Billie Joe during AI in Peru

[Lauren]

what i mean with technology is being bad is the way that people use it. green day uses technology while recording and performing but sometimes technology is in our lives so bad, we don't even leave our houses. there is people who believes everything what they see on tv. there is people who uses the technology to make kids believe in what they want them to believe. People stopped moving.... i don't think that BJ ment "Throw your iPods from the window and stop using fridges." he ment that stop being a slave of the technology. he wanted us to close our compuerts for an hour and go out, have real fun with friends, not by liking their "stauses". BJ is angry because the fans used to have real fun at the concerts. now there is all those cameras, recorders, phones... I don't think that a fan who records the whole concert, and I actually know that they do, is not having a real good time. i think that's what BJ thinks. remember the thing that AFI lead singer told the fan who wanted a picture. He said taht it was about living the moment, not being a brat showing of that you meet a famous person, as i remember. he wants to have the time of our lives. not showing of that you went to a Green day concert. i actually miss these days that I could see the stage without trying to avoid all those cameras infront of me. and serioulsy do you think that a Green Day fan is going to kill Steve Jobs tomorrow? Or is Barack Obama gonna get pissed of about him? Just the lyrics from Platypus. I mean, it's a recorded song on an album, right? he can be agressive about lyrics but can't be agressive about what he is saying on stage? That's the part I don't get.

Well said, especially that last line. Why do a melody and some chords make it okay to say anything?

Look, it's not like he's sitting down in an interview and going on and on about he wants this man dead.

He wasn't talking about people when he used Steve Job's and Obama's name. He was talking about principals. Steve Jobs is a representative of the technology industry, and Obama is a representative of the political industry. He's talking about the principals, not the people.

[Empty Laughter]

I really don't care what Billie said if he wants steve jobs to die of cancer its his oppinion let him think what he wants.

Maybe billie's having a bad week after all he threw the blue replica and he seemed pretty pissed off during his rant.

I really don't think this is about something that's happening to him. I mean, he was ok in the shows in Chile and Argentina.

I think it was just because of the crowd, not living and all that. I think this was something... particular. not something that will become usual.

[StevieT]

what i mean with technology is being bad is the way that people use it. green day uses technology while recording and performing but sometimes technology is in our lives so bad, we don't even leave our houses. there is people who believes everything what they see on tv. there is people who uses the technology to make kids believe in what they want them to believe. People stopped moving.... i don't think that BJ ment "Throw your iPods from the window and stop using fridges." he ment that stop being a slave of the technology. he wanted us to close our compuerts for an hour and go out, have real fun with friends, not by liking their "stauses". BJ is angry because the fans used to have real fun at the concerts. now there is all those cameras, recorders, phones... I don't think that a fan who records the whole concert, and I actually know that they do, is not having a real good time. i think that's what BJ thinks. remember the thing that AFI lead singer told the fan who wanted a picture. He said taht it was about living the moment, not being a brat showing of that you meet a famous person, as i remember. he wants to have the time of our lives. not showing of that you went to a Green day concert. i actually miss these days that I could see the stage without trying to avoid all those cameras infront of me. and serioulsy do you think that a Green Day fan is going to kill Steve Jobs tomorrow? Or is Barack Obama gonna get pissed of about him? Just the lyrics from Platypus. I mean, it's a recorded song on an album, right? he can be agressive about lyrics but can't be agressive about what he is saying on stage? That's the part I don't get.

Look the thing im anoyed about is that he directed it at steve jobs and used cancer. The politics is in a totally different subject and i cant really have a say in that as im not even american.

You dont go round saying someone should die of cancer when your being looked up to by millions of people. There not playing to a 100% punk audience so he should have known that it would get this sort of reaction.

[Supermodel*Robot]

It's just a fucked up thing to say considering the guy almost did die of cancer. Not to mention that as someone mentioned, Billie just participated in the Stand Up 2 Cancer thing. All I'm saying is that it's a fucked up thing to say. Plus, tone of the statement is also worth something.

