fact that Trump is President either but life goes on. Of course I'm not confronted with questions about it everyday either. If I get sick of hearing about it I just turn off the tv put my phone down and I suppose he can't really avoid the questions.

[Billie Hoe]

There are so many things I want to quote from this interview. First of all, the way that the interviewer went to shake his hand and Billie Joe hugged him instead? How sweet is that? But also sad at the same time. It feels good and comforting to know that Billie feels the exact same way about this mess as I do.

• “Well I got out of bed today, that’s a good start,” Armstrong says with a melancholy chuckle as I make introductions minutes later, and extend a handshake. He declines: “I think I need a hug, we all do right now.”
• "I’ve had a couple of sleepless nights,” he says. “I suddenly felt that feeling of being watched, I’m starting to feel paranoid. That anxiety is coming back.” 
• "It’s a monster waking up that’s been dormant for a long time. It scares the living shit out of me.”

He's a lot more shaken up about all of this than I originally thought, and with good reason. He seemed so collected during his interviews right after the election, even when talking about Trump. He really seems to be a bit of a mess right now about all of this, and I think being sober comes on top of that. He can't drink his troubles away anymore, he actually has to deal with it and in a way it's more healthy but that makes things for him a lot more complicated I think. Honestly, now reading this interview, it seems like he's barely keeping it together, he obviously can't stop talking about Trump because it's really bothering him. It seems to be occupying his mind, how is he supposed to promote an album now with such a heavy worry weighing on him? He has already talked about the album a lot, so the current situation in the USA must be more important and urgent to him right now and that speaks volumes about his character. I'm actually glad he talks so much about it and clearly it's what he needs right now. Two days ago he got in touch with so many people on Instagram to converse about all of this and said that it's "therapeutic" to talk to us. It makes me really sad that he feels this way, even though I know that his feelings are justified. 

I think people underestimate him, he's a lot more compassionate and smarter than people think. He knows that Trump voters aren't all inherently bad and racist people, yet he has no illusions about the fact that disregarding or not caring about racism is just as bad as actively hating minorities and personal desperation is no excuse to vote for xenophobia."You’re just as racist as the person that’s running if you’re letting racism slide.”  Thank you. That's more or less what I've been saying for quite some time.

I've already talked about this on my tumblr, but I'm really surprised and touched by how positive he's being, regardless of how hopeless or bitter he might really feel about this. Back when Trump's and Clinton's campaigns were still running, he was asked about how he felt about the future of America and I think the interviewer expected an answer like "America is going down the drain", as did I. But then he comes with an answer like "I feel optimistic" and catches everyone off-guard. He said that Bernie Sanders motivated a lot of young people to become involved in politics and that in some years a lot things might change because of that. On his Instagram he talks about standing up for what we believe in. In this interview he defends Millennials who he thinks are unjustifiably demonized by the media. I think he's staying optimistic because he doesn't want his fans to lose hope either, he doesn't want us to be cynical. He's aware of all the young, easily influenceable idolizing him, so he doesn't spread cynicism. 

I've really gained a lot more respect for this guy this year, who thought it would be possible. I really, really love that guy.

Anyways, that's just my thoughts. I didn't plan to write a novel.

[DeJennsitized]

That was a really great article. 

1 hour ago, unextraordinarygirl said:

I feel like Billie is taking this all so personally and it's really affecting him. I don't like the fact that Trump is President either but life goes on. Of course I'm not confronted with questions about it everyday either. If I get sick of hearing about it I just turn off the tv put my phone down and I suppose he can't really avoid the questions.

Seemed from the interview that Billie wants to talk about it though. He's not in the US at the minute and probably feels a bit useless, or in need of an outlet. It's not just about 'not liking' it, it's about being genuinely scared about what it means for minorities, people in his community, people he knows. It's a lot more than simply being annoyed that the candidate you were backing didn't win. 

@Billie Hoe, great post!

[MaraGreenDay]

Wow. What a good article. I'm so sorry He's feeling like that, but I'm glad he's talking about it cause it seems he really needs to let out all those feelings he has about all of this, but it kinda makes me sad he's feeling that way, I also want to give him a hug

Love what he said about Cohen. 

[stories and songs]

3 hours ago, Billie Hoe said:

Honestly, now reading this interview, it seems like he's barely keeping it together, he obviously can't stop talking about Trump because it's really bothering him.

I love and agree with your entire post, but one thing I do want to say is that this shouldn't raise concerns for anyone re: his health. To be totally honest with you, I know a lot of people who are taking this really personally and really hard. I have a friend who is part Guatemalan and he could barely get out of bed the day after the election. He's a law student who is living a few states away from home, and is worried about hate his family might endure. One of my best friends—a white, straight woman who doesn't need to face quite that level of concern—is having major anxiety about work because she's a government teacher and has no idea what to tell these high school students anymore. I work for a trade publication and am very seriously considering applying to write for human rights and civil liberties organizations, because I feel like I can be putting my skills to better use right now. This is an all-encompassing experience for a lot of people. It's very, very difficult for me to just accept this new reality and move forward. I mean—my friend and I were just in Disney World. The happiest place on earth! And regularly, we had sobering reminders of what lies ahead. We enjoyed ourselves very much, but we constantly acknowledged that we were in a bubble. 

