Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted February 13 Popular Post Share Posted February 13 Since the old thread has been archived and the Green Day pilgrimage is still a dream for a lot of fans, I think we need a new thread! You've seen the photos, you've heard the songs, maybe you've watched Turn It Around – now you want to go to the Bay Area and see it all for yourself. And you should. Green Day's roots are everywhere. It's a must for anyone wanting to immerse themselves in the band's history. I'm going to list all the landmarks and my photos of them so there's an easy-to-find list, but please share your own photos and stories here too. If you've got any questions about the places or the logistics of visiting them, I can probably help. If you're struggling to find affordable flights, I might be able to help with that too. At some point I'll write up some example itineraries, but for now, this is a decent guide for anyone who has just one day in the area. Also including some FAQs below. So let's go! Berkeley 924 Gilman Street Address: 924 Gilman St, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA Public transport: There are loads of bus stops near the venue. The closest BART station is North Berkeley (1.3 miles on foot). Details: Green Day's career truly began in this Berkeley club. 924 Gilman Street is still open with many new East Bay punk bands starting their careers under its graffitied rafters. Its original 'no racism, no sexism, no homophobia, no violence' sign now includes 'no transphobia.' The doorway is covered in the names and messages of mostly Green Day fans. Inside, you'll also find original 'Sweet Children' graffiti. "Armstrong and Dirnt began living for their weekends at the Gilman Street Project. Run out of the back of a caning-and-wicker-shop, the club would go unnoticed by anyone passing by. For those familiar with the side entrance, however, the shop opens into a world that Armstrong refers to as "salvation": dilapidated wood floorboards; graffiti splashed across every inch of wall space; band after band with the look and sound of early British punk like the Sex Pistols and the Buzzcocks." — Rolling Stone, 1995 Fantasy Studios Address: 2600 Tenth St, Berkeley, CA 94710, United States Public transport: There are bus stops on the nearby San Pablo Ave. The closest BART station is North Berkeley, 0.9 miles away. Details: Dookie and Billie Joe's first record, Look For Love, were recorded at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley. It closed in 2019. "[Fantasy Studios] definitely had that Seventies coke-y vibe, mahogany and strange dead wood around the place. We would go into the vaults and see all of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s master tapes. But I felt we belonged there. Our first album cost $700 to make. Kerplunk! was like $1200. “Let’s record these as fast as we can – because we don’t have a choice.” This time, I learned how to dial in good sounds, get the best guitar tones. I was able to take a little time doing vocals. I loved that experience." — Billie Joe Armstrong, 2014 The corner of Stuart and the Avenue Address: 2400 Stuart St, Berkeley, CA 94705, United States Public transport: The 6 bus stops right here (the stop is called Telegraph Av & Stuart St). The closest BART station is Ashby (0.9 miles away). Details: "The corner of Stuart and the Avenue" is where Telegraph Avenue meets Stuart Street in Berkeley. The song is about Billie Joe's breakup with his ex Amanda, the girl who lived upstairs at the Ashby House, which a five minute walk from this corner. The Ashby/Longview house Details: The Longview video was filmed in the basement here, where Billie Joe and Tré lived with another band called the East Bay Weed Company. Amanda - the subject of many Green Day songs including She, Sassafras Roots, Stuart and the Ave. and Whatsername - lived upstairs. "The record company guys would come to see us rehearse in the basement and their wives would go shopping on Telegraph Avenue. And when we went on tour we would come back to discover these crusty punks had squatted our place, and every single thing we owned was gone." — Tré Cool, American Idiots and the New Punk Explosion, p.82 "[Basket Case] still reminds me so much of the Ashby house. That's the house we lived in, in Berkeley and our first video, Longview, was filmed there. We'd be cranking that song out in there, all of us playing in this one tiny room and our neighbours getting pissed because we'd play it five times in a row." — Billie Joe Armstrong, 2005 Berkeley Marina Public transport: The Berkeley train station is close by. You can also get here by bus. The closest BART station is North Berkeley, 2.1 miles away. Details: Berkeley Marina, with views of San