Billie Joe Armstrong (born February 17, 1972, in Oakland,
California) is the main songwriter, lead vocalist, and guitarist
for the band Green Day.
Also in Pinhead Gunpowder and The Network.
And the best looking guy ever.
Armstrong grew up in Rodeo, California, the youngest of six
children. The official name on his birth certificate is "Billie
Joe" rather than the more traditional "William Joseph". His father,
Andy Armstrong, was a retired Minor League Baseball catcher, who
worked as a jazz musician and truck driver to support the family.
He died of lung cancer on September 15, 1982 when Billie Joe was
ten. His mother Ollie Armstrong worked as a waitress at Rod's
Hickory Pit, where Billie Joe and Mike Dirnt worked during their
teen years.
Billie Joe's interest in music started at a young age. He recorded
a song titled "Look For Love" at the age of 5 on Bay Area label
Fiat Records.[1] As a teenager he originally was into metal music,
but got into punk after hearing the Sex Pistols song Holidays in
the Sun. He attended high school at John Swett High School,later
attended Pinole Valley High School, and dropped out on February 16,
1990, the day before he turned 18, to pursue his musical career. He
was nicknamed "Two Dollar Bill", because he was supplying the
school with joints for two dollars[2], and also played on the
football team.
[edit] Musical career
In 1987, Armstrong formed a band called Sweet Children with
childhood friend Mike Dirnt. In 1989 they joined up with drummer Al
Sobrante and become known as Green Day. That same year they
recorded the EP 1,000 Hours, on Lookout! Records. Sobrante
eventually left Green Day in order to go to college, and was
eventually replaced by Tré Cool, who made his debut on Green Day's
second album, Kerplunk!. With their next album, Dookie, the band
broke through into the mainstream, and have remained one of the
most popular rock bands, (and the most successful punk band[9]), of
the 1990's and 2000's with over 85 million records sold
worldwide[citation needed].
Apart from working with Green Day, and side-band Pinhead Gunpowder,
Armstrong has proved himself busy in the music world, collaborating
with many artists over the years. He has co-written for The Go-Gos
("Unforgiven"), former Avengers singer Penelope Houston ("The Angel
and The Jerk" and "New Day"), co-wrote a song with Rancid
("Radio"), sung backing vocals with Melissa Auf Der Maur on Ryan
Adams' "Do Miss America" and recorded lead guitar with Green Day
for two tracks, where they acted as the backing band for Iggy Pop
on his "Skull Ring" album ("Private Hell" and "Supermarket").
Armstrong has produced an album for The Riverdales, and is also
rumored to be part of a side project, The Network. The Network
released an album called Money Money 2020. Many long-time Green Day
fans who listened to the record remarked that it sounds just like a
Green Day album, also Money Money 2020 was released on Adeline
Records, the record label Armstrong co-owns with his wife Adrienne
Armstrong.
[edit] Personal life
In 1990 while playing a show in Minnesota, Armstrong met local
resident Adrienne Nesser when she went up to him after the show,
asking where she could buy a copy of the band's album. The two kept
in touch over the phone, and Armstrong arranged two tours around
Minnesota, simply for the purpose of seeing her. In 1994 she moved
to California, and the two became engaged. They were married two
weeks later on July 2, 1994. Because of financial issues, the
couple spent a week in the Claremont Hotel for their honeymoon, a
10-minute walk away from their house. The day after the wedding,
Adrienne found out she was pregnant with their first son. He has
two children; Their first son, Joseph Marciano Armstrong, was born
in February 1995[3][4]and Jakob Danger (born September 12,
199
.
Armstrong has stated that he is bisexual [5] although he has not
been in a relationship with a man. He has however, kissed men in
concert.[6]
[edit] Trivia
In 2003, he was arrested for drunk driving with a blood alcohol
level of .18, more than twice the state's legal limit of
.08.[7]
Provided the voice for Charlie Manson in the movie Live Freaky! Die
Freaky! and sang Mechanical Man for the film. [8]
Armstrong is registered as a Libertarian to vote in
California.[9]
His favorite food and drink are Vegetarian Lasagne and Root
Beer[citation needed]
He suffers from panic attacks which is shown in the music video
Basket Case, portrayed in Panic Song and sung about in Armatage
Shanks.[10]
Contrary to rumors he is not related to Rancid's Tim Armstrong,
though they are good friends. [11]
[edit] Awards
Esquire's awarded him an "Esky" for Best Frontman in the Esky Music
Awards in the April 2006 issue.
Kerrang! magazine awarded him the Best Dressed Star and Hero of the
Year in 2005
The California Music Awards awarded him Outstanding Male Vocalist
in 2001 and 2004
Nickelodeon's Kid's Choice Awards awarded him the best band trophy
and best song trophy for Wake Me Up When September Ends in
2005.
[edit] Discography
Bullet In A Bible (Green Day - 2005) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
American Idiot (Green Day - 2004) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
Compulsive Disclosure (Pinhead Gunpowder - 2003) -- Vocals,
Guitar
Money Money 2020 (The Network - 2003) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
Shenanigans (Green Day - 2002) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
International Superhits (Green Day - 2001) -- Lead Vocals,
Guitar
8 Chords, 328 Words EP (Pinhead Gunpowder - 2000) -- Vocals,
Guitar
Warning (Green Day - 2000) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin
Shoot The Moon EP (Pinhead Gunpowder - 1999) -- Vocals,
Guitar
Goodbye Ellston Avenue (Pinhead Gunpowder - 1997) -- Vocals,
Guitar
Nimrod (Green Day - 1997) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Carry The Banner (Pinhead Gunpowder - 1995) -- Vocals, Guitar
Jump Salty (Pinhead Gunpowder - 1995) -- Vocals, Guitar
Insomniac (Green Day - 1995) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
Dookie (Green Day - 1994) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Percussion on
"All By Myself"
Fahiza EP (Pinhead Gunpowder - 1992) -- Vocals, Guitar
Kerplunk! (Green Day - 1992) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar, Drums on
"Dominated Love Slave"
39/Smooth (Green Day - 1990) -- Lead Vocals, Guitar
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billie_Joe_Armstrong