The whole "SELLOUT" Accusation:

[bat-chen]

I used to argue with every person who said that Green Day are Sellout but I came to a point that I don't care anymore. I don't care what other people thinks about Green Day. I love them because of there songs and not beacuse who there were or what they become. and of course there changed, no one can stay the same in 20 years!!

[Axel]

As a fan who first discovered Green Day in 1993, i felt that Green Day did kind of sell out when they released Dookie, because when I saw them in 93. they were a cool, layed back band that you could talk to, but then they turned into this "agressive" punk band that swore in all their songs

But then I listened to the album and it was fucking awesome and I forgiven them

[Rob]

I loved the band since '98, and I've already said this in another forum earlier today, but...c'mon...clearly, to some extent, they did sell out. And I'm not talking about American Idol, or signing to a major label with Dookie, but the AI era. The music and the idea of a rock opera weren't really bad. The actual album was a good geniune effot. But they were out of the spot light and decided to follow the fad at the time. The guy liner, the black outfits, the red tie, etc. Wasn't that what fifty other bands in the genre were wearing at the same time too? 21CB was like trying to relive with those days with a slightly different theme. The outfits and the image screammmmmm sellout. And it's kind of obvious the label pointed them into that direction as an attempt to make them relevant again. THAT'S why a lot of old fans brushed them off.

[Fuzz]

I loved the band since '98, and I've already said this in another forum earlier today, but...c'mon...clearly, to some extent, they did sell out. And I'm not talking about American Idol, or signing to a major label with Dookie, but the AI era. The music and the idea of a rock opera weren't really bad. The actual album was a good geniune effot. But they were out of the spot light and decided to follow the fad at the time. The guy liner, the black outfits, the red tie, etc. Wasn't that what fifty other bands in the genre were wearing at the same time too? 21CB was like trying to relive with those days with a slightly different theme. The outfits and the image screammmmmm sellout. And it's kind of obvious the label pointed them into that direction as an attempt to make them relevant again. THAT'S why a lot of old fans brushed them off.

I think you don't understand what the term sellout means. Because they wore some suits and eyeliner, that made them sellouts? They didn't write American Idiot or 21st Century Breakdown because they knew that was the kind of music that would make them the most money. That's what selling out is. As a matter of fact, Billie Joe has said in numerous interviews that when making American Idiot, they weren't sure if it was going to be a big album or something that would completely tank - but they pushed forward with it because it was what they felt like releasing.

[luvgirlcl]

I think the whole 'sellout' is like "beating a dead horse" (that's how you say it, right?). It's been talked, and talked, and talked. And I think the main problem is that I don't think everyone understands or has the same understanding of what being a 'sellout' means: selling out, doing it for the money, doing it according to them insteasd of according to you. By those standards, I wouldn't qualify Green Day as sellouts. I was watching the old Behind the Music today, and in one part Mike said how, during the tour for Kerplunk, they kept seeing more and more people coming to the shows and how they seemed to be reaching far more people than they thought of; so them signing to a major label was a way of having the possibility to reach more people than those they were able to by being independent and with word-of-mouth (even if word-of-mouth is a pretty powerful tool). I fail to see how wanting to get more people to hear your music (and to achieve that by signing to a big label) is a sin.

Being a sellout is giving away your values and principles in exchange for money, fame and recognition. But as far as I see, Green Day have not traded any of those, and they still maintain their core from when they started.

[Rob]

The way they wore the same outfit as 50 other bands at the time, just to follow a fad, kinda screams sell out to me, and lotssss of others.

[Fuzz]

The way they wore the same outfit as 50 other bands at the time, just to follow a fad, kinda screams sell out to me, and lotssss of others.

I wanna know who you think Green Day is following? Who was dressing like them that you think they said "oh man, that looks awesome. we should do it too!"

[lastnightonGDA]

The more I learn about the Punk (Gilman) scene I start to hate it more. Wasn't punk there for the outcasts to go and be themselves and not care about what anyone else thought! They are such fucking hypocrites and just want to find someone else to hate to feel better about themselves. Green Day went to a major record label to have their music reach more people, to give their music to the WHOLE world. And I admire them for going against all their 'morals' and doing what they thought was right for the band. Because I bet there were a bunch of bands who didn't sign onto major labels because they were scared of what people would think of them. maybe they are sellouts because Yes, they did join a major record label. But Green Day did it for themselves, not for you not for me, for them.

[clairex]

The whole punk thing is a total contradiction. I find it hilarious that they have a set of rules, I thought punk was about freedom from all that shit! It is just another social group you have to conform too. Sometimes people try so hard to be different they lose themselves just as much as those who try to be like everyone else just to fit in.

[Foxboro Holiday]

A band can't change their style without looking like sellouts?

-The outfits they wore reflected the whole AI record, I think they wanted to wear what was appropriate and not to follow what others were wearing.

-They've wore ties before, black, even women clothing (ie. Poprocks and Coke video; 2000).

-Being in their thirties, you can't accuse them like hello their not gonna wear teenage apparel how retarded would that be?

-So even if they go back to wearing "normal" clothing that would be like listening to the "real" fans and that would not be punk at all.

-If the music is still relevant, that's all that counts.

[Bastard of 1967]

Ugh. Not this again. <<facepalm>>

[petros]

The way they wore the same outfit as 50 other bands at the time, just to follow a fad, kinda screams sell out to me, and lotssss of others.

Ooops at Woodstock Billie Joe was wearing a red tie and black clothes!

That seems they were sellouts since Dookie ?

[clairex]

He had a shirt and tie on when I saw them a few years before AI was even out. Loads of kids wore them to the show too! I

[SexyBIbiatch]

Yeah I have tough that before exactly the same, specially when I traveled to California and visited my cuz, she was so disgusted by the fact I like green day also she tough I was wierd haha, and the funny thing I remember that last time I was there was when AI just came out and she was singing to boulevard of broken dreams. And of course I remind her that and she was like oooh well I guess because it was popular back then. And I was like WTFFF then she was like well the thing is I prefer 90's music (She just contradict herself), now she is like that because of her new boyfriend, I'm pritty sure. But well at least she said that she bet the new cd of GD has very good lyrics hahahaha.

And yeah in California at least, they are CRAZYYYYY for muse, but GD is like a joke now, almost.

[CamCam]

its just people who dont know what theyre talking about, bands are only selling out if they change to get more money, green day did it as they wanted to and felt it was right, so they arnt sell outs

[DecanoLP]

Who the fuck cares what clothes they used to wear and are wearing nowdays?

[clairex]

but GD is like a joke now, almost.

Meh!

It is not something new. In 1999 I was laughed at for liking them and people called their lyrics lame!

[heyohbilliejoe]

whats happened is this (imo):

green day have been around for a long time. they've changed their music slightly now and then to suit themselves, their fans and what they feel, THEN a newish band like muse (in the cae of this feed. i'm not just having a stab at muse) comes along like "we're muse and we're all new and shiny so listen to us instead." THEN the undedicated/pushover fans (instead of liking both bands - which would be perfectly fine) like muse instead and not green day just cos muse are 'newer' or something. and THEN they call green day sell outs to allow muse to become the more popular band.

something like that...

i know that green day are better than muse (and aren't sellouts) and you guys know that. thats all that matters really.

[Shnitzel]

I'm doing a report for school about this!!!!!

[Rob]

My Chemical Romance, for one, was a band wearing that shit. They clearly were doing it for the marketing and was the label's way of making them revelant again, not for themselves. They turned themselves into a brand during the AI period. It was a fad at the time.

I'm not saying their total phonies. But to some extent, I feel, they did sell out.