Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted October 18 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 18 8 years ago yesterday (17 October 2016), Green Day played the Hollywood Palladium on the Revolution Radio club tour. Stuart and the Ave. is the most interesting song on that setlist. More photos: Spoiler 14 years ago (17 October 2010), they played the Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brasil on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. That photo seemed to be in everyone's signature back then. More photos: Spoiler 15 years ago (17 October 2009), Green Day played the Sportpaleis in Merksem (Antwerp), Belgium on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. Photos by Leen Hubau. More photos: Spoiler 19 years ago (17 October 2005), Green Day played the Ervin J. Nutter Center in Fairborn (Dayton), OH on the American Idiot Tour. These photos were kindly shared by thetoph_drums who got onstage to play the drums Another one: Spoiler "After Number One Fan completed their set, the roadies began the process of moving Green Day's gear onstage. Around 7:45, the Drunk Bunny staggered onto the dimly lit stage. The crowd went wild, screaming and hollering, as he guzzled down his first beer. Continuing to stagger around, he almost fell headfirst into the mosh pit full of eager fans just waiting to discover his identity. Before ending his little preview show, the Bunny capped off another beer, hidden in his suit, and proceeded to 'get happy' on the stage floor. He seemed to enjoy it as much as the crowd, and then, his show was over as he made his way backstage. The crowd yelled and moshed until their faces were blue. Finally, Green Day made their entrance. The fans were crazy. The pit began to move faster and faster until they were in an all-out mosh as Green Day began their show with American Idiot, the title track off their multi-platnium record released September 21st, 2004. After finishing the kick-off song of the Dayton show, Billie Joe Armstrong took the mic and introduced the guys he had been with for 17 years. He also asked for the date and alerted the crowd that 'the day after this show will be our 17th fucking anniversary!' Not only was the Dayton show the band's anniversary show, it was the last show on the bill for the American Idiot Tour 2005. As Green Day continued on through the night, they played the entire American Idiot album straight through, with breaks of course, so Billie could begin all-arena waves, spotlight jumps, and, his favorite, 'heeeey-hoooo!' He could induce the crowd into doing anything, whether it be jumping, headbanging, waves, or swaying. Billie, with the help of Mike and Tre, turned the crowd into a raging pack of punks, even the young kids staying up way past their bedtime to hear their favorite band. At one point during the show, Billie held 'heeey' for, what was probably a record, one full fucking minute! His convinced the crowd that they could hold that note, and they tried. Few actually completed the task, but everybody tried. Now, it seems to be a tradition that at every Green Day show they pick people from the crowd to play their instruments. This time around a guy wearing a red and black striped shirt played drums, and the crowd seemed to love the way he played! A girl was chosen to play bass, and Mike seemed to like her because he kept whispering tips in her ear. And, the mother of all instruments was left, guitar. A girl was also chosen to play this. She seemed to have been dying to play because once she got on stage, she owned it. She was running around hugging everybody and yelling at the crowd to make some noise. The three chosen musicians played Knowledge while Billie picked up the vocals. The girl who played guitar was allowed to keep Billie's guitar as long as she 'got her fucking ass off my fucking stage!' And, the drummer dude got to keep Tre's sticks and do a stage dive. And, I do believe the bass girl got to keep Mike's bass. In my personal opinion, I do believe this was the best Green Day show I've ever seen, but that might just have been because I was there. I enjoyed this concert so fucking much that it will be the best night of my life forever!" — Sunset Veins 29 years ago (17 October 1995), Green Day played the Seattle Center Arena on the Insomniac Tour. "I remember going to see Seattle Opera's wonderful production of 'Madama Butterfly' there in 2001, and chuckling to myself about how I'd seen Green Day and the Riverdales put on a very different great show in the exact same spot in 1995." — Sid Spencer "The first time I saw Green Day is when they played an arena in Seattle in 1995. Someone threw a shoe at Billie Joe and he got pissed off and cut the set short..." — John Goar (one of Billie's teachers at John Swett High School) Green Day were also interviewed at the Seattle Center Arena. More photos: Spoiler 30 years ago (17 October 1994), Green Day played the Cambridge Junction in Cambridge, England on the Dookie Tour. "I scored some gear for Green Day that night after they came and talked to me in the launderette on Cheery Hinton Road! I think it may have been more than a Henry too. But don't tell the fuzz." — hairyarsenal 31 years ago (17 October 1993), Green Day played the Moore Theatre in Seattle, WA while supporting Bad Religion. "I saw Bad Religion a couple of weeks ago in Seattle, as I think that they're one of the best bands ever I expected (and got) a great show. What I didn't expect was the fantastic opening band Green Day, one of the tightest and most energetic bands I've ever seen." — Michael Hurd A ticket from the show: Spoiler 32 years ago (17 October 1992), Green Day played SOMA in San Diego, CA on the Kerplunk Tour. "I remember it was funny because all the talk was that Green Day were gonna be signed to a major label, and back then there were lots of arguments as to whether people should to major labels. Billie Joe was onstage and he said, 'Hey everyone, make sure you clap really loud because the executives from the label are trying to decide whether they want us to sign or not tonight, so let them know what do you think.' He was making a joke out of it which was pretty cool." — Mark Hoppus 33 years ago (17 October 1991), Green Day played the Moore Theatre in Seattle, WA for the first time. 37 years ago (17 October 1987), Green Day played their first gig ever at Rod's Hickory Pit in Vallejo, CA, where Billie Joe's mum worked as a waitress. The small audience was impressed enough to invite them back. The diner has since been demolished and replaced with a Starbucks. For more information, check out the Green Day landmarks tour. I also wrote about visiting the Starbucks and many other landmarks on my own website. ---------------------------- On this day 24 years ago (18 October 2000), Green Day played the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, Australia on the Warning Tour. "Green Day played an awesome gig last night in Sydney to a packed out Hordern Pavilion. The whole set lasted for an hour and 45 minutes during which a fan from the audience got to play Platypus (I Hate You). Billie Joe had half the crowd screaming, 'Fuck you!' and the other half screaming back, 'Go fuck your mums!' For the finale, Tre Cool, after smashing his drumkit with a little help from Mike, climbed on top of a speaker two metres high, and threw his drum down. All in all, a kick ass concert." 