Fan gives Billie Joe middle finger onstage

[RedundantIdiot]

While I can understand the fan being upset by not getting the guitar, I don't feel any sympathy towards him at all after his immature hissy fit. 

There are many fans here who would do anything to be able to go to a gig, never mind getting pulled up on the stage. Going onto the stage to play with Green Day should be one of the highlights of your life. But because Green Day give away so many guitars, people now think they have a god-given right to be handed the guitar straight away. 

There are not many bands out there who are as generous as Green Day when it comes to dishing out guitars to fans- people shouldn't take this generosity for granted and throw their toys out of their pram when they don't get their way. 

[DeJennsitized]

Am I meant to feel bad that a dude who got pulled up onstage to play a song with Green Day didn't get a free guitar?

srsly though. I know it's tradition by now but it still shouldn't be taken as a given. A sense of entitlement is a bit of a turn off. Billie probably gave it to the guy who needs the practise. Not that he has to give it to anyone but y'know. 

[Caroline Truong]

I am surprised Billie didn't flip the Bird back to fan...man he is getting soft on me?

[pouty bitch]

I've seen something like this happen before - I think it was on the 21stCB tour. Billie got a girl out of the audience, but she couldn't play the guitar, so he got another guy out to play and ended up giving the guitar to the girl (however, the second guy didn't have a tantrum, unlike the guy in this vid). At the time, I remember thinking that it was a bit unfair to give the guitar to the person who didn't play. Obviously, it would a bit disappointing if you go onstage and play guitar and then Billie gives it to someone else.

However, these people shouldn't just expect to get the guitar. Billie doesn't have to give the guitar to anybody - he does it because he wants to.

IMO, if the first person struggles to play, but they really try and give it a good go, they deserve the guitar just as much as the person who does play. And if they do get the guitar, the second person shouldn't be butthurt about it. They may be disappointed, but that doesn't mean they can be rude and disrespectful to Billie. They should be grateful that he even brought them onstage to play in the first place.

(Sorry for the giant rant, this type of shit just irritates me. )

[Caroline Truong]

I would love for Billie just gave hug me, if I am were to pick to go on stage,forget about guitar..i would not played guitar well and I would just fainted.

[Meliciraptor]

Wait a minute, epiphany! LOL, so I just re-watched the video and saw the guy who did not play the guitar do an epic backflip down the platform! Everyone is like "Whoa", Billie looked super impressed and then gives him the guitar. Did you guys see that? 

[Cunt]

That kid would have gotten his teeth knocked out by Billie if that was a show back in the 90s 

[Teenage Kicks!]

2 hours ago, melissi_unicorn said:

Wait a minute, epiphany! LOL, so I just re-watched the video and saw the guy who did not play the guitar do an epic backflip down the platform! Everyone is like "Whoa", Billie looked super impressed and then gives him the guitar. Did you guys see that? 

What the fuck haha that was amazing

Thanks for pointing it out. I didn't see it! The camera kind of cut it off a little

[Caroline Truong]

3 hours ago, Cunt said:

That kid would have gotten his teeth knocked out by Billie if that was a show back in the 90s 

I know right..I want that 9Os Billie to kick the guy Ass!

[Spike]

I'm sure Billie is lying awake right now worrying about this  

[stories and songs]

Even being annoyed or disappointed or whatever, flipping off a musician you (presumably) are a big fan of and respect is an odd reaction in any scenario. In the ONE MOMENT you get to spend with your idols and have the chance to play in front of a huge crowd, you...act entitled? What a bad sport.

[PoisonLemonade]

I find this interesting and seem to have had a bit of a different reaction to everyone, but eventually have the same finally decision. If that other dude (I haven't seen) can't play guitar for shit and got up on stage just for the moment when they have no clue, and another person absolutely shreds, then why should the person who can't play guitar and wasted everyones time (including the bands) get the guitar? And I'm not saying its a given and he should just be happy that he got the moment, cause I'm sure he is. If he didn't get the guitar I'm sure he'd still be through the roof. But the fact that there was a guitar on offer, why would he not get it after what he has just done? Because someone else wasted everyones time who can't play guitar but did a cool backflip at the end. I feel if that was me in the heat of the moment I would have had a similar reaction, probably not to that extent but I would have been very pissed off. Anyway, this could all change if I see a video of the first person. Im surprised billie gave it to him. If I was Billie I would hate nothing more then to give people the opportunity to play on stage only to have someone who can't play take advantage of that just to get on stage - so I assume my whole point will be invalid if the person looked like they genuinely had potential and desire to learn guitar, in which case Billie made the right choice the try and encourage someone new to get into music. 

[Sarcasm]

11 hours ago, Scattered Wreck said:

Cut the sarcasm, sarcasm.  I didn't say I didn't think Billie was right, I said I would have been pissed if I was the other guy.  Why don't you try reading before getting pissy

thats not in my nature 

[UNICORN VOMIT]

What have I missed.....