Francisco and Golden Gate Bridge, gets a mention in The Ballad of Wilhelm Fink: "Said that I'd meet you at the Berkeley Marina / 3AM when no one will be found." Berkeley Repertory Theatre Address: 2025 Addison St, Berkeley, CA 94704, United States Details: The American Idiot musical was developed and opened at the Berkeley Rep's Roda Theatre. The premiere was on September 4, 2009. One of the theatre's promotional banners still boasts a photo of John Gallagher Jr., who played Johnny. Nearby is a sidewalk plaque celebrating Operation Ivy's Knowledge. "It doesn’t make a lot of sense, but that’s what I love about it. When people see it, it’s going to be my wildest dream." — Billie Joe Armstrong, 2009 West Oakland 7th Street Warehouse Address: 1640 7th St, Oakland, CA 94607, USA Public transport: Lots of bus stops and the warehouse is just five minutes from the West Oakland BART station, which is also a Green Day reference (we'll get to that in a minute). Details: Billie Joe had just moved into this warehouse squat when he wrote Welcome to Paradise. Its bathroom was infested with rats, so he used a cat litter instead. It's also referred to in the Sweet 16 line 'throwing down a bottle of Olde English back in the warehouse' and inspired the 'wicked warehouse in Oakland' Brandon moves into in Spike by The Network. One of My Lies was written here. "I had moved out of my house in the suburbs to West Oakland, into a warehouse that was rat-infested and in a really fucked-up neighborhood, with a lot of crazy punks and friends. I was paying $50 a month for rent, which was great, because, being in a band, you got paid a couple hundred bucks here and there – so it was easy to pay for rent, eat Top Ramen, and buy weed. It was an eye-opening experience. Suddenly, I was on my own, smack out in one of the gnarliest neighborhoods in Oakland. You look around and you see cracked streets and broken homes and ghetto neighborhoods, and you’re in the middle of it." — Billie Joe Armstrong, Rolling Stone, 2019 West Oakland BART Station Address: 1451 7th St, Oakland, CA 94607, United States Public transport: Obviously it's a BART station, but there are bus stops in the area too. Details: "'A gunshot rings out at the station/Another urchin snaps and left dead on his own' - I was describing exactly what my surroundings were. There’s not a part of that song that isn’t true." — Billie Joe Armstrong, Rolling Stone, 2019 This is that station. The 7th Street warehouse was right by the BART tracks. Adeline Street Address: Adeline Street, California, USA. It won't be hard to find a road sign like this since there'll be one at every crossroads. Public transport: This is a huge street so there are plenty of bus stops and multiple BART stations. Details: One of Oakland's major roads, this was also the name of a clothing line and record label owned by Billie Joe and Jason White. It released albums by Pinhead Gunpowder, The Frustrators, The Network, Jesse Malin, AFI, The Influents, Emily's Army, special edition Green Day vinyls and many more. Billie Joe has the Adeline skull tattooed on one of his hands. The record label outlived the clothing line, but closed in 2017. We also now have the song Goodnight Adeline, which most likely refers to this street (even if it isn't literal), so it's even more exciting to fans now. Temescal Oakland Guitars Address: 423 40th St, Oakland, CA 94609, United States Public transport: There are two bus stops served by the 40 bus near the shop. The closest BART station is MacArthur, just 0.3 miles away. There are also more bus stops at the BART station. Recommendations: Combine this with 1-2-3-4 GO! Records. It's right across the street. Also, Homeroom Mac 'n' Cheese is the best. Details: Formerly known as Broken Guitars. This 40th Street guitar store, across the road from 1-2-3-4 GO! Records, was originally co-owned by Billie Joe. Walls are decorated with Green Day and other East Bay Punk flyers. When it was still owned by Billie Joe and the band's tour manager, there was an original Christie Road sign, but I'm not sure if it's still there. 