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It’s my one year GDC anniversary today! I’ve loved spending this past year with you guys. Since the RevRad era is winding down (I refuse to say over since we still have the shows in Central Park and Latin America), I figured this would be the perfect time to reflect on the past year. What this era has given me- · Awesome music (duh) · I’ve attended three shows, from the club show at the Aragon, where I made eye contact with Billie (I’m sure those around me thought that smile was for them, but no, it was all for me), to being in the pit at Wrigley (still amazed I, as a Sox fan, was not struck down upon entering), to being in the seats at the Oakland Coliseum · I went to Oakland and Berkeley, where I got to see the Green Day sites, such as Gilman (and saw Turn It Around and said hi to Corbett Redford right before going there), the Longview house, Stuart and the Ave, Billie’s guitar shop, Mike’s restaurants, among many others What the era has given all of us- · Awesome music (again, duh) · You could say the era started with the release of Bang Bang or with the guys getting the EMA Global Icon Award. The world was a more innocent and hopeful place, and didn’t know what was coming in a few weeks, but in return we’d get · No Trump, No KKK, No fascist USA · We got the guys on Colbert, Kimmel, Fallon, Corden, Ellen, and Good Morning America (WTF SNL? Green Day would have been the perfect guest for the election season) · We got a number one album with two songs topping the Alternative rock chart, the first time for them since American Idiot · The guys becoming more active on social media, Facebook lives, Instagram lives, and the return of Twitter · Puppets, where’s the button that makes you go away, and #shutupgreg · We got a Q101 interview that gave @SHART a new name and led us to all learn more about Prednisone · We got long hair, short hair, fluffy hair, straight hair, curly hair, and blue hair · We got increasing eye liner, nail polish, and new teeth · We got leather jackets, denim jackets, blazers, vests, bandanas, the return of the red tie, ruffled shirts, polka dot shirts, striped shirts, black shirts, red shirts, and not enough t-shirts · With the debut of the unofficial Troubled Times video and Billie doing the things we discussed, we learned Green Day hangs out here and likes us better than Idiot Nation · We got the best St. Patrick’s Day present ever, the legendary naked window picture · We got to see the guys happier and healthier than ever · We got to see the kindness and generosity of the band, and their love of their fans, not only through the hurricane fundraiser, but also every night on stage, with dozens of guitars given out, hundreds of people getting their moment of time to shine in the spotlight, and tens of thousands of people coming together to sing, smile, laugh, and cry along with the guys I’ve listed Green Day as one of my favorite bands since I was a teen in the mid-90s. My level of fandom has varied over the years, but it has never been higher than it is now. I was brought back to the band by a comment I read on a Fleetwood Mac message board, where someone posted that a co-worker of hers in his mid-30s had heard Bang Bang and that it had renewed his love for the band. That made me check it out. I am forever grateful that I read that comment; without it, this past year would have been much emptier. Looking forward to spending the next era with you guys! May it come quickly. And, hey, Billie- since we know you’re reading this- how about that FBHT tour? And if there could be a stop in Chicago, that’d be great. In honor of my one year anniversary, here's the full version of my profile pic that I took at the Aragon last year.

So sweet! 💚💚💚

Oh nice, finally a better look. Trying to wrap my head around how sweet it is that they all got matching tattoos

Ok dad

I agree I'd love another docu because I love them in general. I actually watch Cuatro a lot. The music is killer and I'm interested in seeing the process, it's a great film regardless of any events that transpired after.

I'm not exactly sure if you're implying this, but social anxiety has nothing to do with not being smart enough to know you're in control of your surroundings. It's just a matter of being (sometimes extremely) uncomfortable in social settings. I agree with you that he isn't shy. But you can be not shy and still be uncomfortable in social situations. It can be a party to celebrate the greatest day of your life (whatever that may be) and you can still be uncomfortable. You can even have fun, and still experience some social anxiety. That said, I'm glad he's finding healthier ways to deal with it, such as going live on instagram while getting a tattoo, haha.

Tre quoting the Geto Boys warms my heart Incidentally they're the same group who gave him "suck my dick until your lips fall off"

It's a cute idea, either way, to think they enjoyed the tour so much that they wanted to remember it with some ink.

Hey I was at the Aragon show too! I didn't know you're from Chicago But that was easily one of the best shows I've ever been too. And just think it if wasn't for a super sweet GDCer I would've missed out!

I believe we were the second. I think they did it first at Berkeley at the show right before us, if I remember correctly. But it was my favorite moment at my show, the passion you could see in Billie, especially when he threw his guitar at the end.

Am I the only one who thinks their new Rev Rad tattoos could've been better? Maybe I'm biased because my friend has one that's way more detailed but I was surprised at how simple they went with the design. This isn't a dig at the artist, I think some of his other work looks amazing.

