Green Day’s lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong is, per a statement released by the band, “seeking treatment for substance abuse.”
This admission follows a controversial set by the band at Friday’s (September 21) iHeartRadio Music Festival, which took place at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, Nevada.
During their appearance at the festival, Billie Joe appeared at times agitated and angry, ultimately culminating in him becoming enraged, and spouting a multiple expletive-filled rant, during which he said, amongst other things: “Fuck this shit,” “I’m gonna play a fucking new song,” and (even though it is not pleasant viewing, and is not the Green Day we know and love) my personal favourite: “I’m not fucking Justin Bieber,” on realising that there was only one minute left in the band’s set. He went on to then smash his guitar.
The frontman certainly didn’t seem like his usual jovial, happy-go-lucky self during the trio’s on-stage stint, during which his voice appeared at times strained, and where he genuinely did appear tired.
Green Day have since apologised, saying, “We… apologize [sic] to those we offended at the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas,” and “would like everyone to know that our set was not cut short…”, quelling rumours that Armstrong’s outburst was due to such a reason.
At least he’s not trotting out the old, overused, celebrity stalwart go-to excuse of ‘exhaustion and dehydration’.
His wife, Adrienne, has pledged her support for the singer, saying, “Sometimes we just need a moment to reset ourselves… Thanks for all the love & support”
This treatment follows Armstrong’s recent admittance to hospital on September 2, in Bologna, Italy, as a consequence of which the band was forced to cancel their scheduled concert in Bologna, saying, “We sincerely apologise to our fans, but unfortunately due to illness Billie Joe has been hospitalised, and we regretfully must cancel our performance,” adding; “We are beyond devastated… “ and that, “Billie is extremely upset about it.”
Billie Joe’s treatment comes during what is arguably the band’s most ambitious period to date, with the trio having recorded a series of three albums – ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tre!, which are due to be released within the space of five months, between September 2012 and January 2013; touring during 2012, including a surprise show at Reading; and having announced ambitious tour plans for “a full UK tour” in 2013.
Tickets go on sale for a concert at London’s Emirates Stadium, with a capacity of 60, 000, on September 28 (Friday). Armstrong will also be appearing on the upcoming season of The Voice as a mentor to judge Christina Aguilera. The band also have two upcoming documentaries which are due to be released to accompany their new records; one about the making of same, the other to feature vintage footage of Green Day, shot before the release of their 1994 album, Dookie.
As well as these, they have recently collaborated with Rovio, the makers of Angry Birds, to put out a Green Day-themed update to Angry Birds Friends, the Facebook version of the popular game, which features new music from the band. As of now, though, the band says, “We regretfully must postpone some of our upcoming promotional appearances.”
Billie Joe was previously arrested for DUI in January 2003, and has admitted to using drugs in the past, saying recently that he had, previously, written under the influence of “methamphetamines.”
Hopefully this is just a blip in the road for Green Day’s main man, and Mr. Armstrong will be back to his best soon. Get well soon, Billie.
See the video here — even though this YouTube video claims that the band’s set was cut short, they have said in a statement, as detailed above, that it was not.
This was originally published on September 24, 2012, and can be seen, in edited form, here.
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Images: iHeartRadio
(1999), 
(2000), 
(2001), 
(2003), 
(2005) and 
; one live album; one E.P.; 26 singles and fifteen music videos. Oh, Jack and Meg, ye of the unrelenting black, white and red colour palette; banging thump-thump of the drums that was impossible not to rock out to; and most striking visual imagery; ye will be sadly, sadly missed.
April Barry 