"No computers, no cellphones, no internet..."

[rfgz]

"No computers, no cellphones, no internet..."

This is what BJ tells the crowd during The Static Age respectively Letterbomb on the American leg.

But what level of publicity do you think would Green Day be at without the modern media? Don't get me wrong, it's not an offense to Green Day but some kind of a thought-provoking impulse.

Also the line "I don't want to live in the modern world" In American Eulogy could be discussed here, I'd be interested in what you think.

Personally I doubt Green Day would be that famous without the internet as a big percentage of their earnings are thanks to the internet, only think of promotion. To continue with music downloads and that stuff...

Also I find it a bit inconsequent saying that stuff at a show and a few hours later tweeting the announcement of a live album (or at least tweeting that they're recording their recent shows), isn't it?

So feel free to discuss and disagree with me

[Fuzz]

I highly doubt the guy are anti-technology. They use computers to record their music, they use cellphones to keep up with stuff, they're not idiots.

I think they don't like when technology causes people to detach from something else. In specific point to their concert, when people are more focused on recording the show and taking photos, rather than being a part of the show. It's like "be part of the experience now", not "be passive in your experience so you can re-live it later. Make it count once and take those memories with you". That's something I totally get, and that's why I only pull out my phone 1 time during the show, take 1 photo for later, and the rest of the time, I could care less about what's happening outside the venue.

If I get the chance to experience more than 1 or 2 Green Day shows during the same tour, I'll take the opportunity to get a seat ticket so I can sit back and be a little more passive, take some photos, send out some tweets, post updates on GDA - but up until now it's been for me, a very personal, individualistic thing, even though it's based on the fact that I'm enjoying this with thousands of other people, or sometimes with a couple hundred. It's something I want to experience. I can't do that if I'm more focused on my phone.

The only time I've stepped back from the experience and pulled out my phone for a while was at the Foxboro show, during the 5th or 6th performance of "It's Fuck Time". I think that was reasonable enough.

[ChelseaWhatsername]

I'm pretty sure he just means that for the while you're at a Green Day concert, you're free from all the addicting yet frustrating technology that eats up so many people's lives these days. Like all of us GDCers.

[Guest]

Yeah, Billie usually tells people to "put your fucking blackberrys away" and the like during the actual concert - not forever. I don't blame him for saying that at all. It's about the moment that's happening right then and there, it's about being in it. It drives me crazy to see people texting during a GD show. It can fucking wait. I did, however, call my boyfriend during "Last Night on Earth" b/c it's a special song for us and he couldn't be there due to work. So I held the phone up for him to share the moment with me.

[Haniik]

I think it's hard to say 'what would be it like if...'

But it's true that they wouldn't be so famous without internet and all these media stuff.

Just take a look on their fans... so many people find them because of internet or another media.

I think... they can disagree with these things, but if they want to stay in contact with fans, they have to use them.

Well without internet I wouldn't know all that news and things like that, so it's good thing.

"I don't wanna live in the modern world" ... ugh, for me it's the modern world when people don't talk to each other as much as before, they use internet and phones and shit like that to have a talk.I think that face-to-face communication sucks a lot now. But the truth is, that internet can help you to find people with similar interest and you can communicate with them no matter how far they're.

[Schlappy]

hmmmm i dont really see green day as apposed to the progression of technology because they utilize it, i just think they arent for what technology has done to society. they love the concept of a full album, and value vinyls. also propaganda and the confusion in the media was the driving force behind american idiot. Billie joe tells people to put there cameras and phones away during concerts because he wants people to live in the moment and feel the energy for themselves rather than watch it from behind a screen. he doesnt want to lose the intimacy

[ParadoxAndPlaid]

With their new songs, I'm not sure that they are trying to say that they are 100% opposed to all the modern technology and whatnot. I'm sure they all appreciate what technology has done for them and they understand the benefits of it. But they don't want it to be as heavily ingrained in everyones lives as it has become.

I don't think he was really making a declaration, it is more of a suggestion.

In fact, as Billie has said himself; he writes his songs as if he were asking a question, more so than making a statement.

In my opinion, what they are trying to express with the new album is that we should take advantage of the 'modern age' but we have to draw the line at some point because we are still human. Pretty much, How much will you let yourself depend on your computers, cell phones, etc.? Will you think for yourself despite the growing connection between the media and the people? Do you want to live your life staring at a screen?

And specifically about Him asking for no phones, video and Internet: They have asked that quite a few times at concerts. They really try hard to make the experience intimate for the people who are there. And that is hard to connect when people are texting and recording the show for the whole world to see. Think of it from their perspective: They are pouring all their energy and hearts out for their fans, and they look up, and handfuls of them are looking at screens and keyboards. They just want to preserve the intimacy of sharing that moment, with those fans.

