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Poor Jason

I figured a lot of people would be interested in the history and tech info on Blue and all it's backups/replacements so I've made this list using info I've come across in interviews videos, and all random places. I've tried to include evidence where possible. Some info/guitars may be incorrect or missing, I've just made off the best of my knowledge. If you have anything to add or fix, definitely please let me know Blue - Fernandes Stratocaster "Revival" RST-50 (1982 - Present): This was the guitar originally owned by Billie's guitar teacher and later bought by Billie's mom as a gift for Billie. This guitar was used to record a lot from 39/Smooth till Nimrod. This one has been seen throughout the years with all different sticker. - Body, neck, and pickguard appear to be original parts judging by the look of them now. You can tell the pickguard is original judging by the cracks it has and the dodgy cutting where the new pick up was put in. Billie's guitar tech has also confirmed it's the original neck in the comments. - Bridge pick up was replaced with a Bill Lawrence L-500XL and then later a Seymour Duncan SH4 which he has used ever since replacing the BL though he has replaced the SH4 a few times. You can tell as the pick up colour sometimes changes from completely black to black and white, and completely white. The pickup is also angled. - Neck and middle pickups are most likely original as he doesn't actually use these ones anymore as they were disconnected when the bridge pick up was installed. - Tuning pegs/posts were upgraded to Sperzels around 1994 and have most likely been changed to newer ones a few times. - Saddle was changed to String Saver High Performance Saddles sometime after 1994. Proof of Saddles here. - String tree has also been changed from just one to two of them. Picture with one and two here. - Strap locks were changed to Schaller strap locks. - The tone pots are not used and the volume pot has been replaced with a 500K Seymour Duncan Yngvie "Fast Pot" - Inside electronics/wiring has most likely been changed over time. No proof of this but judging by the age it's entirely possible. - All other parts are most likely original though there is no way to be 100% sure without official confirmation. - Guitar strap is a red Ernie Ball strap. Blue Replica - Fender Stratocaster (1997 - 1999) Around Nimrod era Billie started using a replica of Blue with different stickers that was made by Fender rather than Fernandes. It's rumoured that he used multiple though all the pictures I've seen all to appear to be the exact same stickers in the exact same spot. - Fitted with Seymour Duncan SH4 on angle - Has logo on headstock sanded off. - Sprezels tuners. - All other parts appear to be original. American Sunburst Fender Stratocaster (2004 - 2005) This was used as a back up for Blue during the American Idiot tour. - Fitted with Seymour Duncan SH4 on an angle - Most likely fitted with Sprezels tuners - All other parts appear to be original. Blackout Telecaster (2009 - 2014) Starting the 21st Century Breakdown tour, Billie started using this guitar as a back up for Blue. This one had multiple copies made and Billie gave a lot away to fans who played on stage during this time. - Fitted with a Seymour Duncan SH4 angled. - Controls simplified to one volume knob. - Pickguard made by WD - All info can be seen on Rig Rundown. - All other parts appear to be original. Azul - Dark Blue Fender Stratocaster (2010) During the South American leg of the 21st Century Breakdown tour Blue had to be refretted so was temporarily replaced with this guitar. Guitar was a darker blue with random stickers place on like Blue. After the tour the guitar was never seen again. - Fitted with Seymour Duncan SH4 - Possibly fitted with Sprezels Tuners. - Headstock was broken after being dropped on stage. - All other parts appear to be original. Buddy - Buddy Guy Signature Fender Stratocaster (2016) This guitar was made as a back for the Revolution Radio tour using a Buddy Guy signature Stratocaster with Easy Bay related band stickers and dark blue pain down one part of the body. One one was made and was later gave away to a fan the same year. - Pickguard changed to white. - Fitted with Seymour Duncan SH4 angled. - Wammy bar removed - All other parts appear to be original. Swamp Thing - Dark Green Fender Stratocaster (2017?) This guitar appears to be the replacement for Buddy and the back up for Blue. Guitar was debuted on Billie's guitar techs Instagram but hasn't appeared to be played live yet. - Fitted with Seymour Duncan SH4 angled. - No Sprezels Tuners. - No tone control. - All other parts appear to be original.

I feel like we've seen Jason in that position so many times before Cute post though, only started following that guy recently for obvious reasons but he's so positive and chill! Also Billie's outfit deserves a mention, helloo.

I honestly think 21st Century Breakdown should have been the first choice for a single. While it lays down a heavy message, it's the song they came out with during tours at that time, it's the title song, and is a high enough energy song that it would get you pumped up for the rest of the album. ((Plus y'know, the demo was leaked online and people probably would have been anxious to hear what the finished version sounded like.))

They don't tend to do emotional heavy songs first - i.e WMUSE/BOBD followed American Idiot - 21 Guns followed Know Your Enemy. They normally come back with a "FUCK YEAH WE'RE BACK" kind of vibe.