1-2-3-4 GO! Records Address: 420 40th St #5, Oakland, CA 94609, United States Public transport: There are two bus stops served by the 40 bus near the shop. The closest BART station is MacArthur, just 0.3 miles away. There are also more bus stops at the BART station. Recommendations: Combine this with Oakland Guitars. It's right across the street. Also, Homeroom Mac 'n' Cheese is the best. Details: Green Day have supported this 40th Street store since it opened in 2008. Billie Joe built the stage with his son, which hosted an ¡Uno! ¡Dos! ¡Tré! surprise show billed as a "Bay Area Fan Appreciation Event." They've played more secret shows there since. Eagle-eyed fans might recognise the bathroom graffiti from Billie Joe's selfie announcing The Longshot's first show at this store. The pop-up shop celebrating Green Day's show at the Oakland Coliseum was also located here. Jingletown and Hayward Alameda County Sheriff's Office Address: 2425 E 12th St, Oakland, CA 94601, United States Public transport: A few bus stops nearby. The closest BART station is Fruitvale (0.8 miles). Details: The 'facility on East 12th Street' where 'Jesus is filling out paperwork now' in Homecoming is this now-closed police station. Billie Joe had to fill out paperwork here after his 2002 DUI. "There's a police station on 12th Street in Oakland. After I got charged with a DUI, I had to do a whole bunch of paperwork there to satisfy my community service requirement." — Billie Joe Armstrong, 2005 Studio 880 (Jingletown Studios) Address: 829 27th Ave, Oakland, CA 94601, USA Public transport: There are bus stops on 29th Ave. and East 12th Street. The closest BART station is Fruitvale, 0.9 miles away. Details: This is where Green Day recorded Warning, the Foxboro Hot Tubs’ Stop Drop and Roll!!!, the ¡Uno! ¡Dos! ¡Tré! trilogy and parts of American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. It got the nickname "Jingletown" when the Foxboro Hot Tubs used it to cover up their identity. “In the old days, the zoot-suit guys used to jingle their change, and this was their spot. It’s been held down by Latino families for 50 years. And then there’s us.” — Billie Joe Armstrong, 2004 27th Avenue Address: 829 27th Ave, Oakland, CA 94601, USA (you could go anywhere on the street, of course, but the Studio 880 address seems the most logical) Details: 27th Ave. Shuffle by the Foxboro Hot Tubs is named after this street, probably because it was recorded at Studio 880 which is on 27th Avenue. You might also want to check out the 27th Ave. in San Francisco because of the line "Golden Gate is falling from behind." Jingletown La Barca Market Address: 2701 E 9th St, Oakland, CA 94601, United States Public transport: There are bus stops on 29th Ave. and East 12th Street. The closest BART station is Fruitvale, 0.8 miles away. Details: Although the "suburbia" that inspired American Idiot was Rodeo and surrounding areas, Jingletown - a real neighbourhood in Oakland - gave the album's fictional small town its name. La Barca Market, a store near Studio 880, appears for a few seconds in the ¡Cuatro! scene That Just Happened and is notable for having one of the only signs that actually says "Jingletown." It's not really worth visiting on its own, but if you're visiting Studio 880, you'll pass the shop. Art of Ears Studio (now Create Studios) Address: 2196 American Ave, Hayward, CA 94545, United States Public transport: The 86 bus gets closest to the studio. The Hayward BART station is a 3.3 mile walk away. Details: 1000 Hours, Slappy and 39/Smooth were recorded at a now-closed branch of Art of Ears in San Francisco. Kerplunk was recorded here at Art of Ears in Hayward. All were produced by Andy 'Andro' Ernst. When I visited in 2019, Andro was working on his own music before selling the studio and moving to Las Vegas. "$700 is not a lot of money to be making an album with. But that's what we thought was cool as well. We proved that you didn't need to have a huge budget, that you didn't need to waste a lot of time. I think if we had any more money to spend then we were so young and naive that [39/Smooth] might have come out crap." — Billie Joe Armstrong, 2001 Emeryville Rudy's Can't Fail Café Address: 4081 Hollis St, Emeryville, CA 94608, United States Public transport: Loads of bus stops nearby, including the free Emery-Go-Round ones. The closest BART station is MacArthur, which is 1.1 miles away on foot. Details: Named after Rudie Can't Fail by The Clash, Rudy's was co-owned by Mike Dirnt. It opened in Emeryville in 2002, with an Oakland location following in 2011. Sadly, the Oakland cafe closed in 2018, but Rudy's is still open and popular in Emeryville with options for all tastes. It's open every day until 1am and serves Punk Bunny Coffee (formerly known as Oakland Coffee). Downtown Oakland Fox Theater Address: 1807 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612, United States Public transport: There are bus stops around and the theatre is a few minutes from the 19th Street BART station. Details: Before the release of 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day played the full album at four exclusive small shows in the Bay Area. The Fox Theatre performance on April 14, 2009 was recorded and released on DVD. The theatre also hosted the Dookie celebration and 924 Gilman Street benefit gig, where mayor Libby Schaaf declared February 19 Official Green Day Day in Oakland. The closed Rudy's