billie joe armstrong
30 Signature Guitars for Modern Artists
For decades, having a signature guitar was reserved for classic rock legends — the Claptons, the Hendrixes, the Pages, the SRVs and EVHs. But that’s no longer the case. From pop-punk to heavy metal, alt-country to neo-soul, modern artists of all genres and backgrounds are getting signature guitars from companies big and small. Among the titans of the industry, that intentional shift came with a new generation being put into decision-making positions. “When I started, it was largely classic rock and very much a pantheonic Hall of Fame,” Fender’s Executive VP for Products Justin Norvell says of the early 2000s. “It was an end-of-an-iconic-career kind of thing. But it was my feeling that it should be something that people can use to reflect back upon themselves. A Telecaster can mean James Bu...
Christmas Stalkings: What to Buy for the Music Fan in Your Life
As the stockings get hung by the chiminea with care in hopes that Papa Noel soon will be there, you might be hard-pressed to find gifts that will bring true joy to the music-obsessive in your life. Especially if they seem to have every new album or box set that comes out. But fear not, dear consumer, as SPIN has spent these first days of the holiday season in search of the coolest gift ideas with the music fan in your life in mind. From action figures of your favorite rappers to choice box sets to quality cannabis to spirits made from spuds, the 2021 holiday season is a cornucopia overflowing with possibilities for the music fan who seems to have everything. For the Fabs fan on your list, it’s not a question of what to get them this year but how much are you willing to get them, as this se...
Billie Joe Armstrong Really Thinks Green Day’s Best Song is ‘Jesus of Suburbia’
Vulture has been doing this “Superlatives” series on and off for a while now, where they ask artists about their favorites and least favorites among their own music and mostly get very expected results. But their most recent one from last week caused quite a stir when Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong stated that he felt that “Jesus of Suburbia” is the best Green Day song. “It’s so epic,” Armstrong said. “I mean, I’m tooting my own horn, but I think it encompasses so much about my life and friendship and family, and it’s flamboyant and big and bombastic. It’s one of those moments where I was feeling like I wanted to take a big risk. It’s so fun to play live, seeing how the entire crowd sings along. It’s just one of those songs.” Regardless of what your opinions on Green Day are, i...
The Tracks of My Years
The more I listened to Billie Joe Armstrong’s cover album No Fun Mondays, the more it dawned on me that Billie Joe, despite the p-rock trappings, is really a power-pop guy and his choice of tracks to cover really underscores where his heart is. When I spoke with Billie Joe, he confirmed my instinct about pop and punk being more closely aligned than many might think. Billie Joe is living proof of that theorem, illustrated perfectly as he walked me through the album’s tune stack. It only makes sense that an album catalyzed by a pandemic should kick off with “I Think We’re Alone Now.” The song, written by Ritchie Cordell and an uncredited Bo Gentry, was a huge hit for Tommy James & The Shondells in 1967. The song’s narrative is truly cinematic. it’s a record you can, in a...
Billie Joe Armstrong Releasing No Fun Mondays Covers Album
Billie Joe Armstrong really helped make quarantine a little better with his popular No Fun Mondays cover series. And today (Oct. 6), he’s announced that the 14 tracks will be collected and released in a proper album that drops next month. “While we’ve all been in quarantine I’ve been reflecting on the things that matter the most in my life: family, friends, and, of course, music,” the Green Day frontman said in a statement. “I figure if we have to spend this time in isolation at least we can be alone together.” Tapping vintage pop hits like Tommy James and the Shondells’ “I Think We’re Alone Now” to iconic songs like John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth,” Armstrong provided fans with a variety of genres via his covers. He even covered the theme song to Tom Hanks’ 1995 film, That Thing You Do!, ...
Billie Joe Armstrong Shares Cover of Wreckless Eric’s ‘Whole Wide World’
Billie Joe Armstrong has been no stranger to covers throughout quarantine, but his latest rendition of a new wave classic might just take the cake for his best yet. The Green Day frontman just dropped his Amazon Original cover of Wreckless Eric’s “Whole Wide World” on Friday. The punk legend takes the 1977 Nick Lowe-produced track that’s fairly faithful to the original with some extra tambourine and clapping here. The track follows a summer filled with weekly covers, including Eric Carmen’s “That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll” and The Wonders’ “That Thing You Do!” from the 1996 film of the same out of tribute to the late Adam Schlesinger. He’s also covered Tommy James & The Shondells’ “I Think We’re Alone Now,” “Manic Monday” with Bangles singer Susannah Hoffs, Johnny T...
