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

[Mykee Mexx]

Somehow it seems totally in vain to discuss his future, how or if he will be able to handle it or not. It´s all up to him, and we really don´t know anything about him (except what he/they want to let us know). He´s like any other addicted person or even my ex-boss: there may be (professional) support, but in the end they have to go alone. Good luck. Good luck to everyone who is in a similar situation. Good luck to BJ and my ex-boss.

[~ Walking Contradiction]

Reading about your fears is making me nervous I hope all goes well

[stories and songs]

Nah, don't be nervous! We're just expressing thoughts as they cross through our minds, lol. There's a lot to think about regarding this whole situation, and talking it out makes it a little less overwhelming. Not the intention to scare anyone! We can talk about our fears as much as we want, but in the end, as it has been said, its all up to Billie, and we have no idea how he'll handle things. We just want the best for him, and for him to be happy and healthy. Hopefully when they start playing again, we'll have more confidence that he's alright.

[Heather.]

The good thing about Green Day is that they aren't the typical, apathetic, deal with it kind of band. It won't be "You better be able to handle this", it'll be "We will do this together and MAKE SURE you get through this"

Yes, that's closer to what I mean However, neither of those scenarios allow for failure, y'know? And that's a little scary. Not that it's a good idea to give him room to fall off the wagon, but if the best option for him would be to quit a tour completely rather than struggle mightily through one, it wouldn't be an option.

[HolyHandGrenade]

Yes, that's closer to what I mean However, neither of those scenarios allow for failure, y'know? And that's a little scary. Not that it's a good idea to give him room to fall off the wagon, but if the best option for him would be to quit a tour completely rather than struggle mightily through one, it wouldn't be an option.

In the back of my mind I feel like letting him quit might be just as dangerous as marching onward.

[Guest]

To be honest, if Billie was feeling too overwhelmed & couldn't cope with the tour, I'd much rather his cancel/postpone it than push through & end up damaging himself any more.. As previously stated, 6 months is not long at all to push past something that's been going on for 20 or so years, he has a hell of a long way to go & I just want his health & mental state to come before anything.

[stories and songs]

Thank god they aren't the kind of band that is the "you better be able to handle this" type. They're friends, not co-workers. Many bands aren't quite like that. And even though yes, Mike was pissed off (and rightfully so) at what Billie was doing to himself, I can't imagine any of them being pissed off for having to postpone the tour for Billie or anything. They are a band seems to have their priorities straight in regard to friendship and family and whatnot. At least, that's how I like to think of them.

And yeah - before they rescheduled the tour, me and my dad were talking about it and I remember being like "Don't take this the wrong way, but I genuinely do not care when they get back on tour. I miss them horribly but I can't stand the thought of the tour hurting Billie." I hope that he and the rest of the band realize that we'd still be here even if they wanted to wait to go back on tour again. Of course we miss them, but we're not disappointed in the fact that they need a break. They're human like the rest of us.

I don't need the band to be around right now. But I do need them to be around for the next 20+ years, and I want them to do whatever they can to ensure they'll be healthy enough to do that.

[HolyHandGrenade]

Thank god they aren't the kind of band that is the "you better be able to handle this" type. They're friends, not co-workers. Many bands aren't quite like that. And even though yes, Mike was pissed off (and rightfully so) at what Billie was doing to himself, I can't imagine any of them being pissed off for having to postpone the tour for Billie or anything. They are a band seems to have their priorities straight in regard to friendship and family and whatnot. At least, that's how I like to think of them.

I would be more worried if Mike didn't get as angry as he did. That kind of stuff shows that you care - it's the apathy that can kill.

[Opezi]

I have the mag and a scanner. Not entirely up to date with this situation, but does anyone need the scans?

[HolyHandGrenade]

I have the mag and a scanner. Not entirely up to date with this situation, but does anyone need the scans?

No, someone already scanned them on page 37, I think.

[Guest]

I have the mag and a scanner. Not entirely up to date with this situation, but does anyone need the scans?

They've been posted on page 37, I do believe. You can if you want but thought I'd let you know.

[Opezi]

Cool. Thanks for letting me know.