Can't Fail Café was also here. The Uptown Address: 1928 Telegraph Ave, Oakland, CA 94612, United States Public transport: There are bus stops around and the club is a few minutes from the 19th Street BART station. Details: This isn't a must-see, but I'm including it for other 21st Century Breakdown enthusiasts and just because it's very close to the Fox Theatre. It's the last place where Green Day played 21st Century Breakdown in full. The club is permanently closed so it will probably be unrecognisable sooner or later. The Ruby Room Address: 132 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612, United States Public transport: There are several bus stops nearby. The closest BART station is Lake Merritt (0.7 miles away). Details: Ruby Room by the Foxboro Hot Tubs is about this dive bar near Lake Merritt. Lake Merritt Details: Oakland's iconic lake gets a mention in the Foxboro Hot Tubs song Mother Mary, along with the Gardens at Lake Merritt: "Or we can take a walk around the lake / There's a garden in the park there / Under the stars next to the fireside / Anywhere is better than here." Even without the reference, you can't go to Oakland without seeing Lake Merritt! The Golden Bull Address: 412 14th St, Oakland, CA 94612, United States Public transport: There are several bus stops around and the 12th St / Oakland BART station is only a minute away. Details: Billie Joe once co-owned the bar and several small shows have been played here, including The Longshot's 2020 New Year's Eve party. Oakland Amtrak Station Address: 245 2nd St, Oakland, CA 94607, United States Public transport: You can take the 12 bus here. The closest BART station is Lake Merritt, 0.5 miles away. It is also (obviously) a train station if you happen to be arriving by Amtrak. Details: Since it's within walking distance of Lake Merritt and "the garden in the park there," this is probably where The Rev and Mother Mary "fall asleep at the station." It could also be the Lake Merritt BART station. Pinole Pinole is on the WestCAT C3 and J bus routes. Fiat Music Address: 2722 Pinole Valley Rd, Pinole, CA 94564, United States Details: At Fiat Music, five year-old Billie Joe was taught to play piano and sing by Marie Louise Fiatarone and her husband. Look For Love was composed in the back studio, where walls are decorated with Green Day fanart. The guestbook is full of photos of Green Day fans, too. "Billie Joe’s mother brought him in because she was signing him up for piano lessons. Jim took one look at him and said, 'He looks like he really belongs in show business. Why don’t you take him in the studio and see if he can sing?" —Marie Louise Fiatarone, 2006 The 7-Eleven Address: 2869 Pinole Valley Rd, Pinole, CA 94564, United States Details: The "7-Eleven where I was taught" in Jesus of Suburbia, where Billie Joe worked for a while. ‘It's that lost feeling. Hanging out at the 7-Eleven. Disenfranchised. Alienated. You just get that feeling of “I've got to get out of here. There's more to life than this town.”’ — Billie Joe Armstrong, 2006 Pinole Valley High School Address: 2900 Pinole Valley Rd, Pinole, CA 94564, United States Details: Billie Joe and Mike Dirnt's second high school after moving from John Swett. Green Day also played an iconic show on the grounds here. Its sign celebrated Green Day as "Spartan Alumni" when they were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2015 - despite Billie Joe's story of handing an EP to a teacher for it to be returned with red marks all over it. The school's current layout is not the original one. The Red Onion Address: 2870 Pinole Valley Rd, Pinole, CA 94564, United States Details: Billie Joe worked at this diner opposite the 7-Eleven in Pinole. Also right by the diner are Pinole Library, Pinole Valley High School, Fiat Music and the mall where Jesus of Suburbia 'read the graffiti in the bathroom stall, like the holy scriptures of the shopping mall' (although like the school, the current layout is not the original one). It's another snapshot of the sleepy small town life that influenced the song. Rodeo To get to this area from Oakland by public transport, you'll need to transfer in Hercules and take a WestCAT bus. The town Public transport: The bus you'll be getting is the WestCAT 11 (the same one that Billie Joe and Mike used to take to school in Crockett). Details: The town where Billie Joe and eventually Mike grew up. It inspired Longview and Jesus of Suburbia. You can also take a selfie with the same sign as Billie if you feel so inclined (I did). “[Longview] was just living in the suburbs in a sort of shit town where you can’t even pull in a good radio station. I was living in Rodeo, California, about 20 minutes outside of Oakland. There was nothing to do there, and it