Billie Joe Armstrong thanks alcohol for Green Day success

[Sanity Loan]

Billie Joe Armstrong thanks alcohol for Green Day success

Billie Joe Armstrong says Green Day’s live performances have improved because they are usually drunk on stage.

The 38-year-old is lead singer and guitarist of the punk rock band, formed in 1987, and he feels their stage presence has developed due to their inhibitions being loosened. Billie Joe has been performing for the past 20 years but feels that it’s only within the last few years they have begun giving the audience their money’s worth. He confirmed that he usually has a few alcoholic beverages with drummer Tré Cool and bassist Mike Dirnt before live performances to ensure a good show.

“Around Insomniac we became a sh**ter live band. We began playing arenas; we didn’t really know how to play them that well and at the same time we started becoming a lot more introverted. Then we started drinking a lot more. Being drunk on stage, your inhibitions are gone. Most of the stuff we’ve come up with, like bringing someone up to sing with us or running around in drag, that’s all from being liquored-up,” he told Q magazine.

Recent performances by the band have been notorious for their on-stage antics and a human-sized drunk pink rabbit has even made an appearance. Billie Joe went on to describe what exactly constitutes a suitable pre-performance drink in order to achieve the required mayhem.

“There was a time when I was up to a six-pack of beer and maybe a couple of shots – that’s when you’re really cooking in the middle of the tour. You want enough to just get real loose,” he confirmed.

http://www.musicrooms.net/alternative/19040-billie-joe-armstrong-thanks-alcohol-for-green-day-success.html

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What do you guys think of this??

[jtdscape]

I could have swore Billie said that he didn't like drinking a lot before shows because he is afraid of forgetting the lyrics.

[Eeefaa.]

He manages to forget some anyway though

[bollard_11]

Its a bad image to potray that they are drunk every time they are on stage. As role models to young kids it is a bad reputation to have as it sends out the message that being drunk is ok for kids.

But I can see why they do it. There is no way I would be able to do what they do without a bit of liquid confidence

[Zero.]

It's kinda odd reading that they need/use alcohol to get into it a little more, I suppose whatever works..

[Micky]

To be honest, I don't like the image of them drunk on stage. Even because, I'm sure they could do what they do without alcohol as well. It's always Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool, drunk or not.

But meh, if that makes them more confident or whatever, good for them.

[jello4president]

I can honestly understand his reasoning for using alcohol.

I have a major tenancy to be quiet and reserved and find alcohol helps me come out of my shell. Granted I'm not playing stadiums to thousands of people...

[musse]

As role models to young kids it is a bad reputation to have as it sends out the message that being drunk is ok for kids.

But they're not saying it's okay for kids to get drunk. They're adult men and they make their own choises. I understand your point but really, I don't think they should stop drinking in order to be good role models.

I think Billie sounded a bit like he was just joking. (At least exaggerating, because I don't think they seem to be very drunk during most shows.) Maybe he was just fed up with stupid interviewers and wanted to talk about booze. Idk.

[Noy]

I just hope it wont hurt them

[Tre_Gina]

I now wonder if they could put on their show not drunk...I don't think it's right if they can't.

[Storer]

I'd probably need a few drinks too if I had to perform in front of thousands of people. And as for influencing kids, it's Green Day, not Justin Bieber or whoever else.

[Punk-tastic32]

Whatever works for them...

But they do have to be careful, as kids may read this the wrong way and go out and get drunk because "it's cool and Green Day does it" Like how Longview was written while Mike was on acid. Gotta wonder how many people went out and got acid -or any drug for that matter- to 'try and be creative', y'know?

[bollard_11]

But they're not saying it's okay for kids to get drunk. They're adult men and they make their own choises. I understand your point but really, I don't think they should stop drinking in order to be good role models.

I think Billie sounded a bit like he was just joking. (At least exaggerating, because I don't think they seem to be very drunk during most shows.) Maybe he was just fed up with stupid interviewers and wanted to talk about booze. Idk.

I was not saying they should stop drinking, sorry if I was misunderstood , I just mean Green Day have become such a "family" band with people of all ages at every concert. Things like this should kinda be kept quiet because we all know how impressionable kids can be.

I hope I am making sense, I am still half asleep

But they do have to be careful, as kids may read this the wrong way and go out and get drunk because "it's cool and Green Day does it"

I could have just said this

[musse]

I was not saying they should stop drinking, sorry if I was misunderstood , I just mean Green Day have become such a "family" band with people of all ages at every concert. Things like this should kinda be kept quiet because we all know how impressionable kids can be.

I hope I am making sense, I am still half asleep

You're making sense, don't worry But kids are going to see beer and drunk people anyway so I don't think GD's drinking will destroy anybody's life. At least I hope so. In my opinion, if you're old enough to listen to Green Day you should be old enough to deal with the fact they're adults and they drink alcohol, and understand that if you're a kid you shouldn't do that.

[Trotsky]

So if we get him drunk enough, he'll actually go kill Steve Jobs rather than just wish it would happen.

[bollard_11]

Drunk Billie with a gun kicking down the doors of Apple. . . . . . scary image

[DorkWithAFork]

I think one time I heard that they drink a little before they go on stage, but a six pack and some shots?!

FUCK YEAH 1,039TH POST!

[bollard_11]

I think one time I heard that they drink a little before they go on stage, but a six pack and some shots?!

That is a little . . . . . if your Irish

[Jimmy Strummer]

Allow me to just ask the question that nobody's bothered to ask about this article: Where's this from? If PR class in college has taught me anything so far, it's that you always need an attribution after quoting something, and in the OP, there's no link, no citation, nothing.

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

They pull it off well, then, I never got the impression they were drunk. A bit spiked up by something, yes, but a six pack and a couple shots? That's not exactly a little something to relax.

Oh well. They don't really do stuff that's out of line, so I suppose that as long as they don't cause real shit, (and don't become dependant on it...), it's not that bad.

Although it kind of really gives the impression and fuels the "everything's better on alcohol" thing. And that they need it. Which I don't like.

and now I feel like I'm being a mother or something... but what about their health, livers especially... I want me Green Day to live as long as possible.

[farley drexel hatcher]

It comes from Q magazine.

But I think he probably meant that was the case at one point, but he said recently he only drinks a beer and some shots before going on now.

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

Allow me to just ask the question that nobody's bothered to ask about this article: Where's this from? If PR class in college has taught me anything so far, it's that you always need an attribution after quoting something, and in the OP, there's no link, no citation, nothing.

I think Q mag. It has an article about them in it, and it says "he told Q magazine".

But I think he probably meant that was the case at one point, but he said recently he only drinks a beer and some shots before going on now.

Where'd he say that?

also, even though he says "there was a time", he also says "in the middle of tour" which doesn't really in- or exclude this tour.

[DorkWithAFork]

That is a little . . . . . if your Irish

Well I'm not Irish! xD

[HoneyDo666]

Wow that's a lot of alcohol! As someone who gets moody if she has one drink, I don't really get it. But some people really do need alcohol to feel free. I'm just naturally bubbly, so it's not my thing.

[spark in the night]

the man has a liver of steel, I suppose

I could understand maybe a beer or two to calm the pre-show jitters or something

but to use alcohol as a way to perform well, that's terrible. if this is indeed true, then the shows don't feel so real to me anymore :/