[Davis Weiss]

Ugh it's still not anywhere in my town and I'm trying to not look at the scans so I can read it in my own magazine. BUT NOBODY HAS IT!!!! People question me when I ask if they carry Rolling Stone. "Is that a type of soda?" Really?

[Sarasaurus]

Ugh, I just died a little on the inside when Billie said that he thought Tre was really scared. I can't even explain what emotions went through me at that bit; about a hundred incomprehensible questions, doubts and thoughts hit my mind.

[jacknovella]

Ugh, I just died a little on the inside when Billie said that he thought Tre was really scared. I can't even explain what emotions went through me at that bit; about a hundred incomprehensible questions, doubts and thoughts hit my mind.

How do you mean exactly? That bit hit me too, I'm just wondering if it was for the same reasons as you.

[Virtuous Xman]

Yeah from what I could see. Billie was overwhelmed and apparently he really needs to start thinking that taking breaks from doing albums is not a bad thing. Like with everything in your life. There is a reason when you need to take a break...to clear your head and relax your body. Now if you're going to this, that, this, that. At a certain point your body is going to make you pay for it. Nothing wrong with continuing to record new material. But hey go home afterwards and unwind. AI, then 21st, then the opera then the new albums. Where is the unwinding time. Billie needs to stop worrying that if they are not out on tour they are going to go downhill. Just don't get complacent about being at home all the time.

[Sarasaurus]

How do you mean exactly? That bit hit me too, I'm just wondering if it was for the same reasons as you.

I can't exactly explain it. You see, I've always gathered Tre as being a shy guy, whose really quite sensitive and a little lost. I feel that to him, Green Day is the world by a thousand. It's his everything. I think sometimes, I feel a little sorry for Tre. I have no idea why though! Sometimes, when I think of Green Day and their friendship with each other, the phrase "Two is company, three's a crowd" comes to mind.

How exactly did it make you feel?

[stories and songs]

I think the thing with Tre is just that like... its hard to explain. I think that they're all very close friends. But just from personal experience, I know that there is a difference between the relationship you have with a friend you've had since childhood and the other friends you make throughout your life. It doesn't make other friends less important or less close to you, but its different.

Just as Billie was saying about he and Mike coming to blows and not letting it ruin their friendship - I get it. Me and my best friend have been friends since the first grade. I honestly never fight with my friends, but when I get pissed off at her, I tell her. If she's annoying me, I tell her. If she makes a stupid decision, I'm honest with her. And she does the same with me. My other friends, though? As much as I love them and feel close to them, we don't have that kind of relationship where I could tell them if I was upset with them without the slightest concern that it would disrupt our friendship. Its just a different dynamic. And I think that's sometimes why Tre comes off as the odd man out - not because they treat him differently or consider him less of a friend, but just because Billie and Mike have shared so much throughout their lives and went through so much together before Tre even entered the picture.

The part about Tre being scared did break my heart, though. Just given things Tre has said about Billie in the past, you can tell that he has a lot of respect for him and loves him a lot. I'm sure this was difficult on him. Plus - we know Billie and Mike have their wives and kids to lean on. And even though Tre has his kids, he doesn't seem to have a steady thing going in the relationship department (is he still engaged?). So while Mike was able to go home and get support from Britt about all this as he said, perhaps Tre didn't have the same thing.

[Cath]

I think the thing with Tre is just that like... its hard to explain. I think that they're all very close friends. But just from personal experience, I know that there is a difference between the relationship you have with a friend you've had since childhood and the other friends you make throughout your life. It doesn't make other friends less important or less close to you, but its different.

Just as Billie was saying about he and Mike coming to blows and not letting it ruin their friendship - I get it. Me and my best friend have been friends since the first grade. I honestly never fight with my friends, but when I get pissed off at her, I tell her. If she's annoying me, I tell her. If she makes a stupid decision, I'm honest with her. And she does the same with me. My other friends, though? As much as I love them and feel close to them, we don't have that kind of relationship where I could tell them if I was upset with them without the slightest concern that it would disrupt our friendship. Its just a different dynamic. And I think that's sometimes why Tre comes off as the odd man out - not because they treat him differently or consider him less of a friend, but just because Billie and Mike have shared so much throughout their lives and went through so much together before Tre even entered the picture.