Billie Joe Armstrong Says He’s ‘Uncomfortable’ With Aspects of Fame, Social Media
Billie Joe Armstrong has had enough of non-fans asking for photos. In a new interview with Kerrang!, the Green Day star opened up about fame, mental health, and his opinions on social media. “Sometimes it’s great,” the rock legend said of fame. “When I’m able to communicate with fans and people are cool, and when people get something out of the music and you make these connections. But I think the thing that makes it uncomfortable is how fucked-up social media has become, and how everyone’s got a camera in their pocket now. There are a lot of people out there who aren’t fans who just wanna be guilty by association or something. They wanna hold you in their pocket as a souvenir. And I think that sometimes that’s the part that gets annoying.” The Kerrang! Cover StoryBillie ...
Billie Joe Armstrong Covers The Equals’ ‘Police on My Back’
After a brief hiatus, Billie Joe Armstrong seems to be back with consistent installments of his No Fun Monday cover series… only, on Fridays. After sharing a cover of Billy Bragg’s “A New England” last Friday “because no one knows what day it is anyway,” the Green Day frontman continued the trend this week with a rendition of The Equals’ 1967 track that is all too relatable today, “Police on My Back.” “This was originally written and performed by The Equals, Eddy Grant’s beat group from the 60 [sic],” Armstrong captioned the cover on Instagram. “And of course The Clash slay it.” Listen to Armstrong’s cover of “Police on My Back” below. This installment is the latest in a lengthy catalog Armstrong’s built since quarantine began. It follows his cover of The Wonders’ “That...
Billie Joe Armstrong Covers Billy Bragg’s ‘A New England’
Billie Joe Armstrong understands that 2020 has been so weird that we don’t know even really know what time is anymore. So his cover of Billy Bragg’s “A New England” for No Fun Monday actually happened on a Friday (July 10). “Welcome to No Fun Monday on a Friday because no one knows what day it is anyway,” the Green Day leader captioned a post on Instagram. “I love this song penned by Billy Bragg. Also a great version by Kirsty MacColl.” If there’s any musician who’s been consistent on the sonic content front, Armstrong has been building a solid catalog for No Fun Mondays. So far, he has covered The Wonders’ “That Thing You Do!” from the 1996 film of the same out of tribute to the late Adam Schlesinger as well as John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth,” Tommy James & The Shondells’ “I Think We...
Billie Joe Armstrong Shares Fiery Cover of John Lennon’s ‘Gimme Some Truth’
It’s been a while since Billie Joe Armstrong shared a cover from his No Fun Mondays and occasional song on a Wednesday. But he’s back with a song that’s fitting for right now. Late on Wednesday, the Green Day singer shared a fiery cover of John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth.” “This song was written by John Lennon. The first time I heard it was from one of my all-time faves Generation X!” Armstrong said in the post’s caption. ” My version lands somewhere in between.” Armstrong has created a pretty solid collection of covers including The Wonders’ “That Thing You Do!” from the 1996 film of the same out of tribute to the late Adam Schlesinger. He’s also covered Tommy James & The Shondells’ “I Think We’re Alone Now,” “Manic Monday” with Bangles singer Susannah Ho...
Billie Joe Armstrong Covers Eric Carmen’s ‘That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll’
Another Monday, another Billie Joe Armstrong cover. In the latest in his No Fun Mondays quarantine covers series, the Green Day singer took on Eric Carmen’s “That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll” that was accompanied by an animated video. “Today’s song is “That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll” by Eric Carmen who was also in The Raspberries. However the first time I heard this song was by teen heartthrob Shaun Cassidy. My sisters would dance around the house to this one!” the caption for the post read. Last week, Armstrong tackled Stiv Bators’ “Not That Way Anymore.” Armstrong has created a pretty solid collection of covers including The Wonders’ “That Thing You Do!” from the 1996 film of the same out of tribute to the late Adam Schlesinger. He’s also covered Tommy James & The Shondells’ “I Think W...
Billie Joe Armstrong Covers Stiv Bators’ ‘Not That Way Anymore’
While most people dread Mondays, many Green Days fans have started to look forward to the top of the week ever since Billie Joe Armstrong started his No Fun Monday covers series. And this week’s is an interesting pick — “Not That Way Anymore” by Stiv Bators. Despite the heavier guitars and drums, Armstrong’s take on this track stays pretty true to the original version. Meanwhile, the video will take fans back to the good old days of tiny packed clubs of sweaty people everywhere rocking out with clips of vintage Green Day performances. And it fits with the vibe of the song itself. Armstrong has created a pretty solid collection of covers including The Wonders’ “That Thing You Do!” from the 1996 film of the same out of tribute to the late Adam Schlesinger. He’s also covered Tommy James &...
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