¿Lily! Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 I love the prologue and I think making the book is such a great idea! I don't know if this is considered as "meeting" Billie Joe, but here is my story: On the night of May 27th, 2008, my two older sisters and I were in the center of the second row of people standing in front of the stage at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood. It was two days after my sixteenth birthday and as a gift my sisters agreed to take me to see Green Day's side project, the Foxboro Hot Tubs. After waiting outside of the venue all day in anticipation and a few more hours of waiting anxiously inside, the band I came to see finally emerged on stage. The sound of guitars rang out as well as the beat of the drums and my favorite band was right there in front of me! I could hardly believe it. They were so close, it was unreal. The crowd made a huge surge forward. There was so much screaming and cheering, pushing and shoving, and I was getting squished and was pushing other people too. I tried so hard to keep my footing as the crowd behind me pushed forward until we were all crushed together. After introducing himself as the Reverend Strychnine Twitch, Billie Joe told us something like, "You have to be forgiven for your sins right now because we're going to be sinning all night long!" The crowd cheered. Then, he said, "Get closer! I want to feel you!" The crowd went wild and obeyed. This set the tone for the rest of the night. There was no barrier between fan and band. It was such a fun, wild, crazy, and intimate show. Billie Joe would stand on the edge of the stage, kicking aside the speakers so he could stand as close to the audience as possible and sing right over us. I was lucky enough to do something I never thought I would be able to do: touch my hero Billie Joe Armstrong. That was enough to make my night. I didn't know that things would only get better. During the show, the band called for drinks. Someone near the bar would order drinks and the glasses or bottles of beer would pass through the crowd until they reached the band onstage. The band members would chug some of their drinks or simply spray beer over the audience. Near the beginning of the show, Billie Joe was spraying beer around my area of the crowd. Then, suddenly he came over to me and began to pour beer into my mouth. Billie Joe, my idol, was pouring beer in my mouth?! WTF?! I couldn't believe it! Billie Joe had actually seen me! For a few moments he was focused on me. I was in so much shock, I couldn't even chug the beer. Most of it spilled over down my chin and down my shirt. When I finally managed to swallow a mouthful of Corona, the first and only time I've ever drank beer in my life by the way, it was over. Billie was back to performing and one of my sisters gave him the "shame on you" hand signal. She yelled in my ear, "He just gave you beer! That's illegal!" She was incredulous and I was slightly dazed but more exhilarated than ever. The night got even better. The members of the band interacted with the fans a lot and created so many amazing moments for us. Billie, Mike, and Tre reached out to the audience, crowd surfed, and pulled people on stage to sing, dance, hug, and rock out with them. The first time the band invited fans on stage, I couldn't get myself past the people in front of me and I felt frustrated. But the next time, I saw a tiny gap in front of me and positively forced my way through. My hands found the stage and so did my knees (I had bruises for weeks later from forcing myself up there). But I was there onstage with my favorite musicians! After an unreal kiss on the cheek with Billie Joe, I looked into the audience searching for my sisters. I found them and their faces reflected incredulity mixed with amusement. Later, one of my sisters told me I had the hugest smile on my face as I was up there. I bet I did! I would end up getting on stage three more times and I was lucky enough to hug both Billie and Mike. At one point in the show, I ended up right beside Mike. He turned to me and said something but I couldn't understand it so I just smiled at him. To this day I still wonder what he said. Later, sometime near the end of the show, I was holding Billie Joe's hand as he sang and I don't even know how that happened. I couldn't believe I was having all this interaction with my favorite band. It was like my wildest dream became a reality. Even just all the eye contact I had with Billie and Mike was incredible. When I was in the front row during the encore, Billie's eyes locked on mine for a few seconds and when he smiled it was such an intense experience. Then at the end of the show, when the band was leaving the stage, I called out to Mike. He heard me and actually stopped and turned back towards me just to shake my hand before going backstage. I was in disbelief. The whole night was such an incredible experience and a significant event in my life. I was a quiet and shy girl who was unsure of herself before this show. I, the girl who sometimes felt invisible in crowds, was noticed by both Billie Joe and Mike Dirnt. My heroes actually saw me and acknowledged my existence. Then somehow, I, the girl who preferred to hide in the background, found the courage to get up on stage. Since Green Day has entered my life, I have become so much more confident in myself. Green Day has helped me through some difficult times and have inspired me in so many ways. I will always be grateful to them for all that they've done.
tunisia wants greenday Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 what about a beak where you write fan's stories about green day how the band change their life or something like that , i mean a book which contains fans stories !
