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COMETBUS #54 Green Day In China?!


GDM

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I finally got around to reading this a couple of weeks ago. It was my first exposure to Aaron's writing. Thoroughly enjoyed it, a totally unique insight into the Green Day world, as well as Aaron's journey itself.

I got the impression that Aaron was often getting close to understanding and accepting some of the things that he had preconceptions or rigid beliefs about. However, it seemed to me that this didn't last and he would kind of 'reset' back to his original judgements before too long.

One of the most interesting parts that i didn't know anything about, was the East Jesus Nowhere 'hand on head' controversy in Thailand and Billie Joe's reaction when Aaron brought it up.

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I feel the same way about the issue itself, the physical object. I love the DIY-ness of it, and it kind of proves what's written inside it. Aaron seems to have a great deal of respect and love for the DIY punk aesthetic, and it's reflected in the writing he puts out. We as an audience can appreciate his championing of that lifestyle because #54 feels so much more personal and special than some issue of Kerrang or Rolling Stone that was run off an industrial printing press hundreds of thousands of times.

And the most important thing of all - it's uncompromised.

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And the most important thing of all - it's uncompromised.

Exactly :) Straight from the source, no editing by some third party. It makes it really enjoyable. And even if I don't agree with everything he says, I can trust it and appreciate it more just knowing that it's honest.

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I don't think I'd be telling him anything he doesn't already know - he doesn't spare himself in anything I read in #54. Particularly vivid is that part where he sees himself scavenging from the backstage banquet while the show is blasting joyously outside, and throughout, there's this sense of impoverishment, hunger. It's like he's cold to the bone and he can see the sunshine, but he won't let himself feel it, because he doesn't trust it. It's like he doesn't know if he's a saint or a fool - and truth is, when I'd read #54 and closed the cover and was just holding it in my hands, I felt moved by the object itself. The simplicity of it, the care with which the whole thing was put together, his name on the inside cover - I was just so conscious that here is something special, here's something that's made of a man's soul. This, in its own way, is a holy book.

I've admired Aaron beyond words for quite some time, and you nicely summed up my feelings. Yes, he is very judgmental about things, but he sticks to his beliefs. While anyone can talk the talk, Aaron lives by his morals. He recognizes his weaknesses, yet tries to combat them at the same time. #54 is definitely a magical piece of writing, though I would say the same about any previous issues of Cometbus. When I held the little zine in my hand after reading it, I had an overwhelming feeling of, "I completely get this".

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Well...I did not get offended once. Through reading this I came to really like Aaron. I think he`s someone I would have loved to be friends with...I believe we would have argued a lot just for the sake of it. Really good read. Him calling Billie thin skinned didn't surprise me at all...he seems like the kind of person who takes things to heart and over analyzes the things people say to the point of driving your self insane. I guess it takes on to know one, heh.

It reminded me of the twitter thing, how the person calling him a "piece of shit" really seemed to stick with him and stay in his mind. He had to get it off his chest to people he knew would be on his side and would tell him "no, well all love you!"

He's just one big ball of sensitive and seems to thrive and respond well to words and actions of affirmation. And I mean that in a way where he needs them, he seems to need that reassurance. Just an observation...one I could be completely alone in.

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As I said before, I very much enjoyed reading this, always having in mind the (good) advice to take Aaron's writing with a grain of salt. That I did and it is what keeps me from judging people/situations based on Aaron's views. For example, I won't condemn Tré because of the octopus incident. I'm not saying that Aaron is lying about it, God forbid; I'd just like to hear Tré's -or other people's- take on it before I pass judgment on anybody. Same goes with Tré's (and the Prima Donna guys') "involvement" with some females; that is entirely his/their business and Aaron being so uptight about it, doesn't change my own opinion about this kind of behaviour in the slightest. He also assumed that Billie was just as upset as himself about the aforementioned "backstage antics", well I'd like to hear Billie's take on this one, too.

The one thing that ultimately redeems Aaron is that he is conscious of his personal flaws. He knows that he is judgemental, self-righteous and moralistic and at several points he openly admits this and tries to deal with it. It's the first time ever I read some of Aaron's writing, and the least I can say is that he does seem to be a very interesting guy that I would sure like to have a beer and a conversation with.

On a lighter note, I really loved his description about touring in the past with the band, what he has to say about John Kiffmeyer and one of my favourite passages: travelling with the guys in the van and listening to them talking about sex. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that van!

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Yeah it may be because of how talked about it was, but the octopus thing didn't really bother me. Maybe if I would have been there to see it I might feel differently...but I'm kind of whatever on the subject. =/

Tre is just very attention seeking person. We all have our faults and things that people don't always like about us. But I'm sure he can also help make things feel less serious and less tense...even when he seems to be the person causing tension a lot of the time :lol:

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As I said before, I very much enjoyed reading this, always having in mind the (good) advice to take Aaron's writing with a grain of salt. That I did and it is what keeps me from judging people/situations based on Aaron's views. For example, I won't condemn Tré because of the octopus incident. I'm not saying that Aaron is lying about it, God forbid; I'd just like to hear Tré's -or other people's- take on it before I pass judgment on anybody. Same goes with Tré's (and the Prima Donna guys') "involvement" with some females; that is entirely his/their business and Aaron being so uptight about it, doesn't change my own opinion about this kind of behaviour in the slightest. He also assumed that Billie was just as upset as himself about the aforementioned "backstage antics", well I'd like to hear Billie's take on this one, too.