29 years ago (18 October 1995), Green Day played the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. More photos: Spoiler 30 years ago (18 October 1994), Green Day played the Leadmill in Sheffield, England on the Dookie Tour. Billie had broken his ankle in Amsterdam on 13 October. Photo: Di Coke We've got yet more spitting quotes: "From what I remember, Billie Joe spat and caught it, then did it again, but someone from the crowd got up and caught it then stagedove into the mosh pit. Gross." — James Matthews "I've seen them at the Leadmill and at Leeds Uni and they were great. Specially at Leadmill. They used to spit onto the lights and then catch it in their mouths when it came back down." — NEKRO138 33 years ago (18 October 1991), Green Day played at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, CA. 5 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Karol Oliveira Posted October 18 Popular Post Share Posted October 18 7 hours ago, solongfromthestars said: 14 years ago (17 October 2010), they played the Ginásio Nilson Nelson in Brasilia, Brasil on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. That photo seemed to be in everyone's signature back then. More photos: Reveal hidden contents My first Green Day concert ever ❤️ Got to be on stage during 2000LYA The Cup Noodles costume was so unexpected 🥰 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post jengd Posted October 19 Popular Post Share Posted October 19 This is the day I first saw Green Day in 2009 in Glasgow on the 21CBD tour. It changed my life. I celebrate every year. 2 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollyluna Posted October 19 Share Posted October 19 35 minutes ago, jengd said: This is the day I first saw Green Day in 2009 in Glasgow on the 21CBD tour. It changed my life. I celebrate every year. This touches my heart.❤️ Celebrating with you now… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted October 19 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 19 On this day last year (19 October 2023), Green Day played the Fremont Country Club in Las Vegas, NV. 📷: rosequeenphoto More photos: Spoiler 8 years ago (19 October 2016), Green Day played the KROQ Red Bull Sound Space. They were also interviewed. More photos: Spoiler The Say Goodbye lyric video was also released that day. 15 years ago (19 October 2009), Green Day played the SECC in Glasgow, Scotland on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour (@jengd's first show!) More photos: Spoiler 20 years ago (19 October 2004), Green Day played the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth (Dallas), TX on the American Idiot Tour. 24 years ago (19 October 2000), Green Day played Goat Island in Sydney, Australia on the Warning Tour. It used to be considered one of Green Day's most iconic performances. Don't know if it still is. There are loads of videos on YouTube if you want to watch it. More photos: Spoiler 30 years ago (19 October 1994), Green Day played the Boardwalk in Manchester, England on the Dookie Tour. 31 years ago (19 October 1993), Green Day played the Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA while supporting Bad Religion. "I remember this show, I think they quit after like 45 minutes because Billie Joe got mad for some reason." — Dan Guilfoy 34 years ago (19 October 1990), Green Day played the Women's Building in San Francisco, CA. "I even thoroughly enjoyed Green Day who’ve added Tre Cool of the Lookouts on drums while Al is up at school in Humboldt studying god knows what." — Flipside #69 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted October 20 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 20 On this day 8 years ago (20 October 2016), Green Day played the UC Theatre in Berkeley on the Revolution Radio club tour. More photos: Spoiler 14 years ago (20 October 2010), Green Day played in São Paulo, Brasil on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. More photos: Spoiler 15 years ago (20 October 2009), Green Day played the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. More photos: Spoiler 19 years ago (20 October 2004), Green Day played the Reliant Arena in Houston, TX on the American Idiot Tour. More photos: Spoiler 24 years ago (20 October 2000), Green Day played the Festival Hall in Melbourne, Australia on the Warning Tour. 29 years ago (20 October 1995), Green Day played the Coliseum in Edmonton, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. 30 years ago (20 October 1994), Green Day played the Garage in Glasgow, Scotland on the Dookie Tour. 31 years ago (20 October 1993), Green Day played the Warfield in San Francisco, CA while supporting Bad Religion. 33 years ago (20 October 1991), Green Day played 924 Gilman Street. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted October 21 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 21 On this day last year (21 October 2023), Green Day played the When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas, NV. More photos: Spoiler 2 years ago (21 October 2022), Green Day played the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix in Austin, TX. More photos: Spoiler 15 years ago (21 October 2009), Green Day played The O2 in Dublin, Ireland on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. More photos: Spoiler 24 years ago (21 October 2000), Green Day played the Livid Festival in Brisbane, Australia. They were also interviewed. And tried and failed to tip over a car, despite getting their security guard to join in. 29 years ago (21 October 1995), Green Day played the Canadian Airlines Saddledome in Calgary, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. 30 years ago (21 October 1994), Green Day played Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton, England on the Dookie Tour. They really did make some random stops in the UK back then. I mean, Wolverhampton? Wigan? Cambridge? Kent? It's wild to think of them playing all those places. 