Billie Joe on the cover of Rolling Stone "The Road Back From Hell"

[Hero_Of_The_Hour]

"My own beliefs inside my head" Roshambo, The Network (not that they are Green Day)

But seriously guys many rehab programs encourage belief in a higher power to help get you through your addictions/recovery...even if that is not the case here how is it a bad thing if Billie finds comfort in anything that is unharmful to his health?! He is hardly about to become a religious extreemist lol. Also it may not be totally out of the blue...he has the Virgin Guadalupe on his guitar, numerous religious (specifically Catholic) images on candles in the trailer for Cuatro & recently I saw a pic of him with a Virgin Mary badge thing. So maaaaybe he had a tiny bit of belief in something all along but since it's none of our fucking business he choose not to share.

And yes I know he liked "Catholic imagery" but for serious guys...I have been in traditional Catholic houses (I mean like Irish older way old fashioned style) & they have nothing on his love of "imagery"...so i always figured him to have some belief. Who cares anyway. Seriously...it's no weirder a revelation than the drug use if you look back on things lol.

[InvaderPhantom]

I didn't think reading this would get me emotional, but man I teared up at the mental picture of Billie and Mike being old men sitting on a bench, feeding pidgeons and being like "Remember when...?" Man, those guys are friends for life. I get all fuzzy inside when I think about two friends meeting in the lunch hall in middle school, and then basically sharing their life together.

[Guest]

"My own beliefs inside my head" Roshambo, The Network (not that they are Green Day)

But seriously guys many rehab programs encourage belief in a higher power to help get you through your addictions/recovery...even if that is not the case here how is it a bad thing if Billie finds comfort in anything that is unharmful to his health?! He is hardly about to become a religious extreemist lol. Also it may not be totally out of the blue...he has the Virgin Guadalupe on his guitar, numerous religious (specifically Catholic) images on candles in the trailer for Cuatro & recently I saw a pic of him with a Virgin Mary badge thing. So maaaaybe he had a tiny bit of belief in something all along but since it's none of our fucking business he choose not to share.

And yes I know he liked "Catholic imagery" but for serious guys...I have been in traditional Catholic houses (I mean like Irish older way old fashioned style) & they have nothing on his love of "imagery"...so i always figured him to have some belief. Who cares anyway. Seriously...it's no weirder a revelation than the drug use if you look back on things lol.

A lot of openly non-Christian artists are interested in Christian imagery, Billie Joe is just one of many.

[WhiteTim]

A lot of openly atheist artists are interested in Christian imagery, Billie Joe is just one of many.

Where has he ever said he was an atheist?

[Bastard of 1967]

That was an amazing and overwhelming article, for sure. The part about his manager telling him to cancel everything when they were actually ON tour, when they were in England and before Reading festival kind of got to me. It gives me a bittersweet vibe about Shepherds Bush now I know how things were behind closed doors. In a way, iHeart being the breaking point for their manager to put his foot down could have been the best thing that happened, in hindsight. I'm so happy and proud of Billie for taking that initiative to change his life, and with confronting his addiction. Admitting is the first step to recovery, and he has an incredible support network around him. I hope that in the coming months of touring, he and the others will be able to work out a way for him to avoid the inevitable temptation. It's something that i'll probably have at the back of my mind when I see them in a few months.

He's already at the point where he's bringing a message of recovery to others by way of opening up in this article. That's a really, REALLY good sign, just that he can be so brutally open and honest about what he's been through and what he's doing to try to stay healthy now. This all means he's well along the way on his recovery, and well aware at the same time of how fragile that recovery is, and will continue to be for quite some time. This isn't some joke anymore, it's his life at stake, and I actually couldn't ask better for him right now. With this realistic of a perspective at this stage of his recovery, his prospects for staying clean in the long run are probably pretty good.

[whatever]

No, this is the list of the countries which publish their own RS...I think he meant where you can buy it. Plus they don't translate the articles from the American RS, it's not a copy translated in your language, they just write their own articles about different bands at least it's what happens here.

