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 IDIOT'S SAVANT
Thank You Billie Joe Armstrong & Co. For Speaking Out - And Letting Us Sing Along (To Your Nine-Minute Punk Rock Songs)
We couldn’t be more excited that, this past year, Green Day scored their first number one album with the widely praised and ambitious American Idiot. It quickly became one of our favorites of the year—especially when this country needed a punk-rock-boot kick to the arse. And we tracked down singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong on the tour for the album, catching up with him in Boston just a day after the Red Sox had won the World Series.
INSTINCT: Hey, Billie. Let’s hope that Boston winning, especially over New York, means that Bush is on his way out. Boston was where the Democratic National Convention was, and New York the RNC.
BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG: [Laughs] Yeah, we’re hoping it turns out that way.
On a scale of one to ten, ten being worst, what kind of shit do you think we’ll be in if Bush gets reelected?
Um, I’m gonna have to go with a solid 9.5. [Laughs] It would be a perfect 10 if we got hit by another terrorist attack—or if Bush croaked and Cheney became President. That’s a scary thought.
There are a few times on the new album where you use the word “fag” or “faggot.” Personally, I think you use those words correctly, where you say things like, “Maybe I’m the faggot America,” and “Kill all the fags that don’t agree.” You’re saying that you’d much rather be a “fag” than someone who is ignorant.
Well you know I’m not a redneck. I got called “faggot” in high school and really that word is thrown at people who are different or out of step with what’s popular. Gay people are not the only ones who get called that. But they’ve used it for empowerment, you know, and I do too.
You’re used to censorship of words or phrases from your songs. Did you get pissed that radio and MTV was bleeping out the word “faggot,” even though you were saying it with punk rock pride?
A little bit. I’m more surprised that they didn’t bleep out “redneck” from [the single, “American Idiot”]. It’s just using harsh language to prove a point and give power to those not in power. Except for a few rap songs, I think it might be the first mainstream rock song to ever use that word. Maybe that’s what scared them.
Okay, have you gotten any flack for it?
No. I think people are smart enough to figure out that I’m using it as an empowering word. Anything derogatory that has been used against me, the way I sort of looked at it was, “Yeah, you can call me whatever want.” It just makes me stronger.
Back in 1995, I saw Pansy Division, the biggest queer punk band at the time, open for you guys in your hometown of Oakland. The big difference being, of course, that instead of the Gilman, you were now playing for, like, 10,000 people after the success of Dookie. Since that was your first record for Warner Bros., did they freak out about you choice of an opening act, especially when they had songs like “Fuck Like Bunnies” and “Ring Of Joy”?
[Laughs] No, nobody said anything. For us, we wanted to bring someone out who truly defines what punk rock is and show some sort of diversity. It would have been to obvious to go out with a band like Pennywise. And considering where we came from, we felt like we owed it to the scene and to our original fans. We ended up getting letters from kids saying that Pansy Division opening for us changed their lives.
If you were a gay guy for a week, what would you do differently?
Hmm, I’d probably get laid a lot more, right?
That’s a stereotype and I’m totally offended! Actually, it’s true. But don’t tell anyone.
Yeah, I can only imagine that getting two guys together makes it a little easier. [Laughs]
Speaking of stereotypes, what would you consider your “gayest” traits?
Probably shopping. But in a punk rock, metrosexual kind of way. [Laughs]
What do you consider your least punk rock characteristic?
Shopping. [Laughs] Probably bathing.
What? Your hair looks like it hasn’t been washed in a month.
[Laughs] I know—let me think again. [Pauses] I own a house, and mortgages are not very punk rock. [Laughs] Owning anything is pretty much not punk rock. [Laughs again]
What questions from journalists have been annoying you the most lately?
Probably the ones where they ask me to explain the album, what American Idiot is about. It’s so long-winded, you know, and I’m, like, Just figure it out for yourself and write about it.
Did you guys know, when you were making the record, that it was going to be this successful and have this kind of impact?
We knew we were making something special to us. We’d never had a number-one record, so we didn’t really even entertain that idea. I don’t think that there has ever been a punk rock band that has gone to number one.
The term “punk rock” has obviously morphed. What does it mean to you when you use that phrase?
What I learned from punk rock is to be an individual and to do things your own way. And if you have rules, realize that rules are meant to be broken. You should still grow as a person and I think you do that best when you don’t limit yourself.
Speaking of individuality, how would you describe your dancing style?
[Laughs] My dancing style? Um, I guess Prince meets Pee-Wee Herman.
I can see that, although I thought that was more of your dress style. So you like to slither on the floor?
I do a little bit of slithering, yes, but with platform shoes on. [Laughs]
Okay, what would you really do different if you were a homo for a week?
[Pauses] I’d probably have more female friends. There’s sort of this boundary that comes across with platonic friendships with women.
So is it because of you or them that you don’t have more females as friends? What, do you just keep looking at their breasts?
[Laughs loudly] No, it gets scary out there. It’s more of a trust issue.
What do you think that straight guys need to do to strengthen their relationships with gay men? And you know you need to do this in order to have more relationships with women.
You know, with my gay friends, it was all about just hanging out and getting used to each other’s company. But the burden is definitely more on the straight guy: stop feeling so damn threatened.
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Instinct Online 
written by kay on August 04, 2008
funny stuff! Billie not take baths... lol
too funny!