Billie has always prided himself on connecting with the disenfranchised and marginalized—I'm sure he feels pressure to accurately represent and communicate how the Green Day family feels. 

I don't think you were trying to imply anything about his health, but I just wanted to make that little note. 

I'm honestly overwhelmed by how much he genuinely cares and how he is trying to educate himself as best he can. He is so compassionate and so genuinely concerned, instead of merely being critical. I'm so, so proud. He is speaking intelligently about it and trying to find a silver lining. This side of him was always there, but age, maturity, and probably sobriety, too, have put these qualities into very clear focus. He is an awesome human.

[Billie Hoe]

3 minutes ago, stories and songs said:

I don't think you were trying to imply anything about his health, but I just wanted to make that little note. 

I didn't want to imply that I'm super worried about his health getting a lot worse because of this, it's just that I've noticed that he (even though he's a well off, white American male who probably won't personally be affected by this) seems to need some support right now. I know that his problems are insignificant compared to those who will actually suffer from Trump's administration (and suffer because of it now) but he's always had problems with anxiety and panic attacks and insomnia and that these problems are increasing for him now. I know what he's going through because I'm a white girl living in Europe and I'm probably the last person who will be affected by this in any way, and I've started getting panic attacks ever since I found out that he will be president. Both of us seem to be people who naturally worry a lot (it's a package deal when you have anxiety, really). So, I'm not super concerned about his health, I'm just saddened by the revelation that he actually feels really, really miserable because of all this. I'm rambling but I hope you get my point. I do think that he will find a way to express himself in a productive way, be it protests (which he plans to attend as soon as he's back in the US according to a comment he made on IG), new songs or charity. 

I think you should absolutely apply for jobs in human rights if you feel that this is what will fulfill you more. I very often have doubts about my university course because it's a lot of PR and marketing and that "dishonest" stuff, but then I think that I could do something worthwhile with it and work for Greenpeace or Amnesty International or something. 

[stories and songs]

@Billie Hoe Completely understand what you mean. It makes me sad too that he's so impacted by this. I also have anxiety and know these feelings all too well, even when there's not something so major going on. I don't anyone to feel this miserable, but I think a lot of people do. There's a somber mood in the air that isn't going away. It has been really, really tough. 

Thanks for the job advice. I'm going to start applying. I think I'll feel better about all this if I feel like I'm doing something about it—something that'll help people feel safe and cared for during such a hate-filled time. I mean, I went to school for journalism. I love my job, but I feel like I could really be doing something much more effective. And I credit the feelings I'm having right now in great part to Green Day—they got me interested in politics and amplified my love for writing. And like you said—Billie's compassion is incredibly moving. He might not realize it, but he is hugely influential and is making a big difference in many fans' lives for simply speaking his mind and offering a safe haven at concerts. If I could give even a fraction of comfort to someone as he is giving me right now, that would be so rewarding.

[Billie Hoe]

4 minutes ago, stories and songs said:

And like you said—Billie's compassion is incredibly moving. He might not realize it, but he is hugely influential and is making a big difference in many fans' lives for simply speaking his mind and offering a safe haven at concerts. If I could give even a fraction of comfort to someone as he is giving me right now, that would be so rewarding.

I really, really want Billie to read this  

[JardyOfSuburbia]

Woah. This was a really, really personal interview. The added insight on how Billie was reacting and how the PR people had to warn the interviewer about him "shutting down" really hits home.

Billie is the best. All I wanted to do was give him a hug throughout this whole thing.

Side note, I didn't even think how tough it would be to promote the album right now with the conversation being dominated by politics. I feel like Billie's living a nightmare as we all are.

[belinda jane]

what a fantastic read. the writer captured absolutely everything, i honestly felt like i was in there with them!
even if it was very political, it was so interesting. i felt so sorry for him, the election has hit him so hard.
my favourite quote was:
"If you’re gay, straight, white, black, brown, transgender, if there’s one place you feel you can go to it’s a Green Day gig.”

this is why i fucking love these guys. i feel so emotional now after reading that! amazing.

[amberwhite]

Bejeezus,  I just want to hug him.

[BilIie Joe Armstrong]

I wonder if the writer made it more dramatic or if he's really taking it so personally. I agree this is serious but getting emotional about it seems a little over the top - at least at this point. I'm saving despair for later. 

[desertrose]

thanks, I just read this.  Great article.