I agree with this. It's one thing to throw out "I wanna kill that guy" and it's another thing to say that you can't wait for them to die from a serious disease that affects millions of people. Especially considering his own Dad died of cancer, I'm shocked that he'd be so unclassy.

[StevieT]

It's just a fucked up thing to say considering the guy almost did die of cancer. Not to mention that as someone mentioned, Billie just participated in the Stand Up 2 Cancer thing. All I'm saying is that it's a fucked up thing to say. Plus, tone of the statement is also worth something.

I totally forgot about the stand up to cancer thing. Thats fucking mental man. But andres seriosly cant you just delite this thread people our falling out abit this. Its even made me a bit mad lol.

[Supermodel*Robot]

Also, why is everyone using Platypus as a reference? That's completely irrelevant. It's an angry song with zero context. Using Steve Jobs name and wishing a real illness upon him is way more messed up and holds way more real meaning.

[Lauren]

Look the thing im anoyed about is that he directed it at steve jobs and used cancer. The politics is in a totally different subject and i cant really have a say in that as im not even american.

You dont go round saying someone should die of cancer when your being looked up to by millions of people. There not playing to a 100% punk audience so he should have known that it would get this sort of reaction.

Steve Jobs isn't okay... but what about George Bush? Michael Jackson? the "little mohawk motherfucker"? He insults a lot of people.

Cancer isn't okay... but "I hope you die" without the "of cancer" part is okay?

You don't go around saying someone should die of cancer when you're being looked up to by millions of people?

So, Billie shouldn't talk about religion like in East Jesus Nowhere, right?

and he definitely shouldn't write any more offending songs or use any more curse words!!

If my parents were pissed over this, I would understand. They didn't like him to begin with. but I'm really hating how people are suddenly saying this about him when they support everything else he says... which is pretty much the same.

[Lushotology]

Look the thing im anoyed about is that he directed it at steve jobs and used cancer. The politics is in a totally different subject and i cant really have a say in that as im not even american.

You dont go round saying someone should die of cancer when your being looked up to by millions of people. There not playing to a 100% punk audience so he should have known that it would get this sort of reaction.

lauren already gave you the answer: here

[AilzMacD]

i was scared when i watched it. i thought he'd gone insane.

[Lauren]

Also, why is everyone using Platypus as a reference? That's completely irrelevant. It's an angry song with zero context. Using Steve Jobs name and wishing a real illness upon him is way more messed up and holds way more real meaning.

Platypus is a guy who got cancer and Billie was saying he hopes he dies, and when he DOES die, he's gonna piss on his grave.

Steve Jobs is a guy who got cancer and Billie was saying he hopes he dies.

So, Billie's songs have no meaning? I'm pretty sure Platypus is a LOT more real than this statement. Platypus was about a guy who he really hated. He was using Steve Jobs figuratively.

[StevieT]

Steve Jobs isn't okay... but what about George Bush? Michael Jackson? the "little mohawk motherfucker"? He insults a lot of people.

Cancer isn't okay... but "I hope you die" without the "of cancer" part is okay?

You don't go around saying someone should die of cancer when you're being looked up to by millions of people?

So, Billie shouldn't talk about religion like in East Jesus Nowhere, right?

and he definitely shouldn't write any more offending songs or use any more curse words!!

If my parents were pissed over this, I would understand. They didn't like him to begin with. but I'm really hating how people are suddenly saying this about him when they support everything else he says... which is pretty much the same.

Religion is something that is argued everywhere and is socialy accepable.

As i say i cant say anything about george bush because im not american but im pritty sure the whole of america wanted him dead

And th micheal jackon thing was probally said in joke context

[AndrewW91]

If you look at the crowd in the video, almost everyone is holding a camera or a phone.. Hmmmmm.

Anywho, does anyone have an MP3 of the full performance of this song(rant included)?

[StevieT]

Im sorry isnt it pritty obviously that billie shouldnt be going round saying someone should die of cancer when he did a show to support cancer there is no arguement about it.