35 years ago (21 October 1989), Green Day played Marsugi's in San Jose, CA. 36 years ago (21 October 1988), Green Day played the Veterans Memorial Center in Davis, CA. This was John Kiffmeyer's first show. "So I just walked over to them and said, 'Can I be in your band because I don't have a band anymore?' And then Martin and Jason (from Isocracy) took off on a moped and I was in this new band. That was on a Sunday. We practiced on Tuesday and Wednesday and played our show on Friday." — John 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted October 22 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 22 On this day last year (22 October 2023), Green Day played a second night at the When We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas, NV. More photos: Spoiler 14 years ago (22 October 2012), Green Day played in Buenos Aires, Argentina on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. Billie Joe said it was his favourite show ever at the time. More photos: Spoiler 20 years ago (22 October 2004), Green Day played the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, GA on the American Idiot Tour. 24 years ago (22 October 2000), Green Day played the Rock It Festival in Perth, Australia on the Warning Tour. 29 years ago (22 October 1995), Green Day played the Agridome in Regina, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. "Decided the day before the show to check out Green Day who were still riding a big wave of success from their major label debut Dookie. They had just released the follow up Insomniac and the first single Geek Stink Breath was a staple on Much Music. I had seats way up in the second level near the roof but was right above the stage, not too bad for so close to show day. Didn't know much about the opening act The Riverdales and I still don't; they came out, played their entire album song by song with no banter then left. The best part of their set was watching Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool riding skateboards behind the stage. Green Day came out firing, gleefully admitting to the crowd that the only reason they came to Regina was David Letterman sensation, Dick Assman. The band gave it their all even when the kids on the floor chucked their shoes at them. Dirnt even barked at the rowdy pricks, 'Hey, your mom paid good money for those shoes!' but that didn't stop them. Apparently, it wasn't anything new to them as they played on, dodging shoes the whole time. During When I Come Around, Billie Joe came out naked with just his beloved blue Fender covering his business. During the guitar solo he spun around and treated the crowd to a little rhythmic butt clenching. I could have lived without that, but overall a good show." I don't suppose anyone reading this has the photos mentioned by Shawn Scallen on the GDA page for this show? 30 years ago (22 October 1994), Green Day played Welcome to Paradise on Top of the Pops. Billie wore a shirt saying "Who am I fooling anyway?" because they were forced to play to a backing track. More photos: Spoiler Also 30 years ago (22 October 1994), Green Day played the Astoria in London, England on the Dookie Tour. "First gig. Green Day at London Astoria 1994. Technically I'd been to a small festival before this but this was my first proper gig. Joeyfat opened and Billie Joe Armstrong stood on my foot as we were watching at the back. Then came China Drum who I still listen to after all this time. Green Day were so amazing and opened the door for me to a lot more bands." — Andy 31 years ago (22 October 1993), Green Day played their first Latin American show at the Iguanas club in Tijuana, Mexico. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted October 23 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 23 On this day 8 years ago (23 October 2016), Green Day played the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL on the Revolution Radio club tour. More photos: Spoiler 13 years ago (23 October 2011), Billie Joe performed Good Riddance when Will Ferrell was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He was also interviewed. More photos: Spoiler 15 years ago (23 October 2009), Green Day played the O2 Arena in London, England on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. More photos: Spoiler 20 years ago (23 October 2004), Green Day played the US Bank Arena in Cincinnati, OH on the American Idiot Tour. 29 years ago (23 October 1995), Green Day played the Arena in Winnipeg, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. 6 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Montclare Posted October 23 Popular Post Share Posted October 23 That means that 8 years ago today was my very first Green Day show! Few pics I took there- 5 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Hermione Posted October 23 Popular Post Share Posted October 23 2 hours ago, Montclare said: That means that 8 years ago today was my very first Green Day show! Few pics I took there- And my first was 15 years ago today! Those are great pics It was so awesome because a big group of fans from GDC and FB from the UK, US, Europe and even Australia were travelling to all the UK shows in a minibus and calling it "Rocktober" and we met up with them, met over 30 people from here that day and still see some at shows now! After just following the band online mostly through here it was surreal to actually see them live and hang out with so many cool people from here. I'll never forget lovely J'net who was with us during the show getting handed a pick by Mike and just giving it to me(!), singing along with *the* Tony from BIAB, staying at the awesome Sharon and Graham's house afterwards where they had an open door policy for GD fans , and everyone we met. And getting to do this with my sister who loves the band as much as me, every show I've been to since has been with her. And the show, that tour was probably their live peak and got to see all the songs and traditions I'd waited for plus loads of 21st CB songs, just amazing to see hot blond Billie and the rest of the band right there . Then unexpectedly got to see FBHT just over a week later...one reason I still obsess over that is it came right after my GD dreams already came true. Unbelievable magical time. 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted October 24 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 24 On this day last year (24 October 2023), The American Dream is Killing Me was released and accompanied by a music video. 