Billie Joe during AI in Peru

[SOMERTEN]

Kudos to Andres for letting this thread continue, it's certainly been interesting reading!

I certainly don't think any less of Billie for what he said, sure it was a moment of foolishness but all the great things he has done for charity/influencing thousands of kids to listen to music (other than shite like Beyonce) should be taken into account. What he does next will be interesting. Back to Broadway maybe?

I can understand why the band get pissed off at all the cameras, but I have to be honest and say I have watched countless hours of unofficial utube footage etc. A solution guys would be to offer the fans more official footage then we wouldn't have to pirate it all the time! One professioanlly shot gig after 2 years isn't enough. I still can't get enough of watching the guys live. I feel most people don't realise how good they are. They appear a bit clueless when I mention Green Day!

[Neon Light]

I think it's pretty safe to say that Billie doesn't actually want Steve Jobs to die of cancer. I think he wanted to get people's attention, and to get people talking and thinking about the points he raises. And he has certainly achieved his goal.

I don't think he's being hypocritical by using Twitter and making a video game. Technology is here, whether we like it or not. You just can't avoid it. If he didn't do all those things, he might be accused of living in the past or something along those lines.

He just wants people to be aware that it's possible that they're not actually living life, and that there's a whole world out there waiting to be lived in. He wants people to realise this before it's too late, before they "die behind a screen".

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

First to mention that he might've said that also because, according to that article, he might've been slightly drunk or tipsy.

because the chances are more than fair that lots of people will say this

FIRSTETST!!!1!!!

Also, I find it funny how this thread entirely focuses on the Steve Jobs part, a little bit on Obama and the rest of his speech gets almost ignored, while that part was the most important, and I personally also like that part. Both for the message and for how he says it.

[Maura99]

I can understand why the band get pissed off at all the cameras, but I have to be honest and say I have watched countless hours of unofficial utube footage etc. A solution guys would be to offer the fans more official footage then we wouldn't have to pirate it all the time! One professioanlly shot gig after 2 years isn't enough. I still can't get enough of watching the guys live.

Right on! Such a great live band should have more live DVD's.

I'm also hoping their next one will differ from BIAB. I was never fond of Sam Bayer's style of directing. Too... MTV.

I prefer GD raw and uncut, just the way it's meant to be.

[justcause]

I feel like at this particular show, it was like 'technology' stepped in and stole his audience, and he was fighting with everything he had to get them back. He's not just angry, he's heartbroken.

[LMC]

I can understand why the band get pissed off at all the cameras, but I have to be honest and say I have watched countless hours of unofficial utube footage etc. A solution guys would be to offer the fans more official footage then we wouldn't have to pirate it all the time! One professioanlly shot gig after 2 years isn't enough. I still can't get enough of watching the guys live. I feel most people don't realise how good they are. They appear a bit clueless when I mention Green Day!

I absolutely agree. I wish I could sit down with Billie and explain the situation to him. We grew up with this technology and the ability to capture our most precious moments in a picture/video. If they could record the shows professionally for us and put them up for sale on the website the next day, the need for bringing your own camera would decrease significantly, and most people would be able to enjoy the shows in the best possible way. Would this work out in reality?

[Margo 39 smooth]

That whole rant was over the line. I can see the point he's making about technology taking over, cause it kinda is, and i can see him getting mad about that. But that part about steve jobbs really got me. The guys already got cancer and might die, and he's not a bad guy. He has no bad intentions with his company. I mean dont be a dick. And i really dont get that part about Obama. He was an Obama supporter and still should be because he's done good too. So try not to let you're emotions (and possibly alcohol) get the best of you in front of all these people that love and look up to you. I hope the media dosnt pay attention and twist it around or anything, cause this isnt normal Green Day.

[Rock n Roll Girlfriend]

Wanna say something, too.

The Steve Jobs thing was too much and in my opinion the Obama thing, too. He just shouldn't say something like that. Obama, okay, if that's his opinion, but to yell that Steve Jobs should die of cancer, although his own father died of cancer and although he knows how hard it is for the family and people close to the dead person to lose him... that's plain wrong. I think he got carried away too much.

Maybe he was disappointed of his fans. He expects that his fans like his music, because they agree with his opinions and his way of thinking. I do. But that doesn't mean they do.

I can understand him getting mad because of the crowd: I hate it when people just go to a concert to record it. A concert is to have a good time and not to stare at your mobile's screen and watch the concert afterwards. You can do that at home as well.

I left my camera at home when I was at the concert in Mainz, I had a great time, while others got in trouble with the security because filming with a professional camera wasn't allowed!