[Lauren]

Religion is something that is argued everywhere and is socialy accepable.

As i say i cant say anything about george bush because im not american but im pritty sure the whole of america wanted him dead

And th micheal jackon thing was probally said in joke context

Oh, so it's okay to say something bad as long as everyone agrees?

and THIS wasn't a joke?

I mean, I don't want to use the term "joke", because it wasn't funny. but it wasn't serious, either.

[Supermodel*Robot]

Platypus is a guy who got cancer and Billie was saying he hopes he dies, and when he DOES die, he's gonna piss on his grave.

Steve Jobs is a guy who got cancer and Billie was saying he hopes he dies.

So, Billie's songs have no meaning? I'm pretty sure Platypus is a LOT more real than this statement. Platypus was about a guy who he really hated. He was using Steve Jobs figuratively.

I heard you're sick

Sucked on that cancer stick

A throbbing tumor and a radiation high

Shit out of luck

And now your time is up

It brings me pleasure just to know you're going to die

As terrible as these lyrics are, the implications are different. Here he's saying...I hate you, you have a disease, I don't really give a shit that you're going to be dead. He's not actually wishing the disease upon the person. And even, let's say for arguments sake, he is...it's still not a real person. Maybe he knows who he's talking about, but the audience doesn't. That makes the person the song is about fictional in our sense.

[StevieT]

Oh, so it's okay to say something bad as long as everyone agrees?

and THIS wasn't a joke?

I mean, I don't want to use the term "joke", because it wasn't funny. but it wasn't serious, either.

so what was it then?

[Hermione]

There's such a big difference in writing a song about some unknown guy, but using your music as a venue for those feelings - and going off on a rant during a song about how you wish someone would die of cancer. People are pissed off about this because that's not the side of Billie Joe we ever see. Sorry, this specific rant doesn't fit into the same box as the others he's gone off on.

I don't know....when I saw the video the first thing that sprang to mind was when Billie said "Bill Graham.......I'm glad the fucker's dead" on stage once. He's got angry and ranted on stage before, and particularly during Dookie times been genuinely nasty and unpleasant towards the crowd. Making angry, nasty comments, and deliberately making those nasty comments extreme and over-the-top to get a reaction is something we've seen from Billie before. I don't feel like this is something new.

I don't share his views on technology but I'm not offended by the way he expressed them. He gets hyped up and intense on stage, and spills out what he's feeling. Disagreeing with his views? Thinking he made himself look silly by losing his rag? Yeah I get that. But being offended? Nah. He's passionate and expressive on stage so he's gonna get riled up and go over-the-top sometimes. I don't think it's a big deal.

[lawrahday]

Um...I just assume most people don't go around saying they'd wish people to die of cancer when they're angry.

i know and i was pissed at that at first seeing as someone close to me had cancer but i just think people need to stop making a big deal out of it already. so many people say things like 'i wish so and so were dead' when they're mad and ranting so i just don't see how thats not any worse than wishing cancer upon someone. i've probably worded this totally wrong so don't get me wrong, i don't agree with his cancer comment at all. i just think it needs to be laid to rest thats all. its in the past now and he can't take it back so it should just be dropped.

[GDM]

Also, why is everyone using Platypus as a reference? That's completely irrelevant. It's an angry song with zero context. Using Steve Jobs name and wishing a real illness upon him is way more messed up and holds way more real meaning.

Good point.

People will defend Billie in anything he does. Occasionally, like all of us, he says something that he shouldn't say, punk or no. Like me calling a guy at the Montreal show "a French fucking asshole." It wasn't right, whether in anger or in the moment. Sometimes, we just have to acknowledge that some things are better left unsaid. There is right and wrong, and there are lines, for anyone and everyone.

[Lauren]

I heard you're sick

Sucked on that cancer stick

A throbbing tumor and a radiation high

Shit out of luck

And now your time is up

It brings me pleasure just to know you're going to die

As terrible as these lyrics are, the implications are different. Here he's saying...I hate you, you have a disease, I don't really give a shit that you're going to be dead. He's not actually wishing the disease upon the person. And even, let's say for arguments sake, he is...it's still not a real person. Maybe he knows who he's talking about, but the audience doesn't. That makes the person the song is about fictional in our sense.