was a really boring place.” — Billie Joe Armstrong, Guitar Legends, 2005 "I grew up in a town called Rodeo. It’s right off the 80. It’s off the 80 at Willow. And it was the inspiration for this next song. This is Jesus of Suburbia." — Billie Joe Armstrong on stage at The Warfield, San Francisco, 2005 Phillips 66 San Francisco Refinery Address: 1290 San Pablo Ave, Rodeo, CA 94572, United States Public transport: There's a bus stop right by the refinery, served by the WestCAT 11 bus. Recommendations: You can see the refinery from Lone Tree Point if you don't want to get close up. Details: The towers of Rodeo's oil refinery appear on the cover of Dookie. It also inspired the 21st Century Breakdown lyric "my town is blind from refinery sun," in reference to the polluted air Billie Joe grew up with. "We came from such a highly polluted area in Rodeo, California. It’s a refinery town and we ended up getting sent home from school because kids were having headaches and nobody could understand why, when of course, 200 yards away from the elementary school I went to was the biggest refinery in America." — Billie Joe Armstrong, 2005 Foxboro Address: 966 Willow Ave, Hercules, CA 94547, USA Public transport: The Willow and Viewpointe bus stop (served by the WestCAT J) is very close to the Foxboro sign. Details: Just five minutes down the I-80 from Rodeo, this housing development (and its hot tubs) gave the Foxboro Hot Tubs their name. Hot tubs are still dotted around the town. "The Foxboro Hot Tubs were a place we used to sneak booze and chicks into late at night. But most of the time it was just 'dude soup.'" — Billie Joe Armstrong, 2008 Christie Road (Not technically Rodeo, but it's close) Address: I'm going to give you the address of Franklin Canyon Golf Course (CA-4, Hercules, CA 94547, United States) because satnavs don't seem to like Christie Road. The golf course's parking lot is right by the road. Public transport: This is difficult without a car. You can take an Uber from Oakland for around $60+ return, or if you're visiting Rodeo, you might be able to get a return trip for around $40. However, phone service isn't great at Christie Road so you might want to arrange for a taxi to wait for you. Details: The deserted road off Highway 4 that inspired fan favourite Christie Road from Kerplunk, also one of Mike's favourite songs. Billie Joe and Mike hung out with friends, or alone there and smoked weed. Close to the highway, it's still noisy and exposed, but only a few minutes down the road there's undisturbed silence. Despite the nearby refinery, the air is clear. Occasionally a train rolls by. It's easy to see why it was such a beloved refuge for the band. For many fans, it's not only a favourite song, but a favourite landmark. Christie Road returns in Outlaws, described as a nostalgic ode to lost youth and sequel to the 1992 track. "I found a knife by the railroad track / You took a train and you can’t go back / Forever now you'll roam." Crockett On public transport, everything in Crockett can be reached on foot after taking the WestCAT 11 bus. It's a small town. Carquinez Middle School Address: 1099 Pomona St, Crockett, CA 94525, United States Details: The school where Billie Joe and Mike met. "Our school district went bankrupt, so they closed down the junior high and combined two elementary schools. We used to have to take the bus out there. First day of elementary school, I think in fifth grade, I was like the class clown - but Mike was like the class clown, so it was kind of like these dueling banjos that were going to go back and forth. What you get is Deliverance. Mike is my musical soulmate." — Billie Joe Armstrong in his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame acceptance speech, 2015 John Swett High School Address: 1098 Pomona St, Crockett, CA 94525, United States Details: Billie Joe and Mike Dirnt's first high school. "I had this kid in class who became a rock star. I remember Billie Joe well. He used to sit in my math class on the third floor of the ancient, run down brick building in the back of the room right next to the window. He had a perfect view of Tight Wad Hill. I don't remember if he was a good student... if he did his homework or got good grades. But I do remember him as a good person, he got along with just about everyone – except, perhaps, the vice principal – and he was pretty cool, mature for his age." — John Goar, teacher, 1997 Tight Wad Hill Details: Tight Wad Hill was where cheapskates and addicts watched football games for free. There's a famous Tight Wad Hill in Berkeley, but it's a lesser-known hill by John Swett High School that inspired the Green Day song. Since the school's football field has moved since the song was written, today's Tight Wad Hill