The one thing that ultimately redeems Aaron is that he is conscious of his personal flaws. He knows that he is judgemental, self-righteous and moralistic and at several points he openly admits this and tries to deal with it. It's the first time ever I read some of Aaron's writing, and the least I can say is that he does seem to be a very interesting guy that I would sure like to have a beer and a conversation with.

On a lighter note, I really loved his description about touring in the past with the band, what he has to say about John Kiffmeyer and one of my favourite passages: travelling with the guys in the van and listening to them talking about sex. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in that van!

I think we can make judgements about people/situations based on the facts Aaron told us, I mean for example he told us the plain facts of what happened with the octopus so we can have an opinion about it ourselves. But I totally agree about not judging it based on Aaron's views. Being familiar with his writing style I knew not be influenced in my opinion by his take on things other than the actual facts he presented. I believe what he said about Tre and Prima Donna's involvement with women but I don't share his view on it at all!

He writes honestly about what he sees so I think we can take the things he reports as true while always being aware that he makes no secret that he's judgemental about everything (including himself), so any opinions/conclusions about those things are fully his own.

Oh I'd love to be a fly on the wall in that van too :lol:. His descripion of that was so sweet. Loved his description of them travelling now too, sitting down next to each other on the plane. Again so sweet!

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@ Hermione

You summed that up so much better than I did. After posting I actually wondered if my ramblings made any sense at all :D

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@ Hermione

You summed that up so much better than I did. After posting I actually wondered if my ramblings made any sense at all :D

Lol of course it did! I have to say this

The one thing that ultimately redeems Aaron is that he is conscious of his personal flaws. He knows that he is judgemental, self-righteous and moralistic and at several points he openly admits this and tries to deal with it. It's the first time ever I read some of Aaron's writing, and the least I can say is that he does seem to be a very interesting guy that I would sure like to have a beer and a conversation with.

is so true and sums him up perfectly.

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And yes, the picture he draws of them sitting together or playing Scrubble all night, that's really sweet. I guess there are not a lot of bands out there who have that kind of connection after so many years (have you ever seen Metallica's "Some kind of monster"? Scared the shit out of me!).

One of the most endearing and funniest things must be his description of drunk Billie. Made me laugh so hard. Overall, you can just tell that Aaron is really very fond of Billie.

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I lent this to someone at work three weeks ago and haven't got it back. When do I start slicing through people to get at it ? I don't want to be impolite.

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One of my favourite images from this, is that of Billie Joe lying face down asleep across a whole aisle of seats on a plane :lol:

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you guys..just scan the freakin' pages already :cry::cry:

cometbus really seems to be a great read.

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One of my favourite images from this, is that of Billie Joe lying face down asleep across a whole aisle of seats on a plane :lol:

that was one of my favourites too

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I'm reading this for the second time now. I forgot so many little details, I'm getting all the wonderful feelings that I got reading it the first time :)

I lent this to someone at work three weeks ago and haven't got it back. When do I start slicing through people to get at it ? I don't want to be impolite.

Really? It definitely does not take 3 weeks to read. 3 days is a stretch! I'd start asking for it back by now.

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I'm reading this for the second time now. I forgot so many little details, I'm getting all the wonderful feelings that I got reading it the first time :)

Really? It definitely does not take 3 weeks to read. 3 days is a stretch! I'd start asking for it back by now.

She's got a calendar and poster on her desk so it's not like she's only a casual fan. She said she had to finish something else first, but it only took me an hour to read so she could easily just fit it in.

I've only read it 1 & 3/4 times, I WANT ANOTHER GO.

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you guys..just scan the freakin' pages already :cry::cry:

cometbus really seems to be a great read.

You can't scan the pages of an entire book and put it on line. I mean physically you can. But you just can't. If you get me.

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As much as I disagree with and often dislike Tré for his actions. His pure, steadfast and unapologetic nature is something to admire too.

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As much as I disagree with and often dislike Tré for his actions. His pure, steadfast and unapologetic nature is something to admire too.

I concur.

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As much as I disagree with and often dislike Tré for his actions. His pure, steadfast and unapologetic nature is something to admire too.

I admire it when it's not harming anyone/anything.

cruelty to animals is a massive, massive hate of mine. I really find it hard to forgive.

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Oh me too, I hate it. Not even a member of Green Day can get away with that in my opinion. I was saying that no matter what he does he is unapologetic about it. That's what I admire. Its just a shame that what he does is so fucked up.

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