Sorry to mention it but "a littler more everyday" makes Billie's post extra adorable

Wow! That cake is amazing! I don't know whether to eat it or put a cassette into it. LOL

I really enjoyed cuatro but never watch it because of the trilogy events - the guys had such a great rev rad tour I wish they had made a doco of the making of this album instead🤔

Billie Joe Armstrong: I love performing sober Billie Joe Armstrong says he "loves" performing sober, following his four months in rehab after suffering an onstage meltdown in 2012. The Green Day frontman spent four months in rehab after an onstage meltdown in 2012 and though he was anxious about returning to the stage, he now finds performing live more fulfilling than ever. He said: "I love it. I was having all these crazy neurotic thoughts like, 'I hope I remember how to play guitar and how to sing', but then as soon as you get up there, it's just intoxicating to feed off the energy and adrenaline that's going on in the crowd, and to be able to remember it all afterwards." The 'American Idiot' hitmaker admitted he turned to drink and drugs to mask his social anxiety. He said: "I definitely suffer from my own forms of neuroses and depression and phobias. "I always feel like the most awkward person when I'm in a crowded room. I have social anxieties and stuff like that, and I used drugs and booze to take care of that." The 44-year-old singer felt he had to go into rehab and face his problems "head on", though he doesn't want to draw on the specifics of what he was addicted to. He told Q magazine: "I don't wanna get too deep into my drug of choice ... I had to deal with the situation head-on, because the thing about getting sober is, like, if you don't do it the right way, you end up becoming a hermit and I definitely didn't wanna lead that kind of life. "So I had to sort of expose myself and be raw, which was great. It was something I needed to do. If you look at what I do on stage every night, it's like those songs are every form of depression and anxiety, and I'm putting it all into a crowded room. So for me, it was always 'drink a six-pack of beer before I go on stage'. But I can't do that any more so it was definitely all about facing that in one good go." http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/music/musicnews/billie-joe-armstrong-love-performing-sober-1005031.html?f=rss

The Fine Bros just did a Teens React episode on Green Day :

Was in the supermarket checkout and they start playing Careless Whisper overhead and all I think is, OMG Jason Freese! 😂😂😂 He really does nail that intro.

Warning: "May impair your ability to operate my shittery" instead of "machinery" ... EVERY TIME

The tattoos were most likely a simple design so that they could be done quickly and so everyone was happy with it, not everyone wants something super detailed so maybe this was a compromise.

True!

How awesome! Your reflection allowed me as well to appreciate how great this past year was for me - my first year of fandom, first of the rest of my life I've seen three concerts as well, which I find to have been among the most nailed ones during this tour, especially Download in France that was outstanding - despite the fact it wasn't very mediatized over here; our former culture minister even said they were not welcome in France as a "massive American band taking over new festival editions". Fuck you, Sir . I'm very glad they've come, they made the time of my life. But @Montclare, your three concerts were easily the best three, I mean, first performance of Forever now at the Aragon if I'm not mistaken? And then the homecoming show and Wrigley, Oh My God How awesome this must have been! If I ever return to the US I'll head directly to this area Yup, and here are my favorites: I had registered on Idiot Nation before joining GDC (it seemed very weird doing it from France! idiot Nation seems more convenient for Americans, for what I know) but if I had joined GDC first, I probably wouldn't have felt the need to get into Idiot Nation after The most important is obviously that: Yeah Thank you!

The child has nothing to lament! Pop is doing a great job spreading the word about said kid's tour

I hear the sound of the child lamenting helping the parent get to grips with social media, I know, because I hear it at home 😂

Oh, that was lovely. It's getting close to a year since I rediscovered them by accident in a similar way (and this priceless community on top), you summed it up perfectly. Happy anniversary!

Happy anniversary @Montclare

Did those kids just NAIL everything that's good and iconic about Green Day in the most concise, eloquent way? Wow, there's hope.

Haha! This happened to me recently when I was at the thrift store, and I thought to myself, "as much as I love thrifting, I'd much rather be back at a Green Day gig right now!" 😆

I'm so happy to be a fan of a band/scene with a sense of humour We'll never know exactly what it is Billie struggles with and he clearly lives for the attention at the same time (breaking news!: human beings are complex <3) but I just want to say I know oh so well where you're coming from with groups and friends and it is indeed a bummer.

Just watched Ordinary World again for the first time since it came out, and it was way better than I remembered.

The faces Billie was making while getting that tattoo was hilarious, even though I think he was really just playing it up for the camera. I don't know for sure though, maybe it did hurt. I don't know as I've never gotten a tattoo....yet. I'm seriously thinking about getting a RevRad tat because that was the best concert I've ever been to. I'll post a pic if/when I do. As for social anxiety; I know exactly how he feels. I have anxiety and severe depression and I could never do what he does because I always feel like the most awkward, weird person in public too. I could never get up on stage because I don't like to be the center of attention and being noticed. I also have terrible stage freight too, so he is very brave to do what he does in front of thousands of people. At parties I tend to hang back and don't talk much. I do better in small groups, but even when I'm among good friends I always feel like I don't fit in. It's hard to deal with and makes life a lot harder than it has to be.

Whatever happened to this story that was supposed to air?

I know it's a spelling mistake, but I have to laugh at the thought of Billie tattooing "otters".

TDTD - Don't cross the line because you'll scare my mother. I've just found out it's not what he sings because I saw a screenshot from the lyrics video.

Honestly how could anyone not enjoy Right Hand-A-Rama

"Hi Mom? This is Spike...I mean Brandon"

Literally the only thing I dislike about 21CB is the colour scheme (and that Song of The Century is a separate song, i'd prefer it added on to the start of 21st Century Breakdown) I had an album cover poster and orange did not go with my bright green bedroom walls back in '09 and I'm still not happy about it

I've pinched this from the Instagram thread- yet another picture of Billies legs and ankle tattoos

Found some torso+gun action:

Billie looking like a cool dude in shorts & t-shirt

A little bit of Billies belly