Yes,you are right.I mean,I want to buy original magazine of Rolling Stone.Not made for Germany or Italy.I want to buy magazine which includes Billie Joe.

[Guest]

Where has he ever said he was an atheist?

He's talked about his faith a number of times. I can't exactly remember what he said, but he definitely didn't identify with Catholicism. Atheist might have been the wrong word to use though, I'll change that.

[Undómiel]

well excuuse me! I'll give you that criticizing you for picking up on such a minor detail was too much, sorry uncalled for. I just dont think that quote has as much meaning as people are injecting into it. Even if it did, i dont think its a bad thing. Billie has been known to change his opinions. I dont think its hypocritical, just open. maybe i'm just butthurt about people criticizing every change the band makes. it is interesting though

I don't think it's hypocritical either. Glad we cleared that up.

[GZUSofSuburbia]

Truth! Although it's been tough, I think this period should be remembered as one of the most pivotal and significant times in Green Day's career. Out of all the mayhem could have resulted a breakup, or worse, an overdose, but we got a rejuvenated Billie Joe, and a band that's coming back with a vengeance.

Amen, man. Now I am excited as ever to see them return!

[~ Walking Contradiction]

in italy???!O.o omg

Yep, I found the January issue in Milan (Feltrinelli) today but it's not cheap...9,50 € edit: sorry, did you mean that picture was taken in Italy? no, I found it on FB, we'll have to wait a couple of weeks I guess

Yeah but I don't think you can get the American RS in other countries?

You can find it in the biggest cities, I think...

[Yaz.]

He's already at the point where he's bringing a message of recovery to others by way of opening up in this article. That's a really, REALLY good sign, just that he can be so brutally open and honest about what he's been through and what he's doing to try to stay healthy now. This all means he's well along the way on his recovery, and well aware at the same time of how fragile that recovery is, and will continue to be for quite some time. This isn't some joke anymore, it's his life at stake, and I actually couldn't ask better for him right now. With this realistic of a perspective at this stage of his recovery, his prospects for staying clean in the long run are probably pretty good.

Yeah well said. It's great that there is a sense of clarity now, and that he's able to speak positive about how much better he is than his addiction.

[EmmaCharlatan&Saints]

All im gonna say. Wow. im glad he is battling his demons. He was clearly at a low ebb and if he needed someone else to point that out for him (manager) then all the better for it. Glad he is hopefuly back on a good track and that with the amazing support he has from Adrienne, Mike, Tre and everyone close to him that he can stay on the right path.

Rock on Billie!

[BillieJoeDude]

Cool

[AngelBlue_]

guys I found this article. It's from 2010. do you think the shows will have some changes now???without alcohol?

(IMO, I don't mind if the shows will be less funny,really. The most important thing is Billie's health.)

http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2010/11/green_day_say_alcohol_is_the_s.html

[Guest lauraGDlover]

I read it from the link on Instagram. how beautiful and open and honest he was. i cried like a baby. so so glad he is healthy and a better person for being clean. hope he can stick with it

[WhiteTim]

He's talked about his faith a number of times. I can't exactly remember what he said, but he definitely didn't identify with Catholicism. Atheist might have been the wrong word to use though, I'll change that.

Yeah I've seen him say he had problems with the extremists but I never seen him say he didn't never believed either i think it just one thing he hasnt given a direct yes/no deal

He may believe but doesnt pratice or claim catholic or christin etc like I believe but i dont claim none of them

or he could be atheist not a big deal

[Guest]

I'm pretty sure he's agnostic, or was. He's said he's not religious but open to the idea of a higher power [or something along those lines]. Which is nice, he's open minded about it.

[Harry Potter.]

I feel like this is the last we're going to properly hear about it. Like, the last real, open interview about what happened, and I'm glad. He said all he needed to say, in the hold-no-punches way we all respect, and that's all we could ask for. It'd be unnecessary to ask for any more.

