does anyone ever want GD to NOT be such a big band?

[pasalaska]

There was a time around American Idiot era when i felt like this a bit. Having experienced the band being on a lower level of popularity, then to see them 'liked' by every man and his dog, there was a part of me that was thinking, i want Green Day back to myself (not that they were all mine at all). That's partly a maturity thing though i think, nowadays i'm more filled with pride for everything they do that makes them bigger and more successful.

And it's a real testament to them as people how they've kept themselves relatively well grounded despite the heights they've reached. They're still more than willing to "get down and dirty" as Billie Joe says, and appear as happy to play in a small intimate venue as a stadium show. They're much more accessible to their fans than any other band of a relative size that i can think of.

well said, I was wondering what the older fans would say about this.

That last sentence is particularly true, I can't see anyone else of comparable size rocking up to a fan-organised party

[Hermione]

Guess who owns a partial stake in Adeline? It's not just Billie Joe, Adrienne, Jason W., and a few other musicians. Yeah, that's right....they're part of Warner's evil empire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Warner_Music_Group_labels#Independent_Label_Group

So... even though Adeline is on the one hand an "indy label", when you drill a little deeper that ain't necessarily so. But I still think that's great -- in a sense, Adeline can serve as a "feeder label" for small, less-well-known punk bands that will have a big label already "partially" behind them if and when the time comes for one of them to take a step up the publicity ladder.

Emily's Army being the next case in point, methinks! Go Joey'n'friends!!

Oh I know, and Green Day are already on Adeline (for certain vinyl releases only) as well as Warner/Reprise. What I mean is if they moved to releasing things through the Adeline subsidiary of Warner maybe they'd have more control over (and less lame ) single choices, videos, the way they're marketed etc. Although they're both parts of the same company they do things differently.

I have no idea if that would actually be the case or if the band would even want that . But if it would and they did I'd be pleased.

[Mommy's Little Nightmare]

Ha! No. I'm beyond proud of them. They worked their fucking asses off, they overcame alot of bullshit from people in their hometown and Gilman for it, and they absolutely deserved it. If they weren't as big, they wouldn't be able to reach nearly the audience they've reached, and made the impact they've made. Even with things like charity. Being as big as they are allows them to be able to give back more, and we all know they give back quite a bit.

Even when they weren't signed to Reprise, they were still rocking the living hell out of every show that they played. They were getting too big to stay on Lookout! and Larry Livermore can attest to that. They were always destined to be where they are now, and if it wasn't Reprise, it would have been another major label. They were too popular for indie labels, and they knew it. They wanted to be able to make music for their career, and they're able to do that. Being smaller would make it harder on them to have done everything it is that they did, and to live that dream of a career in music. And as I stated before- they were getting alot of attention and praise before they ever blew up. This would have happened one way or another. They worked too hard, and care too much about making music to just settle. And let's be honest, 95% of us wouldn't know who they are had they not signed to Reprise, and gotten big. To wish they weren't as big as they are is stupid, at least, to me. I know that they've impacted me in a huge way, and that my life is better off for having found them. We know they care about Gilman and where they came from, but they weren't just going to sit back and let that be as far as they ever went. They're too brilliant of a band for that, and they deserved so much more than that. They got it. I'm happy. I've found a band that means more than words can express, and they still make every effort to have a relationship with their fans, despite them being a world famous, Grammy winning band.

That's just a title. They are who they are. They did what they did. And they deserve what they have.

I'd also like to add that they are where they are, because they want to be. They made that choice to pursue a major label and see where they could go and what they could do with it.

[Kristen M]

I don't mind at all, but however I will admit I've never known "unpopular" Green Day. I don't like the annoying fangirls that go around wearing Green Day shirts they bought at hot topic that can only name the radio hits...they give us 15 year old girls that are actually fans a bad reputation. And it helps that there's FBHT and the network....bands that no one knows

[Mommy's Little Nightmare]

I don't see why the fangirls drive people so insane. I mean, yeah, they can get a bit irritating, but in general- why does anybody actually care what they do? If they like a few songs, cool. If they want to think Billie's hot, let them. Sure, it comes with the territory of Green Day being big, but what does that actually matter? I mean, seriously. I've witnessed a crazed girl jump on Billie and slam her mouth on his, and it sickened me, and I'm sorry that they have to go through that, but it's an unfortunate repercussion for the choice they made to further their career and take it where they did. Sure, they never wanted THAT, but I'd say the good outweighs some of the crazy shit they have to deal with.

I still wouldn't want them to be any less than what they are. They're a massive band, and sure, fangirls can be a pain in the ass, but does that really mean that someone should want Green Day to be less than what they are? To have less than they deserve to? To not be able to travel the world, and impact lives with their music and the things they do? I don't think so.

[Shadowiegirl]

I am really pleased to see they have the recognition that I think they have always deserved, but yes, a little bit of a grouchy me wishes that they were not so huge so I could get tickets more easily.

