Green Day Interview – Q Magazine

[stories and songs]

GREEN DAY: The Resurrection of Billie Joe Armstrong

http://imgur.com/a/CnQPS

I just bought the new Q Magazine through the app and really wanted to share this awesome article with you all ASAP. Click the link for phone screenshots—hopefully they're easy enough to read! Main takeaway for me: I have been loving every second of starting a new circle with them.

Has it been harrowing performing sober? "No, I love it," he beams. "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." 

 

[Billie Hoe]

"The singer, usually an adorable pop-punk chipmunk"  is the only right way to describe Billie Joe  

[stories and songs]

@Billie Hoe I'm sure he LOVES being called that. 

[Paola17]

The scans from the mobile version turned out great! Can't read it at the moment but will do so at some point today

If no one gets to it (or even if they do), I'll be able to buy the issue around 2:30PM est (so in about 11 hrs) and will be able to put the scans/pictures of the physical copy up as well, for comparisons sake and what not.

[Billie Hoe]

That was a very nice read  Thank you for the screenshots, it gave me something to do during my lecture

I've lost count on how many times Billie has talked about his rehab in interviews now, wasn't the RS interview supposed to be "first and last (or only)" time he ever talked about it publicly?  I mean not that I'm complaining or anything, it's nice to read about how much better he feels now compared to then but on the other side I don't like to be reminded of the iHeart incident  

[Leni.]

14 minutes ago, Billie Hoe said:

I've lost count on how many times Billie has talked about his rehab in interviews now, wasn't the RS interview supposed to be "first and last (or only)" time he ever talked about it publicly?  I mean not that I'm complaining or anything, it's nice to read about how much better he feels now compared to then but on the other side I don't like to be reminded of the iHeart incident  

I think he probably said that back then to avoid the questions at that time when it wasn't really comfortable for him to talk about it. It seems to me that he feels more ok to talk about it now. Don't know  

[Billie Hoe]

1 minute ago, Ellen Caulfield said:

I think he probably said that back then to avoid the questions at that time when it wasn't really comfortable for him to talk about it. It seems to me that he feels more ok to talk about it now. Don't know  

Yeah that would probably be it  

[Beerjeezus]

I liked what Billie said about writing political songs. I agree with it, focusing on it too much would be boring.

This was a great read, thanks for sharing!

edit: I'd like to add that I think it's pretty damn incredible he can be such a great performer while dealing with social anxiety and stuff like that because that has to be tough.

[inthehallwaynow]

What Mike says about not playing more trilogy songs live yet is totally true. The Association between those songs and not so great personal problems/memories from that time makes complete sense. I remember going through my first break up and it rocked me so bad all I could play on the drums was Blue christmas by Elvis for weeks.  

[Chin for a Day]

This is one of my favorite interviews ever.  We didn't really find out anything we didn't already know, but the author had an enthusiasm that came through in his writing.  His writing style made things we already knew seem fresh and exciting.  

[Beathe.]

Thanks for the scans! Loved the interview. Cute, cute man.  I also didn't think he wanted to talk about rehab anymore, but I guess, he feels more comfortable about it now? Makes sense that it gets easier with time. He definitely deserves credit for being such an amazing performer and having social anxiety. 

[Hermione]

That was well written, thanks for the screenshots!

1 hour ago, Jane Lannister said:

 

edit: I'd like to add that I think it's pretty damn incredible he can be such a great performer while dealing with social anxiety and stuff like that because that has to be tough.

Totally this. It's cool how open he is about it too, he said he dealt with it using drugs and alcohol before so it's pretty brave of him to just be like "I have social anxiety" in almost every interview he does as well as getting up on stage putting on amazing performances without that stuff to fall back on.

[stories and songs]

I really, really enjoyed this interview. I think back when he did the initial RS article in 2013, he said he wouldn't talk about rehab/addiction again because he was afraid that was what he'd become known for—that he had this fantastic career and he fucked it up. Now, a few years on, with more clarity and reflection, he's obviously more comfortable talking about it. Like he said, he doesn't want to become a hermit or for this to negatively impact what he performs. He's a Rock n Roll Hall of Famer—rest assured, history won't remember him as that guy that freaked out on stage that one time. I think (hope) he knows that now. 