Yeah, I mean that was the past and I don't understand why would anyone want to go back if it's that much darker than the present where Billie Joe is already fine and Green Day are starting their tour soon. I really liked how Billie wasn't forced to say anything, for example when there were bits he didn't want to answer he just said "I don't want to say" and that was the end of the topic, I hope it's gonna stay like that and that nobody will push him to answer anything he doesn't want to answer. Private is private and Billie already answered more than enough and I'm proud of him.

[Guest]

Yeah I've seen him say he had problems with the extremists but I never seen him say he didn't never believed either i think it just one thing he hasnt given a direct yes/no deal

He may believe but doesnt pratice or claim catholic or christin etc like I believe but i dont claim none of them

or he could be atheist not a big deal

I'm pretty sure he's agnostic, or was. He's said he's not religious but open to the idea of a higher power [or something along those lines]. Which is nice, he's open minded about it.

I recall him talking about his wedding, he said they combined aspects of different faiths. My guess is he's spiritual, but doesn't identify with any particular religion.

[jacknovella]

I'm pretty sure he's agnostic, or was. He's said he's not religious but open to the idea of a higher power [or something along those lines]. Which is nice, he's open minded about it.

Yeah I think he's one of the people (me included) who are open minded about the possibility of a higher power but reject man-made religion.

"Religion is a bunch of bullshit." - Billie Joe.

[Schlappy]

guys I found this article. It's from 2010. do you think the shows will have some changes now???without alcohol?

(IMO, I don't mind if the shows will be less funny,really. The most important thing is Billie's health.)

http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2010/11/green_day_say_alcohol_is_the_s.html

hmmm interesting. I kind of understand why he started getting drunk onstage in the beginning because he wasn't confident enough in his stage performance. You'd think by now he wouldnt need the extra boost and would just let the adrenalin and crowd energy work its magic, him being a much more seasoned and experienced front man and all. Who knows, maybe it wont be as spontaneous.

Not considering health or anything but just pure performance wise, i'd prefer a sober performance. I'd trade streaking and mad rants for tight songs and perfect pitch any day.

[Alan86]

He openly said Religion is a bunch of bullshit. Agnostic is probably the best description for his beliefs. Not that it's anyone's business but his own.

[WorryRock02]

amazing interview.. i feel closer to Billie... he's really strong... and it's also one odf the great interview i've ever read

[Hero_Of_The_Hour]

He openly said Religion is a bunch of bullshit. Agnostic is probably the best description for his beliefs. Not that it's anyone's business but his own.

Yep...and a bunch of us agree with this sentiment but people can and do change their opinions...and in this RS article Billie said "meditation through prayer"...so I was just pointing out that his opinion obviously has changed. What the hell else does prayer mean. It does not mean organised religion but indicates a belief in some form of higher power as I said. Many people use imagery from one religion or another just as as a focus for prayer (not because that religion is particularly important to them/maybe as a child they were taught to so it helps them pray etc not because they follow that religions rules...its common...that was my point.)

[stories and songs]

I'm not trying to overanalyze or anything, so don't get me wrong - just looking for clarification. Basically, are we getting from this that the alcohol has been problematic for a really long time (which we basically knew already), but the pills were the more recent thing that really threw him over the edge/started causing full-on blackouts? Because I mean, obviously he's been a drinker for a long time, but he only appeared to be REALLY bad and out during interviews/performances in recent months.

Its interesting (I don't mean that in a frivolous way) that being an alcoholic can mean a lot of different things. Sometimes, an alcoholic drinks constantly. But you can also be an alcoholic because whenever you drink, you drink to get drunk, but you don't necessarily drink all the time. This has all been a real education for me, because I'm fortunate to not have any relatives or friends affected by the disease.

I'm just trying to sift through the information a bit, because it is kind of all over the place and has others have said, a bit overwhelming. I must've read this thing six times already, lol.