[musse]

First to mention that he might've said that also because, according to that article, he might've been slightly drunk or tipsy.

because the chances are more than fair that lots of people will say this

FIRSTETST!!!1!!!

Also, I find it funny how this thread entirely focuses on the Steve Jobs part, a little bit on Obama and the rest of his speech gets almost ignored, while that part was the most important, and I personally also like that part. Both for the message and for how he says it.

I thought about that, too. To me he did sound like he was drunk and if that's true I can understand why he went a bit overboard.

And yeah, everyone's pissed off because he wants Steve Jobs to die, no one cares about the "Obama can go to hell" part

So yes, he went too far with that but he had a point, especially with the Obama part. It's understandable he's frustrated because Obama promised so much and hasn't really done anything, and I'm sure Billie used to have a lot of faith in him. On stage, and probably drunk, I can well understand why he said that. And the technology rant, well, that's what he always says. That "do you wanna die behind a screen" thing actually made me think about my own life. Cause no, I don't want to die behind a fucking screen, and yes, I want to live.

[captain peroxide]

Ffs, "go to hell" is an expression. He's not saying "I would like it if, when Barack Obama dies, he burns in hell." All he's yelling out is "I don't give a shit about Obama right now." He's not up on stage playing power chords and thinking "Gosh, Obama really promised a lot and has failed to deliver on a lot of those promises. I should let these people know." It's just fucking frustration.

Some of you guys are like a fucking English lit class, you read meaning into the most simple, meaningless details.

[jacknovella]

That speech made me think about how much I do depend on technology to fill my day, and because of it I've been keeping myself away from it. I dont want to die behind a fucking screen.

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

I thought about that, too. To me he did sound like he was drunk and if that's true I can understand why he went a bit overboard.

And yeah, everyone's pissed off because he wants Steve Jobs to die, no one cares about the "Obama can go to hell" part

So yes, he went too far with that but he had a point, especially with the Obama part. It's understandable he's frustrated because Obama promised so much and hasn't really done anything, and I'm sure Billie used to have a lot of faith in him. On stage, and probably drunk, I can well understand why he said that. And the technology rant, well, that's what he always says. That "do you wanna die behind a screen" thing actually made me think about my own life. Cause no, I don't want to die behind a fucking screen, and yes, I want to live.

Hmm, I don't think he was drunk, mainly frustrated and angry, and a little alcohol got rid of the inhibitions he might have [might have] had. Although I do think that alcohol had little to do with it. It's very easy to say that you hope people die or that you hate them or other ~big things when you're angry and at the same time all hyped up by something (be it anger or adrenaline from playing a show).

I think the "Do you want to die behind a fucking screen" really was a good one. Got me thinking as well. It's so true and I certainly want to live, but I spend quite a big part of my life behind that fucking screen. Which isn't a good thing at all. Technology and the internet is great and it definitely did good things for me, but it's so easy to get (too) caught up in it, and live and die behind that screen. I want to get out of that as well. I think that part of his speech was so much more important (and so much more worth of discussion) than him saying in a fit of rage that he hopes Steve Jobs dies or that he doesn't think Obama is doing that good of a job as the world expected.

Ffs, "go to hell" is an expression. He's not saying "I would like it if, when Barack Obama dies, he burns in hell." All he's yelling out is "I don't give a shit about Obama right now." He's not up on stage playing power chords and thinking "Gosh, Obama really promised a lot and has failed to deliver on a lot of those promises. I should let these people know." It's just fucking frustration.

Some of you guys are like a fucking English lit class, you read meaning into the most simple, meaningless details.

I haven't seen anyone take the "go to hell" thing literally...

[clairex]

Whatever what he said was right or wrong, Billie has the right to say what ever he wants. I don't think it is right to say he shouldn't have said it because it is up to him what he says. People also have the right to feel angry and disagree at what he says.

[Margo 39 smooth]

ever since i saw that video i feel guilty everytime i use technology... its funny though cause when i'm online, half the time or even more its Green Day related... so i dont know what to do....

[Rock n Roll Girlfriend]

I thought about the rant today again and...the stupid crap he said about Steve Jobs and Obama has one positive side. People might recognize, that Billie Joe's human after all and we humans tend to make mistakes and get carried away by emotions. Some people forget, that the Green Day members are people like every single one of us, although they are not as stuck up, as other 'stars' or...let's say well-known persons.

[Francois]

The only problem that I have with the rant is the Steve Jobs thing. That's really a dick thing to say. But that's just my opinion. Other than that, the rest is alright. He's really pissed off.

It is kinda lame that after a show where he says stuff like "technology is ruining everything", he jumps onto twitter and sends a pic of him taken through a fat-cam.

