Happy Video Birthday 2009 to the Incomparable Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day

by Robert Wilkinson

Today we celebrate one of the great musical forces in our world, Aquarian Billie Joe Armstrong, the stellar frontman for Green Day. Able to draw the attention of millions around the world, he's been a great voice challenging the norms of the Bush era in his own blunt, uncompromising way. Today I have a large number of great videos.

In case you've been on one of the Moons of Neptune over the past 20 years, I should explain that Green Day blazed forth during the so-called "grunge" alternative rock movement of the mid-1980s. The band stormed out of Berserkeley to global popularity and influence through its uncompromising brand of neo-punk rock that forced the suits to sit up and take note. The core of the band features Billie Joe Armstrong, Taurus Mike Dirnt, and Sagittarian Tre Cool, and together they can rock any venue to the max!

And now, on with the shew. I've found early, middle, and recent performances, so enjoy the many faces of Billie Joe Armstrong! We begin today's party with a basket full of their classic tunes, all great videos of Green Day live. Unfortunately some require a bit of buffering time before hitting play, but hang in there. It's worth the wait!

We begin with Green Day performing "Basket Case" with another version from Chicago in 1994 of "Basket Case"

Here's one of their best! From the Bizarre-Festival Weeze,2001, a great version of "Good Riddance (the Time of your Life)." Here's another version of "Good Riddance" from Melbourne, Australia, in 2005, with one from French TV in 1995 at this link, with still another version from Barcelona in 2000.

Also from Barcelona, here's a version of "When I Come Around." And if you want, another early version of "When I Come Around" from Miami, 1993.

From a 1997 "Live in the Alley" performance, "Nice Guys Finish Last" with another version from the Chelmsford Festival V98 of Nice Guys Finish Last and Hitchin' A Ride done as a medley.

Their more recent material features some magnificent live performances. We now groove into several versions of my favorite Green Day song, "Holiday." Written as an in-your-face challenge to the Bush War Criminal administration, Billie makes it clear that "This song is not anti-American. It's anti-WAR!"

This version is magnificent. From the Billboard Awards ceremony, "Holiday." We have another great performance of Holiday from Berlin MTV 2005, while this one is live in the studio. Here's an extraordinary performance via Top of the Pops, but it's cut short and there's some lyrics blocking due to British censors not liking certain words. Very surreal given the theme of the song.

From the album of the same name, here's American Idiot with another version here.

Also from "American Idiot," here is "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," along with great performances of "Wake Me Up When September Ends" and Give Me Novacaine.

I found performances of a couple of covers. Here's Green Day doing the Sonny Curtis classic, "I Fought The Law", and here's the Chuck Berry classic "Johnny B Goode."

I found some rare performances from early in their career. Here's a very early three part live performance at the Paint Factory in 1989. Here's Part 1. Here's Part 2 (let this buffer for a short time) and here's Part 3.

Another rare early live performance at Pinole Valley High School in 1990! Part 1 at this link, while here's Part 2.

An interesting Live Audio 1990 performance that features fragments of several early songs set to still photos.

And if you still want more, here's the official Green Day You Tube channel where I'm sure you can get dialed in to what's up with this amazing group.

Happy 37, Billie Joe. Given where Jupiter and the rest of the stellium in Aquarius are hanging out in your Solar Return, a new inspiration is on the way and whatever new plans you make should turn out great, so prepare to blaze even brighter in the coming year!

© Copyright 2009 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[apexantapex]

Whaa? Billie Joe is 37?? Dang, has it been that many years since I bought my copy of Dookie? Evidently I conveniently forget my addition skills as I and my cohort age.

Sigh.

He totally gets better with time, clearly.

[BritLitChik]

Saw Green Day on 9/11/05 and found them adding a bit more oompf paying homage to that day and giving Dubya a good whatfor. A solid 2 1/2+ hours of non-stop music! Remiscent of watching The Kinks in action. And, for the record, Billie Joe is HOT! Happy Birthday, Billie Joe!

[Robert]

Hi all - Definitely great music! And it's really good that after taking a lot of cheap shots from some with less to offer they came back with "American Idiot." Waiting for "21st Century Breakdown" to come out in May...

[PB]

I worked in music videos with Green Day for more than 10 years. They were the easiest band to deal with. No complaints ever, no special demands and they were always up for something new and interesting video-wise. They are the most honest and straightforward guys. When other bands that had a rep in the 90s as political activists were told by their label not to "rock the boat" and stay silent about Gulf War II, Green Day said fuck it, full speed ahead.

They're the real deal and that is what resonates with fans the world around. And as we all know, authenticity is likely to be a hallmark of Pluto in Capricorn.

[Robert]

Hi PB - I also produced and directed quite a few music videos for 3 years in Austin in 1987-89, so I am familiar with the infinite number of things that can go wrong due to ego. I believe Green Day is one of the classiest acts to come down the pike these past 20 years. They're really good at what they do, genuine, and TCB. That's why they're not prima donnas and get the job done. As per your remark about the suits trying to stifle creativity, as Putney Swope once said: "I'm not here to rock the boat. Rockin' the boat is a drag. You gotta SINK THE BOAT!" Full Speed Ahead, Dam(n) the torpedos and all that. I'll bet you had a lot of fun for as long as the ride lasted. Meet you for war stories sometime....