probably doesn't look like the Tight Wad Hill of 1995, and there's no precise address. "This is where all the losers, the cheapskates, would come up and watch the football games without paying for them. It's actually the best view in the whole place. A lot of tweakers come and hang out up here, the crank victims and stuff." — Billie Joe Armstrong, 1995 C&H Sugar Factory Address: 830 Loring Ave, Crockett, CA 94525, United States Details: This factory gives Crockett the nickname "Sugartown," which inspired the line "Sugar City urchin wasting time" in Tight Wad Hill. It also appears in the Nightlife lyrics "sugar-coated halls" and "this dirty city is my Sugartown," most likely since Lady Cobra worked at Sugar City Tattoo in Crockett. Toot's Tavern Address: 627 2nd Ave, Crockett, CA 94525, United States Details: This isn't super special – it's just where the Foxboro Hot Tubs played their second show – but if you're in the area, you might pass it, so it's worth knowing that if you do. Benicia, Vallejo and Concord To get to these areas from Oakland on public transport, you'll need to transfer to a SolTrans bus. Rod's Hickory Pit Address: Convenience Center, 199 Lincoln Rd W, Vallejo, CA 94590, United States Details: On October 17, 1987, when Billie Joe and Mike were 15 - Sweet Children played their first ever show at a Vallejo diner, Rod's Hickory Pit. Billie Joe's mom Ollie was a waitress there and arranged the show. Its 30 attendees were impressed enough to invite them back. Sadly, the diner has now been demolished and replaced with a Starbucks. Passalacqua Funeral Chapel Address: 901 W 2nd St, Benicia, CA 94510, United States Details: This chapel in Benicia gave the 39/Smooth song Going to Pasalacqua its name. The song title misspelled it. Green Day supposedly drove by the chapel while Billie Joe was writing the lyrics, hence the name. He also said "this song is about revenge" before playing it in 2010, so he may have picked up on a funeral chapel for that reason. Camel Barns Address: 2060 Camel Rd, Benicia, CA 94510, United States Details: Both Sweet Children and Green Day played the Camel Barns in Benicia. Bands they shared bills with include Monsula, Separate Ways, Bumblescrump and Blatz. Concord Details: This city northeast of Oakland gets a mention in The Network's Spike. Obviously, The Network have nothing to do with Green Day, but you know what they're like. The mind control is impossible to escape. I can't stop typing. HELP! San Francisco Chinatown Address: 133 Waverly Pl, San Francisco, CA 94108, United States Public transport: There are bus and cable car stops all over Chinatown. The closest BART station is Embarcadero. Details: The Warning cover shoot by Marina Chavez took place in San Francisco's Chinatown. Green Day are walking past this bakery on the cover. You may also recognise the surrounding alleyways from the same shoot. Powell Street BART Station Address: Market St &, Powell St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States Public transport: There are loads of bus stops here and of course, it's a BART station. Details: Green Day walk through this station in the When I Come Around video. Billie Joe pulls one of these phones off the wall during the line "so go do what you like." Hyde Street Studios Address: 245 Hyde St, San Francisco, CA 94102, United States Public transport: There are bus stops on Eddy Street and Turk Street. The closest BART station is Grove Street & Hyde Street, just 0.3 miles away. Details: Insomniac was recorded at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco. The band fuelled up with caffeine between takes. Tré repeatedly ripped the calluses off his hands to perfect Panic Song. "The fact that that album came out, like, a year and a half after Dookie was us trying to cut off the bullshit in its tracks and just keep making music. That’s all we wanted to do, keep making music. Sometimes I feel that Insomniac is the most honest record I ever made at the particular moment that it was written and recorded." — Billie Joe Armstrong, Kerrang The Haight Details: This popular San Francisco street is referred to in Misery, when the character "Mr. Whirly" - a Replacements reference - ends up homeless and begging there: "Mr. Whirly had a catastrophic incident / He fell into the city by the bay / He liquidated his estate / Now he sleeps upon the Haight / Panhandling misery." The Bay (80) Bridge Details: Billie Joe’s nickname for his wife, 80 (and in turn the song title 80) came from this, since Interstate 80 runs over it. He’s also talked about how the band and his father, a truck driver, knew they were home after long journeys when they saw it. Highway 1 Details: The Foxboro Hot Tubs song Highway 1 is named after California's longest state