You know, in another thread I was talking about how I love RevRad because it feels like Billie writing without a mask for the first time in a long time—no altered state of mind, no characters, no concepts. Just him. I thought this article drove that point home phenomenally. I agree with @Hermione—it's hard for ANYONE to talk about mental health issues or addiction just to even a friend or family member. I think it's incredible how open he talks about why he relied on drugs/alcohol and how he's dealing with himself now. To put it on a deeply personal album is very touching in itself—to be able to expose himself to his listeners. To talk about how raw and exposed he is in interviews is a whole other level of scary, but being open about his anxiety and general awkwardness seems to help. He makes a good point in that he talks about some pretty emotional issues in concert, so I suppose it's important for him to feel comfortable with that and not get caught up in it, but let the songs mean something for the audience instead.

Makes me really happy that he's finding performing sober to be a positive experience. I think it is for all of us, too! So proud of these dudes. The new circle we're making is pretty awesome. 

Bonus Screenshots with lovely pictures of some handsome gents: http://imgur.com/a/CzIOI

[Shahd]

"I always feel like the most awkward person when I'm in a crowded room, I have social anxieties and stuff like that"

Same here. I would've never thought he had social problems.

 

Thanks for the screenshots of this great interview, really enjoyed reading it, and for the bonus pictures.

 

 

[Thatsername]

Thanks so much, that was a really great interview! I don't know if I should cry or be happy, or maybe both. "If you look at what I do onstage every night, it's like those songs are every kind of depression and anxiety, and I'm putting it all into a crowded room". It's unbelievable how much he must have suffered from his neuroses, but still played the cool performer onstage. And it's even more unbelievable how he manages it now, without drugs and alcohol. We can be so proud of him!

I also love how the writer describes some of RevRad's songs in the article. Finally someone sane who can figure out the meaning behind those great lyrics. Hallelujah!

[Beerjeezus]

2 hours ago, Hermione said:

That was well written, thanks for the screenshots!

Totally this. It's cool how open he is about it too, he said he dealt with it using drugs and alcohol before so it's pretty brave of him to just be like "I have social anxiety" in almost every interview he does as well as getting up on stage putting on amazing performances without that stuff to fall back on.

I think talking about it like this might be a way to cope with it. If I'm correct he said he felt nervous during one of the first shows in 2013 and he said something like "I'll pretend I'm not reading this" before a speech he gave somewhere  (I remember it had something to do with the musical, maybe Tony Awards?). Saying something like that means the audience  now knows it so he doesn't have to pretend he's not feeling that way anymore - it takes away from the pressure. 

Of course this might be just a self projection. In my experience, saying stuff like that helps. I'm a pretty awkward person and talking with new people is often an ordeal for me but I got much better at it since I've been able to admit it. I mean, confess it to someone - the shit part of social anxiety is that you feel ashamed of it. You know it's not normal to feel that way but all you want is to be normal and for others to think that you're normal because you think everyone is judging you.

Being able to work with it like this must take lots of courage. 

[Geezer40]

1 hour ago, MMwhatsername said:

Finally someone sane who can figure out the meaning behind those great lyrics. Hallelujah!

Guess you could say it's as satisfying as finding your soul under the sofa pillows.

[Beerjeezus]

1 minute ago, Geezer40 said:

Guess you could say it's as satisfying as finding your soul under the sofa pillows.

Just as good as when you finally stop feeling like a cello. 

[stories and songs]

@Jane Lannister I was thinking the same thing about how talking about it makes it easier. I think if more people were honest when they were in an awkward social situation or were bad at making small talk or whatever, people would feel much more comfortable all around! Easier said than done because it requires vulnerability (something I'm personally TERRIBLE at—I'd rather everyone think I'm totally fine all the time and I know that's not healthy lol), but it breaks the ice and takes some pressure off. So good for him. I am super, super proud of him. 