[FannyDefoe]

I always understood these things in the way that they want to point out that all this technology is taking over hand... it's not wrong using it, but it seems that people aren't able to live without it anymore. at least that's what I'm thinking when I'm looking around. or we all now the problems like parents put their kids in front of a tv , computer, videogames and this stuff instead of doing something together... sometimes it's just too much...and yeah...the question is , when is "we want more" enough? (which reminds me of green day's interview about the ipad (?) of which I totally agree)

btw... great thread..really interesting question

[Vaso.Of.Suburbia]

I think that they mean: "Dont be a technology freak, life is something more than gadgets, internet and facebook"... That's my opinion//...

[Katarina.]

I agree with Billie when he says stuff like that at a show. I mean, you're there that moment, enjoy that moment while you're there! I wouldn't want to go to a concert, stand against the barrier, to see the whole show through my cellphone camera. No way. I want to see it with my own eyes, be part of the show, be part of all the memories that will be created that night. It's nice to take one or a couple pictures to look back on later, to know you were there, but personally I think it's better to create memories of what you see yourself, and not with videos and photo's. That's the reason they say it probably. No excessive use of computers, cellphones and internet, but being part of the moment is what counts and creates awesome memories.

[Vespertine]

I get what they mean, I guess. I don't know, there are two computers in my house, I have a cell phone (even though I'm a not a cell phone fan)... technology is an important part of my life. However, sometimes I just feel overwhelmed and want to get away from these things. Even though I live in small town and I don't have a lot of options, I'm really wanting technology to become a smaller part of my life.

Oh, and fortunately, I have my dad take pictures during the concert, so I won't miss anything at all.

[Fuzz]

I get what they mean, I guess. I don't know, there are two computers in my house, I have a cell phone (even though I'm a not a cell phone fan)... technology is an important part of my life. However, sometimes I just feel overwhelmed and want to get away from these things. Even though I live in small town and I don't have a lot of options, I'm really wanting technology to become a smaller part of my life.

I'm exactly the opposite. I have 2 computers for myself, an iphone, and I always have to have it on me, especially if I'm not around a computer. I love being connected to the internet, and I love to keep up with news and random crap. I like being reminded the world is much bigger than just my surroundings.

[DecanoLP]

I agree with Andres.

The band is against any technology during their shows since Billie often says "This is our moment right now. xy and Green Day" and kinda stuff as well. They want the people to enjoy the show

[!VivaLaGreenDay!23]

I definately think that technology did help there career, however they did most of it on their own. I mean, these days people are so obsessed with going on facebook, twitter, and any other networking site. It's like it has consumed there lives, and i completely understand why billie told everyone to put there cameras and cell phones away. I saw a lot of people texting when i was there and i didnt understand that at all. That can always wait. Thats why at the concert i went to(which was my first one) i didnt even use my camera or my cellphone. At first i used my cell phine to try and see how it would record, but then i realized what a waste of time it was. Because it took you away from being in that moment, and you had to worry about your cell phone at the same time. so all i can say is stay in that moment because if you dont the night would be over before you know it.

[Bastard of 1967]

I guess like anything else, there's got to be a healthy balance here. Too much personal (mobile/camera/vidcam) technology intruding into the show is distracting to you and to others and takes away from your own experience at the show....while for some people not enough actually spoils part of the fun. When it comes down to it, I think the kind of experience you want to have is for you to decide alone, not for Billie or anyone else to decide for you.

[Juliette]

I wouldn't go as far as to say they wouldn't be famous without the internet. After all, the internet is a relatively new invention and Green Day have certainly been around and in the mainstream before the internet was widely used.

[XxshexX]

if green day were against technology they wouldn't use twitter, wouldn't have cell phones, etc. i think they just mean don't waste your life using technology and sitting around on your ass al day, get up and go do something.

[BeachBum]

I highly doubt the guy are anti-technology. They use computers to record their music, they use cellphones to keep up with stuff, they're not idiots.

I think they don't like when technology causes people to detach from something else. In specific point to their concert, when people are more focused on recording the show and taking photos, rather than being a part of the show. It's like "be part of the experience now", not "be passive in your experience so you can re-live it later. Make it count once and take those memories with you". That's something I totally get, and that's why I only pull out my phone 1 time during the show, take 1 photo for later, and the rest of the time, I could care less about what's happening outside the venue.

If I get the chance to experience more than 1 or 2 Green Day shows during the same tour, I'll take the opportunity to get a seat ticket so I can sit back and be a little more passive, take some photos, send out some tweets, post updates on GDA - but up until now it's been for me, a very personal, individualistic thing, even though it's based on the fact that I'm enjoying this with thousands of other people, or sometimes with a couple hundred. It's something I want to experience. I can't do that if I'm more focused on my phone.