[Alan86]

I just hope they keep trying to be as creative and as relevant as they can, if that means that Green Day become even bigger, that's fine with me.

[bollard_11]

If they weren't such a big band, I bet at least 50% of the people on this site would have never heard of them

[Guest Honey Emerald]

It's not really my business if Green day are a popular band.

[AThoughtBurst]

I used to, loads. But yeah, it really doesn't matter, the music does. It's always 'cooler' when a band is lesser known and none of your friends know them - plus, GD don't seem to be classed as 'cool' by a lot of people round here :/

But I agree with @bollard_11, if they weren't huge, a lot of us wouldn't even know about the music at all, especially over in the Uk and other countries :/

[Zelda]

Who the fuck cares?

Green Day is an amazing, talented band. Their fanbase will continue to grow year after year. And they deserve it.

[Slappy72]

come on!!

how can i want that with that great lyrics...with their music...come on...i think this is stupid

they have amazing albums...every album it's incredible...they deserve a good place!

[deletethisaccount]

I don't care how well known they are. Good music is good music and that's that.

But the one problem I have with popular bands is their fans. It's just that I get tired of the people who listen to them. People will chop my head off if I spell Billie's name with a "y" or if I spell the bands name as one word. If I talk to a girl who likes the band, they just talk about how attractive Billie Joe is and what color hair he had that year. Then there are the Nazi's who will piss on you and treat you like they are above you if the only albums you've ever listened to were American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. I can go on.

I don't mind how popular they get. I just wish people would appreciate the music and leave it at that.

[Class.of.13]

I don't care how well known they are. Good music is good music and that's that.

But the one problem I have with popular bands is their fans. It's just that I get tired of the people who listen to them. People will chop my head off if I spell Billie's name with a "y" or if I spell the bands name as one word. If I talk to a girl who likes the band, they just talk about how attractive Billie Joe is and what color hair he had that year. Then there are the Nazi's who will piss on you and treat you like they are above you if the only albums you've ever listened to were American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. I can go on.

I don't mind how popular they get. I just wish people would appreciate the music and leave it at that.

Well, it's not a big deal if you spell Billie's name wrong. But it is kinda ... like if your close friend spelled your name wrong. But i don't think anyone has a problem with that here.

And i agree with what you said

[koolkev]

Sometimes yes, because I love the old stuff and the small venues without all the fancy effects and the Jasons & Matika. (although I love them)

those shows were awesome. But still, the current Green Day is fucking amazing, and most of the time I love them just the way they are. Lots of energy and great fans. I I will always love their music no matter the era.

And now you know my long opinion.

[Danger!]

Lets put it this way, if they weren't a big band then we wouldn't know who they were and stuff.

[letterbomb_19]

I don't really care, I love them whether they are famous or not.

But they totally deserve it to be famous and all that, because they did something that is just AMAZING (making awesome records with songs that have really serious meanings, a great and successful musical,...). I don't really think that they planned to be famous, they just want to play music and do what they want. That's great too that they don't play music just because of earning money. So they can be famous and successful, except they are going to be arrogant because of their success... but I don't think that that will happen anytime

I love Green day how they are

[Sofouska]

Whoaa, lots of ideas on that

Well I don't mind with them being big as a band, cause first of all they deserve it because their music is good, and secondly they haven't changed. They haven't started to act weirdly or in a snob way, they're the same Green Day only that more people get to know them now. And think that in countries where it's not easy to get to know bands and find out about their music, American Idiot for example, made lots os fans throughout the world love their music and get to know the older stuff and become a fan

[Annie, get your gun]

NO. Like some of the guys said, if they weren't that big, many of us would be miserable for not being able to listen their wonderful music.

And I think they use their popularity for positive things, always with something relate to the music. They're down-to-earth musicians.

[Olive.]

What kind of question is this?

HELL-TO-THE-NO.

[Bulletproof Heart]

It's sad to say but I didn't know who they were before American Idiot. If it hadn't been such a success I may never have discovered them.

But basically, I voted "I don't care" cause I don't. They're the same to me. I think us fans get a lot of benefits because of it though, they can tour all over the world and throw awesome shows. And boy do they keep us busy keeping up with all those side projects!

[Trotsky]

Yes, only for the reason their shows would be cheaper.

[Tre_Gina]

it would be cool to see them in smaller venues but then I do love massive shows too...

[Shnitzel]

I really don't mind and I like that their big, I just hate it when these preps in my grade are like all "don't wanna be an American idiot" and its just like shut up u barely know who green day is, and u get scared when I wear my gas mask shirt. It's posers like that, that know about green day cuz their big, that annoy me

[Malleus]

You cannot contain Green Day. I don't go to their shows (unfortunately) so I don't care how large they are, but I do love their larger than life personalities/music statuses.