The song that inspired Billie Joe Armstrong to become a musician
Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished songwriters of his generation. Forgetting the derogatory pop-punk tag for a second, the Californian has achieved much in his time. He has kept punk at the forefront of the collective consciousness with an array of hits and an acclaimed rock opera.
Punk purists would likely label Green Day as sell-outs, but what successful band isn’t? It’s deluded to demand that they repeatedly release the same lo-fi punk album à la Kerplunk and destined themselves to both stall creatively and fail commercially. Unlike many of their peers from the lauded Bay Area scene, the trio set their sights on longevity by forgoing their earliest form and pushing themselves into new creative realms and, accordingly, fresh heights.
They might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but a punk trio that originated as just another scrappy rabble in 1987 has reached such heights and maintained a prominent cultural status. Their recent show on the New York subway not only displayed how relevant they remain with their new album Saviors but also how their music has crossed the divide and appeals to people from all walks of life. That’s a rare feat.
While there are many reasons for Green Day’s success, most of it is down to the songwriting ability of frontman and guitarist Armstrong. Fusing his buzzsaw guitar with hooky, pop-leaning vocal melodies and anthemic choruses, his distinctive approach is appealing as it bridges the elements of punk that he holds dear with acute infectiousness. Whether it be the early classic ‘Basket Case’ or the recent single ‘The American Dream is Killing Me’, Armstrong’s musical formula remains effective regardless of the lyrical themes.
The Green Day leader cites a variety of songwriters as his heroes. According to him, one of the finest acts of the 1980s alternative rock scene, Bob Mould and his band Hüsker Dü, provided him with the actual impetus to become a musician. Their song ‘Don’t Want to Know if You Are Lonely’ from 1986’s Candy Apple Grey proved to be the definitive galvanising force.
Discussing the soundtrack of his life in Entertainment Weekly in 2016, Armstrong said: “I’ve been playing music ever since I can remember, but when I first started getting into alternative music, I picked up [1986’s] Candy Apple Grey by Hüsker Dü, because I was watching the video for “Don’t Want to Know if You Are Lonely” on 120 Minutes on MTV. I was immediately blown away by that song. I started a long love affair with Hüsker Dü. I wanted to be like Hüsker Dü when I started Green Day.”
Listen to ‘Don’t Wanna Know If You Are Lonely’ below.
