~Green Day + NRDC posted a new video featuring Billie Joe. [Via GDA]

Green Day videos- It should be another art form, right?
I for one, love music videos, ever since I was really little; back when “Pop Up Video” was on all the time. I’d get up in the mornings and watch it with my Dad, who would explain to me about the bands and tell me a little story of when he watched the same videos. It’s little moments like these that make music so awesome; how deeply it has been influencing my life. So when I first laid eyes on a Green Day music video, it was a welcome experience. I can understand how some may view music videos as really corny companions to good songs or just a lame oppertunity for the band to make some money. I believe, on the other hand, It should be an oppertunity to make an artistic statement.
The first glimpse of Green Day I saw was “American Idiot.” It was the first time I saw them, all angry and righteous and covered in green slime. I mean it when I say I’d never seen anything like it; my brain soaked up everything it could in those rip-roaring three minutes. Suddenly I had faces to go with the names I’d been hearing. And I just had to know what it was they were trying to tell me. I thought it was the coolest thing- all that green slime and how the band was jumping around like a trio of Ritalin kids. I always remember Tre running around his drum kit in slow motion, sticks flailing madly, or Billie Joe throwing his guitar to the floor and all the green slime came flying up.
I was very happy when I learned more videos were soon to follow. In all honesty, I’ve seen the ones for “Holiday” and “Boulevard” like, a million times. I was really taken in by the artistic side of it all, mainly because I’m an artist myself and I’m perceptive to that kind of thing. I loved how they managed to capture the style of the album so well.
The sad thing about all this is that VH1 played more videos in 2005 than it does now…how awful. Anyway, I used to wake up in the mornings and it would just be me and the television for awhile, and that is what I would watch. For some reason, it’s such a fond memory: wake ing up at eight in the morning to catch “Holiday” on VH1 while eating a bowl of watermelon for breakfast. After awhile, it came routine: get up, eat watermelon, watch Green Day.
I quickly learned to hate some of the other videos I had to sit through before the guys would come on: Coldplay’s ‘Speed of Sound,’ Lifehouse’s, ‘You and Me,’ and the Foo Fighters’ ‘Best of You.’ (I actually really like that band now, but has anyone seen that video? Jeez.) And Mariah Carey! Argh…I wanted Billie to invade her video and clobber her over the head with his guitar…but I digress. I would get mad when one of those videos took Green Day’s place in the Top Twenty Countdown, too. ;)
I watched “Holiday” too much- maybe.
I knew all the drumming, and the guitar cues. It took me the longest time to figure out Mike was Sid Vicious in the bar scene, Billie got in a fight with himself and that Tre was the woman in drag (Seriously!) She did seem familar… Clearly this was my favorite video, too; it gave me the first impression of the band. I think that is what videos are for, actually: a way to connect with the fans. They tell stories using the band as characters, they carry messages, and of course, they attempt at being perfect companions to their songs. I love the new videos of “Know Your Enemy” and “21 Guns,” the latter being my fave of the two. I think it’s great the guys are still making videos and giving a round of new fans the chance to see them, and maybe give them a message or two.
Their videos are rooted in personal things for me; I fondly remember one morning after spending the night at my sister’s house, when my two little nieces woke up with me and we cuddled together on the couch as “Holiday” came on. They loved it, giggling at the crazy antics and singing the chorous with me, inspite of the fact they made up most of the words. They wanted to see it again every time they saw me after that. They’re much older now, about six and seven, and recently I asked them if they remembered, ‘the Guys in the Car.’ They smiled at me and told me they did. So, for old time’s sake, I played it for them on the computer, with one kid in my lap and the other pulling up a chair beside me.
That’s pretty cool for just one measly music video. ‘It’s just music’ my butt.

~“Making of” 21 Guns video on MySpace.

I went digging through some old articles, which are among my favorite things to read about Green Day. In part I was inspired by this video interview (Part 1, Part 2) for a Mexican TV show, done at a concert stop in Florida during the Insomniac tour, which I hadn’t seen before. The guys are pretty sullen and cynical. The band is asked: “Is there anyone you admire, or would like to play with?” Answer from all three: “No.” “what band do yo think deserves to be signed to a major?” “Nobody deserves that.” (As in: we wouldn’t wish something so awful on anyone.) The video includes interviews with fans, which are pretty cringe-worthy.

At the end of Part 2 there’s also an interview with the opening band, The Riverdales (who were earlier, and then again later, Screeching Weasel).

This article also from the Insomniac period, also includes quotes from The Riverdales. But what I liked the most was the description of Green Day’s encore:

Mike and Tre return first, with ball caps pulled low over their faces. They sing the faux-hick song “Dominated Love Slave”. Later, Billie Joe runs out to join them, only now, he has no clothes on. With his guitar strategically placed, he is perfectly at ease. He sings “When I Come Around”. Last, before saying good-bye, BJ smirks at the crowd. He turns around and flexes his buttocks. Backstage, in a towel, he shrugs his shoulders, “I had to give them something to remember. The Replacements are one of the first bands I ever saw play. I saw them play the Fillmore when I was 15. My sister got me into them when I was really young, and I actually got a chance to meet Tommy Stinson. Paul Westerberg, I wouldn’t have a thing to say to him. He’s a fucking genius.”

This article too is from the Insomniac time, but the parts I thought are the most interesting are descriptions of the band’s 1991 tour.

The first time Green Day came to Alabama, in 1991, they arrived in the wee hours of the morning in an old van. The boys - all a year or two shy of legal drinking age at the time - had come straight from New Orleans. After an evening of revelry, they had returned to their van to find that it had been robbed. The bag containing their tour money was gone. That night, Green Day and several dozen college students crowded into the living room and kitchen of a rental house on Samford Avenue for a frenetic set of northern California punk rock. Earning the band enough money for food and gas, the show was considered a great success.

~MTV Germany has a series of video interviews with Green Day.

~Green Day will appear on Australia’s Rove Daily June 21. Update: Video: “Tre definitely swallows.”

~Spinner has a short interview with Tre Cool about what will be in the 21 Guns video.

~Green Day released a behind-the-scenes video for the 21 Guns video, which will premiere on MySpace June 21. Photo on Video Static. Update: Video.

~Francois of Green Day Videos posted high quality videos of Green Day performing at France’s Canal+ on May 11. Also, watch Green Day’s interview with Absolute Radio, with questions from GDC, and Live at Abbey Road.

~MSN has a 16 really good in-depth video interview clips where the band talks about each song on 21stCB. And SNL has a funny video of the guys with Will Ferrel.

~In case you thought Green Day was getting all serious and grown up… watch this clip. Full interview on Studio Brussel.

~Watch live videos of last month’s show at The Uptown on Green Day’s MySpace. A new one will be added daily, until Thursday.

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