[NothingButYourImagination]

I just heard this because of listening to the podcast. I'm not sure what to say. I mean, I think that we all get pissed about stuff and angry. We'll say things without thinking and out of anger and frustration. Yeah I think some of this is over the line, but I think it's that spur of the moment kind of thing where you just say what comes to your mind. It's not like this is the first time Billie's said something that's shocking or gone on a rant. If anyone remembers the older days, there's some crazy shit said and done then that's more so then what was said here. This could have just been an explosion of what's been bottled up emotions and thoughts and it just comes out like this.

[clairex]

I don't think the Internet is all bad. It gives people a lot of freedom to discover music etc that they wouldn't have access too otherwise. When I was a teenager I had to listen to what the radio said I should be listening too. I hate radio and music TV as it is dictating what is popular music and most people know no different, I also hate magazines because they tell people what weight they should be, what they should be wearing. People think they have a choice in this stuff but the choice is so limited.

I think the use of cell phones & social networking can be quite sad as a lot of people, live their lives through it. When they are out doing stuff they are thinking "I must put this in my status and get pictures for facebook"rather than just living it. I know people prefer to talk through FB even when I have just seen them 10minutes ago. When I was at uni, the first thing people did after a lecture was pick up their phone and start texting before they have even left the room. My sister drives me crazy with her phone as it is always in her hand.

I saw Green Day in 2002 and have no pictures and have seen no video clips however I have my memories off it, I took a few pictures on my phone at the show this year to show my daughter but only about 5 as it does stop enjoyment of the show.

[Metanoia]

I thought about the rant today again and...the stupid crap he said about Steve Jobs and Obama has one positive side. People might recognize, that Billie Joe's human after all and we humans tend to make mistakes and get carried away by emotions. Some people forget, that the Green Day members are people like every single one of us, although they are not as stuck up, as other 'stars' or...let's say well-known persons.

Thats a good point. It really shows us that Billie also makes mistakes in what he says ect. Out of anger I think you often say things you dont mean like that....and I think thats the case with what he said....I have to admit I overreacted a bit....Imma blame it on the adrenaline

[Foxboro Holiday]

I think..since nobody really knows the reason for his outburst, we shouldn't really judge you know? just.... let it be.

[AndrewW91]

The only problem that I have with the rant is the Steve Jobs thing. That's really a dick thing to say. But that's just my opinion. Other than that, the rest is alright. He's really pissed off.

It is kinda lame that after a show where he says stuff like "technology is ruining everything", he jumps onto twitter and sends a pic of him taken through a fat-cam.

He hasn't posted anything on twitter since the rant.

[Francois]

He hasn't posted anything on twitter since the rant.

Yeah I know, but I mean he has used it quite a bit.

"Tonight! Lima Peru! Let's celebrate!! Xoxo El Presidente billie joe" - He tweeted before that show.

[Alllllli.]

I think it's pretty safe to say that Billie doesn't actually want Steve Jobs to die of cancer. I think he wanted to get people's attention, and to get people talking and thinking about the points he raises. And he has certainly achieved his goal.

I don't think he's being hypocritical by using Twitter and making a video game. Technology is here, whether we like it or not. You just can't avoid it. If he didn't do all those things, he might be accused of living in the past or something along those lines.

He just wants people to be aware that it's possible that they're not actually living life, and that there's a whole world out there waiting to be lived in. He wants people to realise this before it's too late, before they "die behind a screen".

I agree.

I'm also not a huge fan of cameras at shows... for a song or two, maybe, for some memories. Or if you're a bit further back, that's understandable. But if you're close or on the barrier... don't waste it by watching the whole show through a lens!

But I did just think - when Billie pulls people up for AWTW, doesn't he usually take a photo of them with their camera that they usually bring up? I didn't have mine when I went up, it was buried in my bag, but he did look for it - like, 'camera?'

So I guess he does expect people to have cameras on them, and probably usually isn't that bothered by it. I dunno. He obviously had a reason for saying what he said, and I'm not that bothered by it. I said the other day - people probably rant and say more offensive things privately.

[V@L3]

wow...billie joe's gone crazy!!!!! well, i think he said: i cant wait for stevie jobs to die of fucking cancer...srsly, not cool! and billie joe is turning into those crazy rockstars on crack!!! we all know ur not like that billie , never become like that!

[JeanJeanie]

I don't have anything interesting or insightful to add, just that I was listening to "Search and Destroy" today and there's a line that goes "Look out baby cos I'm using technology. Ain't got no time to make no apologies." and I thought of this thread. I dedicate that lyric from our generation to Mr. Armstrong with respect.