The sad thing is, maybe they are a little frustrated to be Green Day right now after the last bid of the European tour ended in chaos and poor Billie felt pressured to explain the world that they're not heartless So if this is a way to distract them / cheer them up again, I'm fine with it. And I really like the music. But I accept your opinion, I'm tolerant

Billie's mum bought Blue from his guitar teacher when he was 10, not his dad. The Blue that you see on stage currently is the original one. He has used replicas during other tours but that's while still using the original as he normally has a back up in case a string breaks mid performance while using it. In the late 90's his replicas were blue Stratocasters that had different stickers but he eventually gave them away/stopped using them. Then in 2005 his backup was just a sunburst Stratocaster (you can see it in a few live videos). Starting from the 21CB Tour he started using a Fender Telecaster as the back up, the ones he would also give away to fans, and he kept using these up until the Trilogy tour. The only exception is during the South American tour for 21CB, Blue needed some repairs so he got another (darker) blue Stratocaster with different stickers and used that, that hasn't been used since though. Starting from the RevRad Tour he had a Buddy Holly replica Strat with stickers that he used as a back up but after he gave that away he started using a green Stratocaster called Swamp Thing which I don't think he used but now he has a custom Les Paul Junior called Blue Junior. Blue has had many different repairs over the years but nothing too major. It still has a lot of it's original parts (you can tell by the look of them) but he has definitely changed the tuning pegs, the pick up, and most likely the wiring. I imagine the biggest repair he's had to it is a neck press so the neck stays straight/how he wants it. So to answer your question, yes him mum gave him Blue, yes he still uses it, yes he's had replicas, and no it's not on it's last legs.

Completely forgot to post this when I got it but here's mine

There's one on eBay but it's only size small http://www.ebay.com/itm/FOXBORO-HOT-TUBS-MOTHER-MARY-T-SHIRT-SIZE-SMALL-GREEN-DAY-PUNK-ROCK-/322572108776?var=&hash=item4b1acbc3e8:m:mpxo_mvyGg7-zbwA6lK0DqQ

True, it would make a good outfit for the Rev! It's an awesome shirt.

Just thought of two more: - The bass solo in Makeout Party is the only reason that song is good. - I Run NY is a good song. Not exactly Green Day related, but it's a good song!

And hair!

I like how it looks like he's practically on his tiptoes to put his arm around that guy. 😁

I'm a little tempted to agree with you, but only because it would've saved me the money I spent preordering the red vinyl I fucking love Bang Bang and immediately preordered hoping the whole album would be as much a punk masterpiece as the song, each subsequent single killed my enthusiasm a bit more.

Exactly!

@Destiny. I actually think KYE was a bad choice for a first single, but then I don't think it should have been 21 Guns either (that's too soft). Besides that, I agree with you.

I guess that's why I'm particularly not thrilled about the Tubbies this time around (if it amounts to anything at all). They got some shitty criticism lately but Glasgow and Mad Cool weren't their fault in any way. I really hope they're not feeling like frustrated because of silly comments regarding situations entirely out of their control. I mean if it makes them feel better, great, but I wish it wasn't bugging them so much to begin with.

I don't know if this counts as unpopular or not but, I don't think Bang Bang should have been the lead single for revrad, I think it should've been Still Breathing, especially after seeing both videos I feel like SB is so much more symbolic of a 'comeback' (not that they truly went away but yknow what I mean). Bang Bang is obviously in tune with the current state of the world so it's still relevant. I also fucking love Youngblood and it's so fun live

Disagree. Foxboro Hot Tubs are awesome, if alone for the ''The Who'' covers they do (which they gave up doing at standard GD gigs, sadly), such as ''A Quick One, While He's Away''. I love The Who too btw:

Very unpopular opinion: Nothing about Foxboro Hottubs enthuses me, and I kinda groan every time they're brought back up. That side project was born from dissatisfaction and frustration from being Green Day — which I entirely understand, all artists need a break — but to revisit it time and again doesn't make sense to me. I could take or leave the actual music, and even their post-sobriety performances just seem kinda messy and meh to me. I like The Network.

So does anybody know the one true history of Blue? I've read so many conflicting stories I need to know what to believe. From various sources (books, articles, interivews,etc) I've heard everything from: - He started with a red guitar at 8. His guitar teacher owned Blue and Billie loved it and told his mom about it. She bought it from his teacher as a Christmas present at age 10, just months after his dad died. - His dad bought Blue shortly before his death from a guy in a band called Big Band Beat to give to Billie. - There are multiple replicas of Blue. I know this to be true because I saw a show on YouTube where he asks the audience if they want to see a trick and he hands off one "Blue" only to be handed another by a roadie that looked just like it but with different stickers. - In an interview with Billie's guitar tech he shows "Blue" and says other than minor repairs he hasn't done much to rehab it. Says nothing about copies and seems to imply the original is still playable and fine. - Other interviews described Blue as being on its last legs and barely playable at some point in the nineties hence the replicas. Is "Blue" still alive? So who really gave it to him and when? Where did it come from? How many are there now and is the original still playable and the same one you see at shows today? I feel like I need a tell all expose on Blue alone!

My dirty mind strikes again. I misheard the beginning of Who Wrote Holden Caulfield ("a thought burst in my head") as "a fuckfest in my bed".

WMUWSE is the worst.

I don't really care about that video but I'm not too much of a video person (this reminds me I still haven't seen revrad ) I like the grandpa cargidan, though. I always enjoy Billie's horrible fashion choices and that story makes it even more amusing.

Really? I can see that. I haven't watched in a long time, but I thought it wasn't bad. Definitely not a video I go out of my way to watch though.