12 hours ago, Scattered Wreck said:

Cut the sarcasm, sarcasm.  I didn't say I didn't think Billie was right, I said I would have been pissed if I was the other guy.  Why don't you try reading before getting pissy

This happened in Sydney as well.  BJ picked a girl that was holding an Aboriginal flag - she said she had been playing for 3 years - but couldn't play - she went back into the crowd & the guy that came  on was fantastic & then BJ handed her the guitar in the crowd.

[DeJennsitized]

The thing is, it's not a talent competition. It's Billie giving a guitar to whoever he wants. And considering the reaction of the other guy, he probably made the right choice  

[21guns&novacaine]

I'm torn on how to feel about it. On one hand, it's fair that Billie gave them both something, the guy who didn't play and was on stage the guitar, and the guitarist got to play knowledge with them and dance around on stage (something I would value above a guitar, myself), therefor the dude is an asshole for flipping Billie off because he couldn't have both.

On the other hand, the way Billie was ramping it up, made it seem like he was going to give him the guitar, and he generally does give away the guitar to the guitarist, so the guy must've assumed. I'd be a bit disappointed, too, if I were expecting it, and then he turns around and gives it to someone who wasn't participating at all.

However, despite either of these points, the guy is a disrespectful little shit for flipping off our floppy haired wonder.  I get that he might've been angry, but damn, take it down a notch, bud. 

8 hours ago, Cunt said:

That kid would have gotten his teeth knocked out by Billie if that was a show back in the 90s 

I second this  

[Hermione]

The thing is this is something that happened in the heat of the moment. Sitting down and looking at it rationally it was the wrong thing to do (considering he'd just been given an amazing experience playing guitar on stage and wasn't owed anything else) and a dick move but clearly it was an in-the-moment emotional reaction. If he was going around complaining about it now it would be another matter but we have no idea if he feels totally differently now and sees how lucky he was and regrets it.

He doesn't deserve "sympathy" for anything but as mentioned Billie has reacted to things on stage angrily and irrationally many times himself (angrily spitting at some crew member for making a mistake, pushing a cameraman off the stage, smashing a guitar because there was some minor fault with it and jumping feet first into the crowd to have a fight are just the first four examples that spring to mind ), so unless you're going to judge him as harshly give the guy a break. Someone getting flipped off at a punk rock show isn't the end of the world and I highly doubt Billie gives a shit.

[jengd]

I think there's context too in that Billie has done this in the past, given a guitar to a fan who can't play, while saying "go get lessons and learn how to play" so for me it ties in with his constant desire to encourage people to play.

I get the guy would be disappointed and Billie has done crazy things in the past, but it's just a shame the whole encounter turned out like that for all concerned really, including the guy who got the guitar. 

[Hermione]

2 minutes ago, jengd said:

I think there's context too in that Billie has done this in the past, given a guitar to a fan who can't play, while saying "go get lessons and learn how to play" so for me it ties in with his constant desire to encourage people to play.

I get the guy would be disappointed and Billie has done crazy things in the past, but it's just a shame the whole encounter turned out like that for all concerned really, including the guy who got the guitar. 

Yeah I agree there, Billie's intentions were good. Just might not have felt like it as he was holding the guitar up in front of you and giving it to the other guy haha.

[Chin for a Day]

3 hours ago, Tinkle said:

What have I missed.....

This happened in Sydney as well.  BJ picked a girl that was holding an Aboriginal flag - she said she had been playing for 3 years - but couldn't play - she went back into the crowd & the guy that came  on was fantastic & then BJ handed her the guitar in the crowd.

It doesn't matter if it has happened before or not.  I simply stated that I understand why the guy was disappointed.  I didn't condone what he did nor did I say Billie was wrong with what he did, simply that I understand why the guy that played well was disappointed.   

[DeJennsitized]

Tbh Billie's previous onstage behaviour is kinda irrelevant - this is about Billie doing a thing he does off his own bat and someone thinking they were entitled to it over someone else. The guy's talent is also irrelevant, as it's clear Billie has a different criteria when handing over the guitar.

[Hero_Of_The_Hour]

51 minutes ago, Jenn. said:

Tbh Billie's previous onstage behaviour is kinda irrelevant - this is about Billie doing a thing he does off his own bat and someone thinking they were entitled to it over someone else. The guy's talent is also irrelevant, as it's clear Billie has a different criteria when handing over the guitar.

It's not irrelevant, essentially this guy who very, very likely is not 100% sober as this is a festival, reacted to Billie as Billie has often reacted to situations in a split second when upset yet we are holding a complete stranger to a higher standard than the "hero" we think is so punk when he does something similar. Sober Billie smashed the shit out of his guitar a few feet in front of me during Waiting at Reading because it was out of tune. Everyone cheered. So punk. Billie spat at a camera guy for tripping over a wire and knocking out his audio for a couple of seconds during a gig in Chicago. How punk. Etc etc. We know nothing about this guy, his background or anything yet people are giving him shit because he flipped off Billie. If Billie had been in his position and done that there'd be a 200 page thread about how punk he was. After all his misguided rant about not being Justin Bieber was hailed as being so punk until everyone was informed the set wasn't actually cut short. Nobody here suggested Billie sounded like a spoiled brat when he was essentially saying "I've been around longer, I'm better". It's all spur of the moment stuff.  So give this guy a fucking break. Complete double standards. Also this crap about the criteria Billie has for handing over the guitar suggests that everyone attending the gigs has been to one before knows his "criteria" or is sober enough to fully comprehend the situation as it unfolds.