Steve Jobs already has cancer.

Not only is he saying that he doesn't care he's dead, he's HAPPY. and he DOES say "I hope you die" in the song.

and another thing... this song is serious, and his statement was figurative.

[farley drexel hatcher]

Do people think he actually means it? If you asked him off stage would he say well hell yeah, I really can't wait?

And I don't know what the telethon or his dad dying has anything to do with it. If anything it should tell people it was just a stupid comment.

"I just open my mouth, and out it comes!"

I'm not defending Billie i'm just saying that this has been blown way out of proportion.

[Fuzz]

And they don't find it acceptable - no wonder he needs all those alter egos. Y'know, all this stuff about putting him on a pedestal, when what I get from this thread is the opposite - people don't want him to be someone with violent passions, they want him to be someone they can relate to. He's a fucking artist, and his art comes from a place of ferocity - a ferocity that ignites people and knocks them off their feet, and that doesn't come along with being 'nice'.

Being passionate about something doesn't make you an artist. Passion is required, but what you do with that passion is what makes the difference between an artist and misguided bitterness. Billie can use that passion to write amazing music, which is what I referenced above with Platypus. Going on stage and yelling doesn't show anything aside from the fact that you're able to get on stage and yell mindless babble.

I don't need him to be nice - I don't need him to be anything. He can get up on stage and do whatever he wants, it's his show. Doesn't mean I'm just going to sit by and say "oh, there goes Billie being Billie again," especially when it's something that's just plain mean-spirited.

I totally forgot about the stand up to cancer thing. Thats fucking mental man. But andres seriosly cant you just delite this thread people our falling out abit this. Its even made me a bit mad lol.

No. People are capable of speaking their opinions. No need to try and sugar coat something to make some people feel better.

[Lauren]

Good point.

People will defend Billie in anything he does. Occasionally, like all of us, he says something that he shouldn't say, punk or no. Like me calling a guy at the Montreal show "a French fucking asshole." It wasn't right, whether in anger or in the moment. Sometimes, we just have to acknowledge that some things are better left unsaid. There is right and wrong, and there are lines, for anyone and everyone.

I normally call Billie stupid or an idiot. but I'm defending him this time because it's not fair for people to say it's not okay because it's people they've heard about.

[Supermodel*Robot]

I don't know....when I saw the video the first thing that sprang to mind was when Billie said "Bill Graham.......I'm glad the fucker's dead" on stage once. He's got angry and ranted on stage before, and particularly during Dookie times been genuinely nasty and unpleasant towards the crowd. Getting angry and making nasty comments, and deliberately making those nasty comments extreme and over-the-top to get a reaction is something we've seen from Billie before. I don't feel like this is something new.

I don't share his views on technology but I'm not offended by the way he expressed them. He gets hyped up and intense on stage, and spills out what he's feeling. Disagreeing with his views? Thinking he made himself look stupid/silly by losing his rag? Yeah I get that. But being offended? Nah. He's passionate and expressive on stage so he's gonna get riled up and go over-the-top sometimes. I don't think it's a big deal.

I'm not personally offended, but I am pretty shocked that he would say this. Maybe I shouldn't be, considering he's had pissed off rants before, but I am. Dookie was a long time ago, and so was Nimrod. A song like Playtpus was written 13 years ago! I'd think he'd have grown or come to terms with this stuff a bit by now. And again I reiterate, his Dad died of cancer. How is this not shocking people as much as it is me! He knows what its like to have a family torn apart by the disease, why would he be so insensitive about it.

[GDM]

I normally call Billie stupid or an idiot. but I'm defending him this time because it's not fair for people to say it's not okay because it's people they've heard about.

Yep... someone who just recently went into remission and may still die of it. Someone who was close to it. And as people have pointed out, Billie just did a benefit for a cancer fund. Not. Cool.