route. Misión San Francisco de Asís Address: 3321 16th St, San Francisco, CA 94114, United States Public transport: There are bus and cable car stops nearby. Details: The When I Come Around music video begins and ends with a night shot of this San Francisco church. Other Agnews Developmental Center Address: 4000 Lafayette St, Santa Clara, CA 95054, United States Details: The Basket Case video was filmed here, but it has since been demolished. Atomic Garden Address: 5453 College Ave, Oakland, CA 94618, United States Details: Adrienne's shop. The Ivy Room Address: 860 San Pablo Ave, Albany, CA 94706, United States Details: Where The Coverups played their first show. If I think of anything else I'll add it. I may well have forgotten something because it's 1 AM and I'm tired and stressed. FAQs Do I need a car? Unless you want to see absolutely everything within a week or less, not at all! Everything is accessible by public transport, except Christie Road which can be reached by Uber. Buses are clean, safe and most drivers are friendly. Day passes on AC Transit, the bus company serving Oakland, are $5.50 or $5 with a Clipper Card. On WestCAT, which will take you to Pinole, Rodeo and Crockett, day passes are $5. The final bus company you’ll need to consider is SolTrans, to get to Vallejo, Benicia and Concord. Their day passes are $4.50 - $5.50. Bus drivers do not carry change. ^ An AC Transit bus How long should I stay? You don’t need to stay a long time to have an amazing trip. The main landmarks can be seen in three days, even on public transport. So first of all, decide how much of it you want to see. You'll also need to consider: Whether you’ll ever make another trip Car or public transport Non-Green Day things you want to see If you're driving, 10 days would give you time to relax, but you could cram everything in within a week. On public transport, you need at least 10 days to see absolutely everything, but consider how much time you're willing to spend on buses. I'm used to it because I live in a remote village and learned to drive later in life, but if that's not you, cramming it all in to 10 days could feel very intense. 14-20 days is ideal. Depending on your schedule it may be better to make two separate trips or to skip some of the more obscure landmarks. Is Oakland safe? I’ve been asked this, even by crusty punks, more than any other question. The answer is that yes, it's true that Oakland is statistically one of the most dangerous cities in the US. Opinions vary on quite how high it ranks. On Safewise, it's #10, whilst on EscapeHere it's #16, but then on NeighbourhoodScout it comes in at #30, behind more popular cities like Memphis, Anchorage and Albuquerque. Personally, I take the same precautions as I do at home in England, and I've never felt unsafe in all the time I've spent in Oakland. For a resident’s point of view, here’s what my ex who’s lived in the East Bay all their life has to say: ‘Don’t do drugs, don’t get too drunk, take extra care in West Oakland and head back before dark. Lock your car. Don’t flash money around and don’t wear obnoxious jewelry. Be mindful that many people in Oakland are poor and can’t afford mental healthcare. Not everyone who seems like a weirdo means harm. If someone’s bothering you, don’t engage. Just keep walking. If it's on public transport, tell the driver. Buy a cat keyring or walk with your keys between your fingers if you're worried. The East Bay might be dangerous, but it’s also filled with wonderful people who’ll help and look out for you.’ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ So I think that's everything. This was one of the best things I've done and I'll always encourage others to make the trip if they can. If you want to read my story, there's a part 1 and a part 2. 10 1 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Boy Named Booze Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 I did this "Green Day" trip 4 or 5 years ago with my girlfriend and it was amazing. Still can't believe I went in California during 2 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirnt286 Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 I’m curious how it is known that the 7th Street Warehouse is the same warehouse where Billie lived? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali89 Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Love this so much! Thanks for posting it! We should also add the Golden Bull bar in downtown Oakland, even though I don't think Billie is one of the owners anymore. He's played there a few times. I've been there, cool place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montclare Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 1 hour ago, dirnt286 said: I’m curious how it is known that the 7th Street Warehouse is the same warehouse where Billie lived? Mike has posted pics of it. I've also done the pilgrimage. The Ruby Room was my favorite. And Christie Road of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insomniac1984 Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Congrats!! Amazing post!! As a Chilean GD Fan, this is by far one of my longed for dreams ever!! I would love to go to California someday and do this GD Places tour!