Billie Joe Armstrong

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“Every band wants to have a Sgt. Pepper’s type of moment. And American Idiot was that moment for us”: Billie Joe Armstrong on the making of the magnum opus that saved Green Day

By Richard Bienstock published 19 March 24

The world's biggest punk band faced a crossroads in 2004 and it was a case of go big or go home. Armstrong explains how they supersized their sound – and saved the band

“I know my limitations, but at the same time I’m really pushing myself to be a better guitar player”: Billie Joe Armstrong on ripping solos like Angus Young – and what Green Day have in common with Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran

By Richard Bienstock published 26 February 24

Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong reveals the origin story behind Saviors, the punk superheroes’ first new album in four years, and looks back on the making of 1994’s Dookie

Billie Joe Armstrong and Eddie Van Halen

“I loved Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads. Then something happened where it was like you had to be in the guitar Olympics”: Billie Joe Armstrong explains why he rekindled his relationship with the guitar solo on Green Day’s newest album

By Matt Owen published 13 February 24

Saviors might be the band’s most solo-heavy record to date – a result of Armstrong re-embracing lead playing and, as he tells Guitar World, putting “a spotlight on a little bit more of what I’m capable of”

The cover of Guitar World's March 2024 issue

Green Day, Ace Frehley and George Harrison's last Beatles guitar – only in the new Guitar World

By Damian Fanelli published 23 January 24

Plus! Code Orange, Johnny Marr, Chelsea Wolfe, Eddie Martinez, Marty Friedman, Adam Jones and the sad tale of Ted Nugent's original Gibson Byrdland

Eddie Van Halen and Billie Joe Armstrong

“He looked at me and he goes, ‘You’re the only one that understands me. People think I’m an alien because of the way I play’”: Why Eddie Van Halen cried when he met Billie Joe Armstrong

By Matt Owen published 18 January 24

A 12-year-old Armstrong cried when he witnessed Eddie Van Halen play live for the first time in the '80s. Years later, the roles would be reversed

Billie Joe Armstrong set to sell rare prototype Gibson guitars and tour-used gear in new Green Day Reverb Shop – and one of them will cost you nothing

By Matt Owen published 13 October 23

Over 100 pieces of studio-used and stage-played gear – including the Gretsch from the Back in the USA music video – are going up for sale… and one lucky fan can win a one-of-a-kind Les Paul Junior

Billie Joe Armstrong: MXR has reissued his signature Dookie Drive for 2023

Get Billie Joe Armstrong’s explosive Green Day tone in a compact pedal as MXR brings the Dookie Drive back – again – for a limited time only

By Jonathan Horsley published 17 August 23

New enclosure art, same great amp-stack crunch – the limited run sees the return of the punchy drive that was first launched in 2019 to celebrate 25 years of the band's landmark Dookie album

Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Junior 2023

Gibson Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Junior review

By Dave Burrluck published 26 June 23

The Green Day leader gets a new signature in typical showman style, with a fresh pickup design that dates back to the late ’50s

Gibson unveils new Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Junior, complete with the pinkest hardcase you’ve ever seen

By Matt Parker published 21 March 23

The Green Day leader returns with a new single-pickup signature model, packed with a P-90 and a none-more-pink Protector case

Billie Joe Armstrong says he plans to renounce US citizenship in the wake of Roe v Wade repeal

By Sam Roche published 27 June 22

“I'm not kidding. You're gonna get a lot of me in the coming days,” the Green Day leader told the crowd at London Stadium

11 crazy guitarist signature products that have nothing to do with guitar

By Jonathan Horsley published 25 March 22

Hot sauce, Sharpies and things to make you smell nice – the guitar world’s signature products are not just gear and merch

Epiphone's new Billie Joe Armstrong Les Paul Junior guitar

Epiphone unveils low-cost version of Billie Joe Armstrong’s first signature Les Paul Junior

By Jackson Maxwell published 16 November 21

The Green Day frontman's minimalist Epi signature boasts a single Epiphone PRO P-90 pickup, and also comes in an even more affordable, beginner-oriented Player Pack version

(from left): Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool and 11-year-old Meyer onstage with Green Day

Green Day invite 11-year-old fan onstage for cover of Operation Ivy’s Knowledge during Hella Mega Tour

By Matt Owen published 17 August 21

Meyer took to the stage with an effortless rock-star-in-the-making attitude and donned an Epiphone Les Paul Melody Maker for the high-octane appearance

Green Day debut new single Here Comes The Shock, complete with Punk Rock Aerobics music video

By Matt Owen published 22 February 21

With high-octane guitars, rapid-fire drum rolls and a workout-style music video, the energetic track is bound to get hearts beating

Billie Joe Armstrong - No Fun Mondays album review

By Ellie Robinson published 10 February 21

"The effort Billie Joe Armstrong put into his 2020 lockdown project cannot be understated."

The Green Day singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, is seen during a concert at La Riviera in Madrid on October 30, 2019 in Madrid, Spain.

Trace Billie Joe Armstrong's roots and revisit an Eddie Van Halen rarity with this week's essential guitar tracks

By Michael Astley-Brown, Jackson Maxwell, Sam Roche published 3 December 20

Songs you need to hear from Billie Joe Armstrong, Eddie Van Halen, KennyHoopla, Brian Ray… and more!

Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt of Green Day perform in support of the bands' 21st Century Breakdown release at Arco Arena on August 24, 2009 in Sacramento, California

Billie Joe Armstrong’s modded 21st Century Breakdown Fender Strat is up for sale

By Richard Bienstock published 28 August 20

The Green Day frontman’s 1970 Martin D-41 from the same tour is also available

Steve Vai: Kurt Cobain and Billie Joe Armstrong's playing is "virtuosic"

By Richard Bienstock published 1 June 20

The shred guru explains what makes the Nirvana and Green Day guitarists' technique so unique

How to play guitar like Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong

By Total Guitar editors published 22 May 20

Learn the secrets of the iconic punk-rock guitarist's deceptively dextrous playing techniques

5 guitars that made Billie Joe Armstrong an icon of punk

5 guitars that defined Billie Joe Armstrong's career in punk

By Total Guitar editors published 14 May 20

Let's take a walk down the boulevard of the Green Day leader's most rockin' six-strings...