The only time I've stepped back from the experience and pulled out my phone for a while was at the Foxboro show, during the 5th or 6th performance of "It's Fuck Time". I think that was reasonable enough.

I agree with this completely.

I had the opportunity to go to two shows this past summer, and I did a little more updating/ picture taking at one... but even then it was maybe 1 or 2 songs as I am there to enjoy a live concert. There were people at both of the shows that watched the entire concert through the little screen of their camera from the front row and to me your not really there you might as well be watching the concert from the comfort of your own living room.

On the topic of them using technology, they're diffidently not anti-technology all three of them use it, I think they're more against what technology does in the way we experience things in life. The way we communicate and experience events has changed greatly in a very short period of time ... and in a sense made it easier: we can communicate and experience events ease without ever leaving our homes, and it great to a point, but the new generation using texting and social websites to the extreme to a point where is pulling us further apart rather then together and we don't experience life's moments in real life at time... In short they are more against how technology is taking over our lives

[blitzkriegdeb]

I think he's just trying to say don't let technology overload your life. Obviously, he Tweets every now and then, and I'm sure they all have computers, cell phones, iPods, or whatever. It's not like it's a bad thing to want to use technology, hell, it's mindblowing what shit is coming out these days. At the same time though, you have to step back and make sure it's not running your life. Nothing replaces learning an instrument, going for a jog, or going to the mall with your friends.

[1039slappygirl]

I totally agree with Andres' comment, they're not idiots, and of course they know the benefits the use of technology provides nowadays. They don't live under a rock. When Billie says that, he's just trying to make the crowd part of the show. Get everybody that is there under the same roof into the whole experience and enjoy it the best they can rather than just stand there taking pictures or tweeting something like "I'm at the GD show. It's great so far even tho I'm the only one that's not jumping here." Also, I don't think Billie cares about what people do when the show's already over. Then everybody can write at facebook how cool the show was or whatever. And I love to read their tweets, it makes me feel a little bit closer to them, although they'll never answer the stupid questions/comments I do

[Beathe.]

I think that it's about them being sick of having people taking pictures during concerts instead of paying 100% attention to what's going on.

Although when I have Billie Joe infront of me I need picture proof, and I also want pictures that I've taken myself from concerts not from newspapers. We're used to multitasking all the time, so taking a couple of pictures during a show doesn't ruin the experience at all.

they're not idiots.

O RLY?

[clairemarie]

I agree with Andres. It's not like the guys are completely unaware of technology. But when you're at a show, it's a completely different story, as it should be. I mean, it's highly annoying when you're at a show trying to enojy yourself and everyone else is trying to record videos and take pictures to look at later. Am I wrong? Don't worry about the future, dammit! When you're at a show you should be having so much fun that you're not worrying about the concert being over or the next day or any of that. You should be enjoying every minute of it while its happening and I definitely think the cameras and phones and such take away from that experience. I absolutely adored it when Billie Joe was yelling at the crowd to "put your fucking i-whatever the fuck you call it away." It's about tonight and this experience, right here and right now. Nothing else. Or, like Billie Joe has said "Youtube can't own everything."

[TheSaltOfTheEarth]

Yeah, what Andres and everyone else said. He wants us to live the moment, right there, right then, instead of not living it up properly at the time, and then REliving it later. He's looking out for us, in a way. He wants us to make the most of the experience, I think.

I don't think he HATES cell phones and the internet and stuff. Maybe he thinks we're too dependent on them sometimes, and that with the coming of cell phones and texting and facebook and things like that, the importance of face-to-face communication is being lessened. Like he said once, I think, 'stop living life through a computer screen.' Or TV screen. Or something like that.

[alligunn86]

well this is my first post... And the first thread I have read here. But I skimmed through what people said, and just like they have said too, I think they are just trying to get the message across that people aren't living in the moment right then and there, instead they are talking, er excuse me, texting someone who isn't even there, and it's especially not something you should really do if you're, oh say hanging out with someone else, or at a concert! a green day one especially! Cause you will miss out on that moment that you could have made really awesome, or that person you were hanging out with. I'm sure they don't mean ban it or anything, I think they are just saying that maybe instead of just putting all your effort into some text conversation, or sitting around playing video games ALL day, or watching tv all day you should make some shit happen. Or something around those lines. That is what I take it as.

[drummerdude13]

To be honest, I don't know why anyone would want to pay attention to anything else but Green Day during a live show! When I went to see them in Phoenix, I never even thought about my phone because I was too caught up with the concert.

Plus, videos and pictures don't give you the same feeling as actually being at a concert.