8 years ago (24 October 2016), Green Day played the Fillmore in Detroit, MI on the Revolution Radio club tour. More photos: Spoiler 14 years ago (24 October 2010), Green Day played in Santiago, Chile on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. More photos: Spoiler 15 years ago (24 October 2009), Green Day played a second night at the O2 Arena in London, England on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. More photos: Spoiler 20 years ago (24 October 2004), Green Day played Louisville Gardens in Louisville, KY on the American Idiot Tour. 32 years ago (24 October 1992), Green Day played the Phoenix Theatre in Petaluma, CA on the Kerplunk Tour. 5 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forever Now Posted October 24 Share Posted October 24 Happy one year! Favorite single and video from Saviors 🩷🧟♂️ 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stories and songs Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 Happy anniversary to TADIKM! I remember this day vividly because I had a dentist appointment in the morning and couldn’t wait to get out so I could go sit in my car and watch the video. The start of a very special era! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cris. Posted October 25 Share Posted October 25 On 10/23/2024 at 11:38 PM, Hermione said: And my first was 15 years ago today! Those are great pics It was so awesome because a big group of fans from GDC and FB from the UK, US, Europe and even Australia were travelling to all the UK shows in a minibus and calling it "Rocktober" and we met up with them, met over 30 people from here that day and still see some at shows now! After just following the band online mostly through here it was surreal to actually see them live and hang out with so many cool people from here. I'll never forget lovely J'net who was with us during the show getting handed a pick by Mike and just giving it to me(!), singing along with *the* Tony from BIAB, staying at the awesome Sharon and Graham's house afterwards where they had an open door policy for GD fans , and everyone we met. And getting to do this with my sister who loves the band as much as me, every show I've been to since has been with her. And the show, that tour was probably their live peak and got to see all the songs and traditions I'd waited for plus loads of 21st CB songs, just amazing to see hot blond Billie and the rest of the band right there . Then unexpectedly got to see FBHT just over a week later...one reason I still obsess over that is it came right after my GD dreams already came true. Unbelievable magical time. Sharon 💜 I never got to meet her in person, but I knew her (and the rest of the Idiot Club UK crew) online. It is lovely how she kept so many of the Green Day community (I mean at large, not just GDC) together. I was so touched when Mike shared a message when she passed, and knew that wherever she was, that must have made her smile. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solongfromthestars Posted October 25 Author Share Posted October 25 On this day 5 years ago (25 October 2019), Green Day were on Kevin & Bean's Last Breakfast at the KROQ Sound Space in LA. They were interviewed and played 7 songs. More photos: Spoiler And some gifs: Spoiler 29 years ago (25 October 1995), Green Day played the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. "I'm sure I will get a lot of crap for this but I am going to be totally honest. This was and is still the shittiest rock concert I have ever gone to. The tickets were expensive for the time ($50-ish) and they only played, and not very well, for 45 minutes. The opening act (The Riverdales) were far more entertaining. Also, the venue was like 60% sold which makes for a crappy experience. Most overrated band of the 90's." — Tojo1978 That quote is interesting because someone said about one of the earlier shows on that tour (less than two weeks before, I think) that The Riverdales were underwhelming but Green Day were worth it. "Don't throw your sneakers at the band. Seems like common sense. But there's no persuading the crowd during a Green Day show at Maple Leaf Gardens, in Toronto. Even a string of obscenities from singer Billie Joe Armstrong can't stop the footwear from flying. Then all of a sudden, Armstrong stops thrashing his guitar - smack in the middle of a searing rendition of 2,000 Light Years Away - to beckon one barefoot fan onstage to collect his rightful property. No hard feelings, Green Day's leader appears to tell him. The stage-struck kid scrambles up, takes a nervous bow and bends over to lace his shoes. He ought to be watching his back, though: Armstrong is behind him, wearing a boar's head Halloween mask and brandishing a butcher's knife. The crowd roars, and the kid, unharmed, leaps back into the snarling mosh pit. Minutes later, Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt bounds toward his microphone to add harmonies to a rousing cover of Operation Ivy's Knowledge, only to get smacked in the forehead by a wayward high-top basketball shoe. This time, Armstrong doesn't even notice. He's too busy ripping chords from his blue Stratocaster and contorting his face through a rogues' gallery of grimaces, gauging each one for maximum audience response. Then he turns his back to the arena and drops his pants. That's entertainment, Green Day style. Pretty soon panic-stricken security personnel are chasing down kids who have jumped from their assigned seats to the general-admission floor, dragging them out the exits. Has the evening finally gotten totally out of control? We'll never know. 'Thanks a lot, because we don't take this shit for granted!' Armstrong shouts, and the band walks off. In the dressing room, Armstrong heads straight for a sofa in the corner and clams up. Bored? Perhaps. Exhausted? Most likely." — Rolling Stone There are a LOT of stories of shoes being thrown at Green Day from that tour. 33 years ago (25 October 1991), Green Day played their first European show at the Ostbunker in Osnabrück, Germany. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted October 26 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 26 On this day last year (26 October 2023), Green Day played 14 songs on Amazon Music Live. More photos: Spoiler 8 years ago (26 October 2016), Green Day played The Pageant in St. Louis, MO on the Revolution Radio club tour. More photos: Spoiler 14 years ago (26 October 2010), Green Day played in Lima, Peru on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. It was their first show in Peru. More photos: Spoiler 15 years ago (26 October 2009), Green Day played in Sheffield, England on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. 