The part about Tre being scared did break my heart, though. Just given things Tre has said about Billie in the past, you can tell that he has a lot of respect for him and loves him a lot. I'm sure this was difficult on him. Plus - we know Billie and Mike have their wives and kids to lean on. And even though Tre has his kids, he doesn't seem to have a steady thing going in the relationship department (is he still engaged?). So while Mike was able to go home and get support from Britt about all this as he said, perhaps Tre didn't have the same thing.

This is so sad.

[stories and songs]

Something HAPPY I'd like to add to this thread is that whenever I see an article about Billie's recovery on another website, the comments section is overwhelmingly positive. Oftentimes, the public is hard on famous people who struggle with addiction. But everyone really seems to be pulling for him, and that just makes me so happy. Its nice to see people on sites completely unrelated to Green Day sending words of love and support. Billie is definitely the kind of person that a lot of people are drawn to and find easy to like.

[MaraGreenDay]

Something HAPPY I'd like to add to this thread is that whenever I see an article about Billie's recovery on another website, the comments section is overwhelmingly positive. Oftentimes, the public is hard on famous people who struggle with addiction. But everyone really seems to be pulling for him, and that just makes me so happy. Its nice to see people on sites completely unrelated to Green Day sending words of love and support. Billie is definitely the kind of person that a lot of people are drawn to and find easy to like.

Billie is the kind of person that almost everybody wants to see good, healthy and rockin out in the stages

[HolyHandGrenade]

Billie is the kind of person that almost everybody wants to see good, healthy and rockin out in the stages

St. Jimmy isn't dead yet!

[Bastard of 1967]

Thank god they aren't the kind of band that is the "you better be able to handle this" type. They're friends, not co-workers. Many bands aren't quite like that. And even though yes, Mike was pissed off (and rightfully so) at what Billie was doing to himself, I can't imagine any of them being pissed off for having to postpone the tour for Billie or anything. They are a band seems to have their priorities straight in regard to friendship and family and whatnot. At least, that's how I like to think of them.

And yeah - before they rescheduled the tour, me and my dad were talking about it and I remember being like "Don't take this the wrong way, but I genuinely do not care when they get back on tour. I miss them horribly but I can't stand the thought of the tour hurting Billie." I hope that he and the rest of the band realize that we'd still be here even if they wanted to wait to go back on tour again. Of course we miss them, but we're not disappointed in the fact that they need a break. They're human like the rest of us.

I don't need the band to be around right now. But I do need them to be around for the next 20+ years, and I want them to do whatever they can to ensure they'll be healthy enough to do that.

The tour itself isn't what will hurt Billie. What goes on in between Billie's two ears is the only thing that can hurt him, whether he's on tour, working in the studio, or just simply sitting around at home with some time on his hands. The good thing is he's fully aware of that now, and fully aware of what letting things fester will cost him. Big behavioral changes can emerge from that if he lets them.

St. Jimmy isn't dead yet!

And that, my friend, is the problem, the challenge, and the solution rolled up into the same bundle. You have anxiety, depression, an addiction, whoever your St. Jimmy happens to be -- he's never curable, never fixable. You learn how to manage him, to how keep him dormant in the background, how to keep him contained so he doesn't ruin your life. But he never goes away.

[Guest]

And that, my friend, is the problem, the challenge, and the solution rolled up into the same bundle. You have anxiety, depression, an addiction, whoever your St. Jimmy happens to be -- he's never curable, never fixable. You learn how to manage him, to how keep him dormant in the background, how to keep him contained so he doesn't ruin your life. But he never goes away.

This is the best thing I've read to do with the situation. Honestly, I'm just blown by this. That sounds dumb as hell but it's true.

[HolyHandGrenade]

And that, my friend, is the problem, the challenge, and the solution rolled up into the same bundle. You have anxiety, depression, an addiction, whoever your St. Jimmy happens to be -- he's never curable, never fixable. You learn how to manage him, to how keep him dormant in the background, how to keep him contained so he doesn't ruin your life. But he never goes away.

St. Jimmy isn't the same as The Reverend.