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 99th revolution Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Gilman is my most desired of them all 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted February 13 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 13 6 hours ago, Cali89 said: Love this so much! Thanks for posting it! We should also add the Golden Bull bar in downtown Oakland, even though I don't think Billie is one of the owners anymore. He's played there a few times. I've been there, cool place Thanks for the reminder! I've added the Golden Bull. Also added the Uptown, Toot's Tavern and the Ivy Room. They're just random places the band have played really, but they were reasonably special shows and other than the Ivy Room, they're very close to other landmarks. I originally went looking for the old thread to share some photos of Christie Road that I hadn't edited before, so I'm going to share them here. These aren't Bay Area landmarks, but I wanted to share these New York ones anyway. The St. James Theatre: And the namesake of 8th Avenue Serenade, of course! 5 hours ago, Insomniac1984 said: Congrats!! Amazing post!! As a Chilean GD Fan, this is by far one of my longed for dreams ever!! I would love to go to California someday and do this GD Places tour!! I hope you can make it one day! 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeJennsitized Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 Gorgeous pics and great round up of all the sights!! I did a pilgrimage in 2015 with my friend and managed to hit a lot of those spots. There's something super special about just being there and feeling the context of so much of their music. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Montclare Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 2 minutes ago, DeJennsitized said: Gorgeous pics and great round up of all the sights!! I did a pilgrimage in 2015 with my friend and managed to hit a lot of those spots. There's something super special about just being there and feeling the context of so much of their music. This makes me think of the time I went to Oakland right after getting my drunk bunny tattoo. I felt like I was showing my tattoo its home. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddie86 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 I'm hoping I can go some day, I want to find the grave from the 39/Smooth cover 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Karol Oliveira Posted February 14 Popular Post Share Posted February 14 11 hours ago, Maddie86 said: I'm hoping I can go some day, I want to find the grave from the 39/Smooth cover Apparently it's located at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. The tree isn't there but the grave is. Two fans visited and recreated the cover. You can see it in the link below https://www.instagram.com/p/CzeQzzqOvcN/?igsh=MW51dmd5Ynd6M2h0MA== 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddie86 Posted February 14 Share Posted February 14 4 hours ago, Karol Oliveira said: Apparently it's located at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. The tree isn't there but the grave is. Two fans visited and recreated the cover. You can see it in the link below https://www.instagram.com/p/CzeQzzqOvcN/?igsh=MW51dmd5Ynd6M2h0MA== That's a bummer about the tree but not a total surprise, my favorite local cemetery loses at least a tree or two every year from severe storms 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rumpelstiltskin2000 Posted February 20 Popular Post Share Posted February 20 It's so nice to see the pics from our trip again. Here's a few of mine The gardens at Lake Merritt (Mother Mary - we can take a walk around the lake, there's a garden in the park there) The Haight (Misery - Mr Whirly had a catastrophic incident. He fell into a City by the bay. He liquidated his estate. Now he sleeps upon The Haight. Panhandling Misery A collage from the Art of Ears studio in Hayward. Still can't believe we got meet Andy "Andro" Ernst who gave us a tour There's other pics on my Instagram here (not updated it for a few years as I've been unwell) https://www.instagram.com/greendaycollection 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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