20 years ago (26 October 2004), Green Day played the Giant Center in Hershey, PA on the American Idiot Tour. 29 years ago (26 October 1995), Green Day played the Community Arena in Sudbury, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. "Glorious days, oh glorious days! Who else camped out overnight for that 45-minute Green Day concert?" — Adam David Boyle "I recall camping out for Green Day tickets. What a gongshow that was. It was basically just an excuse to party. There was that Indian who was stealing stuff or breaking stuff, and someone smashed him on the head with a beer bottle, he got messed up! Erin Van Horn being attacked by a hooker. Ban Gammon and I hanging with Herb at that freaky grotto. Someone smashed an acoustic guitar when the sun was coming up, it could have been Nick Kohut. Funny thing was that there were so many tickets that there was really no need to camp out for them. It's odd that I remeber all that stuff better than I remember last week..." — Scott Ballard 33 years ago (26 October 1991), Green Day played in Bielefeld, Germany. 34 years ago (26 October 1990), Green Day played at 924 Gilman Street. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted October 27 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 27 (edited) On this day 13 years ago (27 October 2011), Green Day played Webster Hall in NYC. More photos: Spoiler 15 years ago (27 October 2009), Green Day played the LG Arena in Birmingham, England on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. The official live video of Murder City is from this show. This was my first Green Day show. There are parts I still remember well, like going crazy when they started At the Library, but my clearest memory is the pure happiness and excitement I felt before, throughout and after the show. My recap is long, but 14 year-old me would be angry if I didn't share the whole thing, so here it is: "As the drunk bunny stumbled around to YMCA, it was sinking in that all the live videos I’d watched of a show that seemed so far out of my reach… I was about to experience that for myself. The bunny was gone. The Ramones’ 'Do You Remember Rock ‘n' Roll Radio?' played. Then the crackling static that introduced Song of the Century echoed through the arena. The crowd of 16,000 sang along in unison. My heart was pounding with the first chords of 21st Century Breakdown. Tré Cool ran onstage. The Big Three. Mike Dirnt. Then, finally, Billie Joe Armstrong. With flicks of his wrists he drew roars from the crowd. My voice was another scream in the tumultous applause. The crowd clapped along with Tré’s hits of the bass drum. With exploding pyros the show began. I was screaming my favourite lyrics, the words that gave me hope, back at my favourite band. Billie Joe commanded us all to stand up. We already were, clapping as if our lives depended on it. Green Day’s ferocious energy reached from the front row to the highest tiers. In my seat that looked down on them as specks, I felt as much like a part of the show, the mass of bodies obeying Billie’s every command, as I ever have on the floor since. It was a sense of belonging. A sense of acceptance. I felt understood. I knew that I, like the other 15,999 people in that room, mattered. The first fan was pulled onstage in Know Your Enemy. He staged dived to the pyros. Their sound was all enveloping, like a pounding warmth that attacked every cell. Everyone, on the floor, in the seats, was dancing. We repeated Billie’s ‘whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh!’ to East Jesus Nowhere religiously. In the bridge he announced he was going to ‘save’ someone from the crowd. He stubbornly made his way up into the seats, heading for a young girl called Catherine. There was a long exchange before he returned. Unsuccessful in recruiting Catherine, he called up his own 11 year-old son, Jakob, who obediently waved his arms before allowing himself to be ‘saved.’ The crowd chanted his name while Billie sang ‘the sirens of decay will infiltrate Jakob!’ and he fell to the floor. Once the song ended, he tried to make a quick escape. Billie announced ‘hey, where are you going, Jakob, you little shit? Come here for a second!’ and promptly planted a kiss on his forehead. ‘Alright, see you later. That’s Jakob – Danger – Armstrong! Danger is his middle name.’ Then Billie yelled ‘do you wanna start a fucking war?’ and the show resumed with Holiday. Watching Bullet in a Bible, it was hard to imagine how chanting ‘hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!’ back at Billie in the bridge really felt. It was like a reeling high. As we screamed along to ‘the static aaaaa-aaaaaa-age!’ I just couldn’t believe I was there. The sweltering heat and my hoarse voice were reminders it was real. Back then, we weren’t looking at setlists. My mum had no idea they were about to play one of her all-time favourite songs – Give Me Novacaine. I can still see the disbelief on her face. After all those years, working so hard she could barely wake up, she was free. Billie even announced that he was now one of us: 'We’re still alive, Birmingham! It’s been a long fucking time, goddamn I’m so fucking happy to be back in England, you have no idea. Goddammit I’m fucking moving here, fuck this shit, I’m fucking moving. Packing my bags, I’m gonna get on a big old fucking aeroplane, I’m gonna take all my shit across the pond, and I am officially fucking English as of now! I’m bringing it back home!’ Another fan came up for Are We The Waiting. With a disco ball reflecting skulls around the room, it was like being in the starry nights, city lights coming down over me. It was anthemic. That dirty town might as well have been burning down in my dreams, because nothing mattered but singing at the top of our lungs. The world outside was irrelevant. Billie darted around the stage to St. Jimmy. It was more ferocious, more passionate than I could have imagined watching videos. The crowd was deafening through Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Then they burst into Murder City, a performance that was recorded for GreenDay.com. I didn’t expect that and I was thrilled. I was even more thrilled when, two songs later, they played At the Library. People were confused, wondering if this was a new song. We were the only ones in our block screaming every word. Now I wasn’t just seeing Green Day. They even went and played At the Library and Murder City. When I Come Around’s old-school charm wasn’t lost in the dazzling show. Dancing to Brain Stew