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Green Day is commemorating their milestone anniversaries of Dookie (30 years) and American Idiot (20 years) with a stadium tour this year. Their latest album, Saviors, released on January 19th, encompasses the essence of these influential releases. With themes of inequality and opposition to the alt-right, the album maintains the political tone of American Idiot. At the same time, it also includes nods to modern dating apps and a carefree attitude reminiscent of Dookie. Saviors marks the reunion of the band with longtime producer Rob Cavallo, their first collaboration since 2016. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong shares that he casually texted Cavallo one day, only to receive an unexpected reply asking if they wanted to make “rock’n’roll history” once again. Excited by the opportunity, Armstrong eagerly accepted and looks forward to having some fun with Cavallo once more.
You captured the majority of Saviors at RAK Studios in London. What aspect of the city do you enjoy the most?
Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer and guitarist, attended several football matches including Arsenal, Leyton Orient, Fulham, and Millwall at The Den. It was an incredible experience and a great way to immerse oneself in British culture. Football is a highly revered sport that is almost like a religious devotion. The atmosphere is comparable to that of a massive rock concert, with the noise level sometimes requiring earplugs. Armstrong has always been curious about all levels of football, not just the top-class teams like Arsenal and Manchester City. He was particularly interested in the lower divisions, especially Millwall. The team has a tough, defiant, and “us against the world” attitude, similar to that of an Oakland Raiders fan.
The album’s commentary on American society is reminiscent of American Idiot. What prompted your return to the more politically-charged approach with Green Day?
BJA: Upon the release of our most recent album, Father of All Motherfuckers, there was a lot of commentary from various individuals. Many expressed their opinions and shared their disdain for Trump. It was a popular and effortless trend to join in on, but ultimately had little impact. As time has passed and the world, particularly America, has transformed through the rise of social media, conspiracy theories, and the Covid pandemic, I have had the opportunity to reflect on the events of the past five years and how they have contributed to the current state of division.
What are the qualities of a successful political song?
Tré Cool, drums: Something that gets people’s hair to stand up on their arms or neck, and causes an emotional reaction.
Mike Dirnt, the bassist, believes in being truthful about your emotions and expressing them. He also values mentioning that you are contemplating something or asking a question, rather than dictating how others should think.
BJA: Many of my lyrics stem from a sense of being lost. This can manifest in different ways, such as physically feeling lost due to a faulty GPS or delving into conspiracy theories and searching for the truth. Ultimately, the search for truth in my lyrics is similar to the way a love song comes from the heart.
Do you find that conspiracy theories are a prominent feature of our current era? Is this something that causes you the most stress?
You must discover the comedic aspect of the situation. For example, the idea that the Earth is flat. However, it’s important to understand that there will always be people who believe in these outlandish ideas, and they will search the internet to find evidence to support their beliefs. Even if they come across evidence that disproves their beliefs, they will likely claim it’s a conspiracy.
I believe that individuals are searching for something to have faith in. In today’s world, there is an abundance of information, causing chaos. It is possible to find support for any idea. It is important to pause and carefully consider things.
BJA: In a video, an interviewer asks individuals if they believe it is appropriate for everyone to possess a firearm. One person responds, “Yeah, you can’t combat fire with water.” [laughs] That statement encapsulates America, or at least a significant portion of it.
You premiered the initial two tracks from Saviors at the sentimental When We Were Young festival. What is your opinion on the resurgence of 90s/00s punk and emo music in recent years?
According to BJA, emo was previously considered dead, but now there are emo club nights happening just five years later. This seems premature, especially since My Chemical Romance recently broke up. BJA believes that streaming and viral trends are responsible for this resurgence. He mentions the band The Walters, who broke up four years ago but now have a popular song. The same goes for Deftones, whose music is suddenly appearing in many TikTok videos. BJA attributes this to a new algorithmic method of discovering music, which is particularly prevalent in rock music. This shift also highlights how people are paying less attention to traditional platforms like the radio.
The release of your album brought up four inquiries: How would Andy Warhol handle it? How would John Waters handle it? How would Quentin Tarantino handle it? And now, I pose the fourth question to you: how would Green Day handle it?
BJA: Many people are interested in what Green Day will say and release in this current era. Similar to Tarantino, who draws from various sources such as blaxploitation, kung fu, and gangster movies, we continue to enjoy playing punk rock, singalong stadium rock, and powerpop. Therefore, we took the opportunity to reflect on our career and focus on the truly impactful moments.
Source: theguardian.com