melissawebster Posted November 7, 2011 Posted November 7, 2011 OMG! Aska, amazing story! I would have been freaking terrified to be up on stage like that, but I've always wanted to try stage diving. I don't know if my story is what you're looking for, but here goes: My first Green Day show was a little over a week ago, Thursday, October 27th at their Halloween show at The Studio @ Webster Hall in New York. I was standing right up against the stage on Jason White's side a few feet away from the backstage door. The opening band was playing on stage and I was dancing to the music when balled up pieces of paper started flying over my head and hitting the guys on the stage. My friend nudged me and told me to look behind me so I turned around and Billie Joe was standing about three feet behind me ripping pages out of a magazine, balling them up and throwing them at the guys onstage. So I held out my hand to him and he put a balled up piece of paper in my hand and I threw it at the guys on the stage, and then he threw another ball, and then I did, etc... So here we were, me and Billie Joe Armstrong, throwing balled up pieces of paper at the band onstage. I was actually helping him with his prank. It was crazy in the most amazing way. Then he ripped out several pages at once and handed them to me (not balled up) and disappeared behind the backstage door. We didn't have a conversation. It didn't even occur to me that I should have introduced myself until a few days later. Guess I was too caught up in the moment. I'm pretty sure neither of us even spoke during this, but I held onto those pages throughout most of the show, and some of the people I was standing by and I enlisted the security guys (?) to help us gather the balled up pieces of paper sitting onstage after the opening band left, having decided to turn Billie Joe's prank on him. So when Green Day finished with the new songs and before they started on the old songs, we balled up the pages he gave me, along with the balls we got from the stage, and threw them at him. If he noticed, he didn't react to it, but it was a lot of fun anyway. Apparently, he's way better at the pranks than we are.
Jet Taman Posted November 7, 2011 Author Posted November 7, 2011 Yeah Melissa! I read your story over on the Idiot Club Forum. Awesome story.
Jet Taman Posted March 9, 2012 Author Posted March 9, 2012 Hey my book is coming along nicely and I'd love to have more stories from you all. I plan on putting people's stories between each chapter and I've got some great ones, so thank you to those who have shared....
Robin105 Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 I've got a story I'd like to share if that's ok. I got Billie to wish me happy birthday on camera. It all started months before my birthday around Thanksgiving time. I thought of going to see American Idiot musical for my birthday which is Jan. 5. The idiot club was having a promotion where they had blocked off 4 seats in the very front row for Idiot Club members only. I thought "perfect. I'll take advantage and be able to see the show front row. On my birthday of all days." So I bought tickets. A few days later it was announced that Billie was going to play St. Jimmy Jan and Feb! With one of the days being my birthday the day I was supposed to see the show front row. I cried. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. it wasn't until the week before that a matinee had been schedualed on that day also which gave me a great idea. I'll go earlier and get Billie's autograph then see the show later that same night. Then I had an even better idea. Why don't I ask Billie to wish me happy birthday on camera. I even printed out a picture I had taken when I saw them live over the summer. And it worked. We waited outside throughout the entire show and not only did I get the video he also signed my picture. 2 gifts in 1. And I also saw the show front row center that night which was also an amazing experience. I also finally got my picture taken with him on April 7. And to this day I have met Billie about 8 times. I met Mike twice, I met Jason White, Jason Freese and Jeff Matika. Also I got one of the party favors used by Billie on stage during Good Riddance on his birthday. I know it was used because you can see teeth marks in it and Billie was the only one using a red and white one.
Jet Taman Posted March 9, 2012 Author Posted March 9, 2012 That's perfect! What name can i use for you? I'm trying to use screen names, but billiejoe1 may not be the one you want?
GreenDayisAmazing Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 I never got to meet Billie or any of Green Day. I did go on stage for a few songs nothing special though. There was a lot of people on stage with me I gave him and Mike a quick semi hug not Tre’ =(. I did see Mike by the tour buses and yelled Mike he looked over at us held up his bass and waved. We thought it was so cool. I’ve seen Billie a few Christmas card though I doubt he reads them he probably doesn’t even really get them =(. Any ways all those people who have met anyone in GD including Jason are so lucky =D.Ohh yeah that "Blue" guitar tattoo is so awesome!
Jet Taman Posted April 11, 2012 Author Posted April 11, 2012 I'd LOVE to get just a few more stories from anyone! Hopefully I can get this book done by June when I see Emily's Army in Baltimore and give Joey a copy to give to Billie!
Bam-Itz-GreenDay Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 I'd LOVE to get just a few more stories from anyone! Hopefully I can get this book done by June when I see Emily's Army in Baltimore and give Joey a copy to give to Billie! Like someone said last page, how about a little fan area where you say how they changed your life? I would definitly like to say a few -- or a lot of words
icyfire34 Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 I'd LOVE to get just a few more stories from anyone! Hopefully I can get this book done by June when I see Emily's Army in Baltimore and give Joey a copy to give to Billie! aww wow that is nice of you, ill defiantly give you a story, i also have a thing i gave to billie joe, i just need to dig it up, make a picture of it, and give it to you
Anja Posted April 11, 2012 Posted April 11, 2012 I've met Billie a few times so I'll try and like put all my reviews of the meetings together. Might take a while though as I'm on holiday for the next few days. Love the idea by the way! I would love to see the finished product!
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