and Jaded, I didn’t feel I’d missed a thing by hearing them live 14 years after their release. Green Day were every bit the band they were in the 90s, except even more energetic. Everyone around us, young or old, was jumping. As Knowledge came to a close, Billie announced that a band of fans would finish the song. Basket Case and She followed. The hits were every bit as invigorating as the rarities. The extended King for a Day, with all its goofiness, floor-humping and cover snippets, was a fun and amusing break in the intense set. Could anything top At the Library? Probably not. Or so I thought, until King for a Day’s silliness faded to 21 Guns. I already loved this song. The music video was my all-time favourite. But I could never have imagined its rawness live. I was moved beyond words as I watched the fire rain down to ‘as a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone!’ and Billie’s added ‘whoa-ohs’ that seemed to come from the depths of his heart. Following that was emotional piano absent on the studio version. The band were silhouetted against the music video playing on the screen behind them. I might have been crying. I don’t remember. Billie described 21 Guns as not being written for two people, but 20,000. He was absolutely right. Then the show was uplifted again with Minority. Billie thanks every crowd countless times after the solo, but each word remained sincere. Blue and white confetti burst from the stage, sprinkling the crowd as the song closed. Finally, with American Idiot and Jesus of Suburbia, the show was coming to an end. The crowd, drenched in sweat from the pit to the seats as if at the end of a journey with the band, watched the inimate Last Night on Earth, still and in awe. Billie began with an acoustic guitar. We didn’t yet know that with lights flooding the darkened stage, the full band would return. An emotional Wake Me Up When September Ends followed. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) ended the set. The band bowed and waved. It was over. We charged down the steps to scoop up confetti from the floor, filling two tissue packets before security chased us off. Green Day played hundreds of shows every tour. Yet this, my first show that to anyone else was just another city on a list of tour dates, was still so special. That – how every show is a precious memory to be treasured forever – is why I keep going to see Green Day." I didn't take many photos and they're all awful because I was so high up, but you can vaguely tell what's going on in this one. More (decent) photos: Spoiler By the way, there was none of this manufactured drama about Billie saying he was going to move to England back then. People just understood that he was saying it to rile up the crowd. Edit: How could I forget Tre's tweet? 18 years ago, the music video for The Saints Are Coming was released. It includes some footage of both bands recording the song and performing it live. 29 years ago (27 October 1995), Green Day played the Forum in Montreal, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. "I was a moderately early support of Green Day and remember when I first heard Dookie (which I only discovered afterwards, wasn't their first album). I was the Music Director at CFLI, the Loyola Campus college radio station at Concordia University so I got a copy of an early release of the album. As a music director I had to listen to and evaluate all the music that came into the station and decide if it was something that we should shelve or put on heavy, medium or light rotation. About 10 seconds into Burnout I decided this was a heavy rotation album. Green Day clearly had found that alt-radio pop-punk balance that made Dookie exciting and energetic but also tuneful. When Green Day rolled into Montreal to support their next release, Insomniac, I thought it would be a lot of fun to see them live, even if it was at a major venue. I don’t remember who I went to the show with or much about it except that I enjoyed it and thought they were a pretty solid live band. Thanks to setlist.fm I was able to dig up the songs played at the show. Funny enough, years later, I still quite like Green Day. While they are inconsistent album to album, American Idiot is a classic that deserves all the praise that it received. My only criticism of Green Day is something that isn't their fault really, but I hate most of the pop-punk acts that they spawned. Thanks for a great show!" — Warren Wilansky 33 years ago (27 October 1991), Green Day played Störtebeker in Hamburg, Germany. They opened for So Much Hate. Edited October 28 by solongfromthestars Added Tre's tweet 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rumpelstiltskin2000 Posted October 27 Popular Post Share Posted October 27 The Birmingham show was my first Green Day show too. At the time I’d been made redundant and was doing temporary work. Every time I took on a new job I had to say “I need this week off in October, it’s very important, I have to take this week off.” One guy said to me “why do you need to see them four times?!” But I’m so glad I did. It was the first time I’d ever tried to buy tickets online (you used to queue up to get them at the box office!) and I’d got three other people at work trying too. One of them had worked for Gigs and Tours so she was the “ticket buying expert.” She said a Nottingham show was pencilled in but they went for Sheffield instead because there are no 5 star hotels in Nottingham. Anyway reading this almost brought me to tears! That was a special time. It was like we were in this magical bubble and the stage was in a magical mist. We were actually there watching Green Day. And Give Me Novacaine… oh my God. I was drenched in sweat and I rubbed my feet raw dancing! I actually ripped my toenails off, my toes were bleeding and I had a huge blister on the back of my foot. Billie did that thing he used to do when he went “one thousand! Two thousand! Three thousand! Four thousand! Five thousand! Six thousand!” up to 16,000 (the capacity of the venue). I remember Tre standing up at the drums in Minority while Billie did the introductions. Every show on that tour just made you want to go back. You’d see them and you were just thirsty for some more. You just wanted to see it again and again and again because it was just so good. The band were just perfectly tight and in sync like they were tied together by string. It was wild. 4 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solongfromthestars Posted October 28 Author Share Posted October 28 On this day 2 years ago (28 October 2022), The Coverups played the Moroccan Lounge in