[Chin for a Day]

57 minutes ago, Hero_Of_The_Hour said:

It's not irrelevant, essentially this guy who very, very likely is not 100% sober as this is a festival, reacted to Billie as Billie has often reacted to situations in a split second when upset yet we are holding a complete stranger to a higher standard than the "hero" we think is so punk when he does something similar. Sober Billie smashed the shit out of his guitar a few feet in front of me during Waiting at Reading because it was out of tune. Everyone cheered. So punk. Billie spat at a camera guy for tripping over a wire and knocking out his audio for a couple of seconds during a gig in Chicago. How punk. Etc etc. We know nothing about this guy, his background or anything yet people are giving him shit because he flipped off Billie. If Billie had been in his position and done that there'd be a 200 page thread about how punk he was. After all his misguided rant about not being Justin Bieber was hailed as being so punk until everyone was informed the set wasn't actually cut short. Nobody here suggested Billie sounded like a spoiled brat when he was essentially saying "I've been around longer, I'm better". It's all spur of the moment stuff.  So give this guy a fucking break. Complete double standards. Also this crap about the criteria Billie has for handing over the guitar suggests that everyone attending the gigs has been to one before knows his "criteria" or is sober enough to fully comprehend the situation as it unfolds.

I rarely agree with you, but when I do, it is 100%.  This is one of those times.  Well stated.

[DeJennsitized]

57 minutes ago, Hero_Of_The_Hour said:

It's not irrelevant, essentially this guy who very, very likely is not 100% sober as this is a festival, reacted to Billie as Billie has often reacted to situations in a split second when upset yet we are holding a complete stranger to a higher standard than the "hero" we think is so punk when he does something similar. Sober Billie smashed the shit out of his guitar a few feet in front of me during Waiting at Reading because it was out of tune. Everyone cheered. So punk. Billie spat at a camera guy for tripping over a wire and knocking out his audio for a couple of seconds during a gig in Chicago. How punk. Etc etc. We know nothing about this guy, his background or anything yet people are giving him shit because he flipped off Billie. If Billie had been in his position and done that there'd be a 200 page thread about how punk he was. After all his misguided rant about not being Justin Bieber was hailed as being so punk until everyone was informed the set wasn't actually cut short. Nobody here suggested Billie sounded like a spoiled brat when he was essentially saying "I've been around longer, I'm better". It's all spur of the moment stuff.  So give this guy a fucking break. Complete double standards. Also this crap about the criteria Billie has for handing over the guitar suggests that everyone attending the gigs has been to one before knows his "criteria" or is sober enough to fully comprehend the situation as it unfolds.

Lol chill. I meant criteria sarcastically, as in Billie doesn't have one, because it's not mandatory for him to give a guitar away. It's literally just a nice thing he does for one person every gig.

Bringing up stuff Billie's done onstage really is irrelevant. I'm not talking about the guy giving him the finger (I don't care and I'm sure Billie's not losing sleep over it), it's the entitlement that's the issue. Or non-issue, whatever. I'm not commenting on what Billie's done, because that's not what we're talking about? It's a different situation.

Anyway, giving someone the finger because they didn't get a free guitar is hardly punk  

[Chin for a Day]

10 minutes ago, Jenn. said:

Lol chill. I meant criteria sarcastically, as in Billie doesn't have one, because it's not mandatory for him to give a guitar away. It's literally just a nice thing he does for one person every gig.

Bringing up stuff Billie's done onstage really is irrelevant. I'm not talking about the guy giving him the finger (I don't care and I'm sure Billie's not losing sleep over it), it's the entitlement that's the issue. Or non-issue, whatever. I'm not commenting on what Billie's done, because that's not what we're talking about? It's a different situation.

Anyway, giving someone the finger because they didn't get a free guitar is hardly punk  

You are correct, Billie doesn't have to give away a guitar, but he does. It is a nice thing that he gives away a guitar, every show. I agree that you should not expect to get the guitar, but everyone knows that Billie does it every show. It is natural to feel that once you get pulled on stage you will get the guitar. I don't feel that is entitlement, it is human nature. To use an analogy, you enter a race and win first place. Almost all races will give a medal for winning, this particular race does not. Even though it is not required to give a medal, you expect it because that is how it is done most of the time. You are disappointed. I think this is the same, the guy was simply disappointed and showed it. 

To make a long story short, I just feel people have been overly hard on this guy. I understand why he was disappointed, I would have been as well. We have all shown our anger in situations where we should not have, this is just one of those cases.