Also, nice to get confirmation that they're purposefully avoiding the trilogy because of some of the emotions attached to it. That's what I figured, and I understand (and even agree, actually).

 

EDIT: I thought it was kinda odd that the writer was like "Yeah, he doesn't like to make a lot of eye contact when talking about rehab." I'm like "He doesn't like making a lot of eye contact with interviewers discussing anything, he just told you he has social anxiety, dude!" I wouldn't feel super forthcoming talking about that stuff either. Few would happily discuss that!

[Dakke]

Dang. That was a great interview, perhaps even better than the second RS interview. Very personal and very honest. It strikes me still how things just completely out of hand post-21CB, yet Billie managed to publicly conceal his addiction. I knew it already, but it still makes me feel uneasy inside.

"We'll have to let a little time pass before we can be friends with that particular ex-girlfriend" I don't think we'll hear much of the Trilogy before summer and I completely understand and support their decision. You can't simply detach these records from the darkness which engendered them and with so many great songs out there, I don't think the Trilogy has any place on but the most extended of setlists.

[Beerjeezus]

16 minutes ago, stories and songs said:

@Jane Lannister I was thinking the same thing about how talking about it makes it easier. I think if more people were honest when they were in an awkward social situation or were bad at making small talk or whatever, people would feel much more comfortable all around! Easier said than done because it requires vulnerability (something I'm personally TERRIBLE at—I'd rather everyone think I'm totally fine all the time and I know that's not healthy lol), but it breaks the ice and takes some pressure off. So good for him. I am super, super proud of him. 

Also, nice to get confirmation that they're purposefully avoiding the trilogy because of some of the emotions attached to it. That's what I figured, and I understand (and even agree, actually).

 

EDIT: I thought it was kinda odd that the writer was like "Yeah, he doesn't like to make a lot of eye contact when talking about rehab." I'm like "He doesn't like making a lot of eye contact with interviewers discussing anything, he just told you he has social anxiety, dude!" I wouldn't feel super forthcoming talking about that stuff either. Few would happily discuss that!

oh yeah, life would be much easier if everyone wasn't expected to be confident and communicative. It doesn't come as easily to everyone but it is pretty much a norm so introverted people/ppl with social anxiety can easily feel under pressure. 

I understand their reasons for avoiding Trilogy even though I'd love to hear some of those songs. 

He usually doesn't make much eye contact. It kind of bothers me when people do that, btw. I tend to pick it up and start to feel nervous too. 

[Marki.]

That was amazing, thanks for posting! I love that Billie is finally talking about his anxiety and the actual underlying causes of his addiction. Not many people would guess he's been dealing with all of these unpleasant feelings when they see him perform. It is hard, and I have a lot of admiration for him for facing it head-on now.

[Paola17]

I'm at Barnes and Noble right now and the only Q magazine issue is the October one, in which its only 2 pages of Green Day (98% sure it's not the interview that is mentioned in this thread).

Scans will have to wait

[MaraGreenDay]

Ok this has been my favorite magazine interview so far. Love how open Billie is about everything, he really seems so clear now and I really love that. Weird how even when he's one amazing frontman and showman still suffers of anxiety and I'm glad he talks about it cause I suffer of social anxiety too, but to see how he's dealing with it in such an amazing way gives me hope. Love what Mike says about the trilogy songs cause, I love the trilogy, ¡Dos! is my favorite one, but if those songs sometimes are difficult to hear thinking of what whats going on back then, just imagine how it is for them. Really loved this interview, wish there could be a way to have this magazine. 

"The best thing we can do now is start a new circle, and we'll see what happens in another 20 years" 

[Haushinka!]

What an excellent read! & thank you @stories and songs for taking the time to screenshot it for us! Like you all said, it makes me so proud and happy to know that Billie is at a good place right now. I also found the talk about the Trilogy pretty interesting. I really liked this quote regarding their politically themed songs - "You can't get too seriously into the politics because then you lose a personal dimension with your songs, I think. It should always feel like there's something in common between your political songs and your love songs, because they've all gotta come from the heart in some way." That is so eloquently put, and I think they do a fantastic job at being political in a genuine way.