LA. More photos: Spoiler 15 years ago (28 October 2009), Green Day played a second night at the LG Arena in Birmingham, England on the 21st Century Breakdown Tour. 20 years ago (28 October 2004), Green Day played the Centrum Centre in Worcester, MA on the American Idiot Tour. More photos: Spoiler 26 years ago (28 October 1998), Green Day played the Pabellón Oeste del Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City on the Nimrod Tour. 29 years ago (28 October 1995), Green Day played the Colisée de Québec in Quebec, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. Also added Tre's tweet about the first Birmingham show to yesterday's post 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Cris. Posted October 28 Popular Post Share Posted October 28 20 hours ago, Rumpelstiltskin2000 said: One guy said to me “why do you need to see them four times?!” Normies and this question I had a meeting with one of coworkers on Friday shortly after I managed to buy the tickets for Amsterdam and I was so excited I told them, and they were like "is it for another Green Day show?" I didn't have the courage after that to tell them I actually had tickets for 3 shows, not just the one 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jengd Posted October 28 Share Posted October 28 It’s ok, we get it. Thank god for like minded people! 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rumpelstiltskin2000 Posted October 28 Share Posted October 28 On the second night in Birmingham Green Day mixed up the setlist. They would play Jesus of Suburbia one night and American Eulogy the next night. American Eulogy was incredible and I really wasn’t expecting that. It’s just amazing live. Then when Billie came out with his acoustic guitar he sang Macy’s Day Parade and I wasn’t expecting that either! The guy next to me was complaining that they didn’t play his favourite song (Jesus of Suburbia) and I was like “but THEY PLAYED AMERICAN EULOGY!” We were staying quite close to the venue and could see all the buses and trucks outside. When we got up the next morning it was sad to see they'd all gone somehow. They did individual t-shirts for each night which I just thought was so cool and they’re treasured possessions now. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post solongfromthestars Posted October 29 Author Popular Post Share Posted October 29 On this day 2 years ago (29 October 2022), Green Day played a benefit concert in LA and met with some fans. More photos: Spoiler 14 years ago (29 October 2010), the 21st Century Breakdown Tour ended at the Estadio Ricardo Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica. It was Green Day's longest show and the first and only time they've played in Costa Rica so far. So… going to Costa Rica just to see a band is still the craziest thing I’ve ever done, especially because it meant missing a maths exam and having to do a harder one, which my teachers insisted I'd fail. I don't regret it one bit though. It was the best show I've ever been to. Not because of the setlist or how long it went on, but because it was just magical. And I came back and passed the harder maths exam with a good grade anyway. I also wrote about the show in my English GCSE. I can still feel that magical atmosphere now. I can even still see the stage and the lights and hear Paper Lanterns in my memory. I can still feel my voice shaking as I sang along to Whatsername. Anyway, here's what little me wrote: “We met up with others from England, Honduras and the US who we knew from the Green Day Community forum. Sitting on bird shit in Tibás, Costa Rica, probably should have been the moment we knew Green Day had ruined us, but honestly? I was having a great time and I wouldn’t have traded for the world. In the pit, we made two more new friends who we're still in touch with [Note from 2024 me: We're still friends with these lovely people!]. The local opener, Bufonic, were great. Then, Song of the Century echoed into the night for the last time. We were in Costa Rica, about to see Green Day. I will never, ever, forget being diagonal, off my feet, as I looked up at Billie to see him put his mic aside to check he wasn’t seeing things, then give me the most incredible look of ‘what the fuck are you doing here?’ I will ever receive. In East Jesus Nowhere, Billie ‘saved’ a man on crutches. Watching him wave the Costa Rican flag was like a bizarre, but wonderful, dream. After Holiday, Billie headed to the internal mic. I heard piano. They were playing ¡Viva la Gloria! I was hearing my favourite song, the words that gave me hope when I thought there was none, in Costa Rica. I couldn’t believe it. There are no words to describe the unconditional happiness I felt then. ‘Don’t let the bonfires go out, Costa Rica!’ In Give Me Novacaine, Billie sang ‘Costa Rica’s the best country in the world!’ and ‘at home in Costa Rica!’ That was certainly how I felt. As the show went on, we exchanged funny faces and he pointed at me as we screamed lyrics at each other. Even Tré, who I was sure had no idea I existed (and I’m sure he no longer does), nodded and smiled as he threw out drumsticks. I’d never felt so connected to my favourite band. In Are We the Waiting, local fan Isabel who I knew from Green Day Community got onstage. Billie waltzed with her. The dreamlike fuzz only intensified as One for the Razorbacks was followed by Brat, One of My Lies and Only of You. Then Tré switched places with Billie for Dominated Love Slave. They swapped back for Disappearing Boy. I felt like we were all in a bubble, on a separate plane to the rest of the world, with Green Day. Screaming until my voice would no longer come out to I Was There, I knew I would look back, thinking I was there, for the rest of my life. Road to Acceptance was next. I’d lost my mum, but I knew somewhere in that crowd, she was losing her voice to Waiting. After Christie Road, Billie announced ‘this next song was one of the earliest songs we’ve ever written and I gotta fucking tell you, it’s my fucking favourite fucking song to play right now! So right now, I want everybody here to lose your fucking mind and go crazy and dance, are you ready?!’ and pyros exploded to Paper Lanterns. Billie pointed as he yelled ‘to this day I’m asking why I still think about you!‘ In 2000 Light Years Away, after thrilled fans danced onstage, Billie commanded us to wave as we echoed ‘CO-STA RI-CA!’ to the bassline. Some fans posed for a photo with my flag before Hitchin’ a Ride. I waved it when Billie asked for a drummer in Knowledge. He considered it for a moment before shaking his head, smirking, then went to find his son Joey. ‘This is the last show… you wanna keep going?’ The crowd roared approval. Extraordinary Girl provided a poignant prequel to 21 Guns. I had never bellowed anything as loud as I screamed ‘one, 21 guns!‘ or ‘like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone!’ in my life. I was crying, my whole body wracked with sobs that had waited years to come out. Because I had so much to fight for. In Minority, I wanted so desperately to scream ‘no, thank YOU!’ back at the band who not only blessed us with such a set but treated me with such kindness; yet I felt at the same time I didn’t need to. Rain fell as Whatsername began the encore. It was one of the first Green Day songs I ever heard. Listening to it on radio.blog.club, at home with my Canada 3000 headphones from the charity shop, I never imagined I’d hear it live… let alone 5,375 miles from that home, smiling through tears in Costa Rica. My voice was trembling as I sang with my arms raised high. As Good Riddance closed the tour, I sang ‘I hope you had the time of your life!’ with what little remained of my voice. They played for four hours. I had the time of my life. More than I could ever have imagined. I found my mum and our new friends after the show. They loved it. Everyone was buzzing on a Green Day high. We were all still smiling as we left." I'd also like to share Isabel's story from the We Are Revolution Radio book of fan stories that I made in 2017. What a time. More photos: Spoiler 15 years ago (29 October 2009), Green Day played East Jesus Nowhere on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross in London, England. They also played the "Monster or Celebrity" game. I remember asking my grandpa to record this because I was going to be in Manchester. I guess he forgot or thought it didn’t really matter because it was just another one of my short-lived phases. He was a saint otherwise so I’ll forgive him. Now I’m going to show my age and say it’s wild that I can just watch it on the internet all these years later. [Insert picture of old man leaning on walking stick] More photos: Spoiler 20 years ago (29 October 2004), Green Day played the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA on the American Idiot Tour. 29 years ago (29 October 1995), Green Day played the Civic Centre in Ottawa, Canada on the Insomniac Tour. "When the day of the show arrived, five of us arrived early to sit in the parking lot passing around Gatorade bottles filled with jungle juice as we discussed the songs we hoped to hear that evening. Upon entering the building, it soon became clear that we were out of our element, but we threw caution to the wind and stormed the floor through a sea of the city’s rowdiest young hooligans. In his review of the concert, Ottawa Citizen music writer Norman Provencher described the majority of attendees quite accurately as 'tiny little mallrats in tour t-shirts that fit like granny dresses,' ... When Green Day finally hit the stage, we were somewhat shocked to realize that this was not the tame version of the band that we were used to watching on Much Music. The stage banter between Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tre Cool was full of vulgar obscenities ... At one point, the band invited a young audience member on stage, ordering him to chug a beer and then stage dive back into the crowd, ignoring the panicked pleas from the helpless security personnel. Later in the show, Billie Joe became irritated with a heckler in the front row who had been flipping him off. Armstrong proceeded to drop trou and engage in what Provencher’s review would describe as 'weenie-waggling' as he laced into the individual with some 'serious verbal abuse.' ... The band blazed through seventeen of their best tunes in a concert that was as thrilling as it was shocking." — Ty Hall 32 years ago (29 October 1992), Green Day played with Tilt and Rancid at Brave New World in San Francisco, CA. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Rumpelstiltskin2000 Posted October 29 Popular Post Share Posted October 29 After the summer tour in 2010 we were just desperate to see another show. Our countdown to the show So to go to Costa Rica we sold everything we could find: my old business suits, handbags, old jewellery, literally anything we could find that might have sold. Most of it went for nothing but it all added up. There were so many parcels that they almost wouldn’t fit into the car. If there’d been one more it wouldn’t have fit. It took the lady at the Post Office an hour to get them all ready to post. The receipt was so long it was comical. Some of the parcels Then we went and booked the flights and bought anything else we needed for the trip. People on GDC in Costa Rica had told us how to get the tickets and that there were still some left. You had to buy them at the Masxmenos supermarket so on the morning of the show we went and got them there on the way to the stadium as soon as the supermarket opened. We got to the stadium about 9. Us waiting in line We were interviewed on TV while in the queue but sadly we never got to see it. It was all kind of surreal. Me with the flag and a Costa Rica fan Left to right J'net, Green Day Tone, Decca, Morgan, Maria, a GDCer from Honduras and Alejandro from Costa Rica A show wristband bought from a street vendor Show t-shirt When Green Day came on stage, that was the closest I’d ever been (about third row from the catwalk) and I remember Tre running out on the catwalk in his jacket with his sticks in his hands. I could hear all these piercing screams and they weren’t screaming at Green Day - they were screaming in fear! Everyone’s feet were off the floor and we all couldn’t breathe. The next thing I knew, I opened my eyes and saw the guy on crutches on stage in East Jesus Nowhere. I was unconscious but stood up being carried by the crowd. I opened my eyes again and saw the flashing light in Holiday. Then I came to after Holiday and Tre was filming the crowd, and the band went into Viva la Gloria. I had an umbrella that I was going mad waving. Two sets of drumsticks landed by me but I wouldn’t have dared to attempt to get them. Tre forgot to finish playing Only of You. He came out, threw the drumsticks, then forgot to end the song and Billie looked at him confused! I remember Waiting and everyone going “heeeeeeeey-oooooooh.” I remember looking at my watch at the end and seeing it had been 4 hours 15 minutes and thinking “Jesus wept.” Bruise on my side (doesn't seem to look as bad now!) 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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