Why are they called Green Day? The phrase "green day" is Bay-area slang for a day with lots of green bud where you just sit around taking bong hits, hanging around. Billie Joe picked the phrase up from friends while chilling in his "habitat" (in the basement of a Berkeley University building), and wrote the song Green Day about his first pot experience. The group changed their name from Sweet Children to Green Day in 1990. Note too that Ernie from Sesame Street has also uttered the phrase Green Day (Ernie also appears on Dookie... coincidence?).


When are the guys' birthdays? Billie's is February 17, 1972. Mike's birthday is May 4, 1972. Tre's was born December 9, 1972.

Where did they go to high school? Mike and BJ went to Pinole Valley High in Pinole because Rodeo has no public school system of its own. FYI -- Pinole is a boring, working class suburb about 15 miles north of Berkeley. It lacks both the cosmopolitan atmosphere and the progressive politics of Berkeley. Pinole (and El Sobrante, its neighbor) is a town of small, older single family homes and a heck of a lot of churches. There is no place for kids to hangout other than Hilltop Mall in nearby Richmond. The big news recently was the opening of Mervyn's -- no kidding. Pinole is a town with all of the disadvantages of suburban life (you need a car to escape, there's nothing but chain stores, college radio is out of reach. . .) and none of the advantages (money). The most amazing thing about Green Day is how they were able to make some- thing from this total vacuum. Oh yeah, Green Day played at Pinole Valley HS in the central courtyard area (called "the Mall" -- helps you understand the whole culture, doesn't it?) in the Spring of 1990 . The occasion was "Foreign Foods Day," a school event during which clubs sell ostensibly foreign food and bands play. Green Day played first. They were followed by Separate Ways (who are still together and playing in the Bay Area). Most faculty members hated Green Day and said, "Now that's more like it" when Separate Ways came on. Just shows what they know.

Who is John Kiffmeyer (a.k.a) Al Sobrante? John Kiffmeyer (not Kiftmeyer, as has been printed in some publications), played drums for the band while they were Sweet Children. He used to go by the name Al Sobrante, which was a play on his hometown El Sobrante. John also drummed on 39/Smooth and several EPs, and was executive producer on Kerplunk (the album on which Tre Cool became Green Day's drummer). (from Lawrence Livermore) "John is living in San Francisco with his wife Greta (they were married in the summer of '94). I haven't seen him in about nine months, though." (from Gustav) "Al Sobrante was in Ne'erdowells after Green Day. He left Green Day to go to college. The Ne'erdowells changed their name to the Hi-Fives and Al no longer plays for them."

What bands have the guys played with?
BJ has played with Pinhead Gunpowder, Goodbye Harry, Blatz, and one Lookouts track. Plus a couple others. Mike has played with Screeching Weasel and Corrupted Morals. In recent years he has been playing with his other band, The Frustrators. Tre has played with the Lookouts. Billie, Mike, and John formed Sweet Children prior to changing their name to Green Day .

Why do they sound British? Why do they sound like a lot of other bands? They like to have fun, and they like to emulate the sounds that they enjoy. It's all for having a good time. And yes, they do like to parody the stereotypical "punk rock" genre and look. Billie Joe admitted to MTV-Europe, "I sound like an Englishman impersonating an American impersonating an Englishman."

When did Billie Joe write his first song? Billie first sang Looking for Love when he was just 5 years old! However, the first song he wrote and then recorded was Why Do You Want Him? when he was 12.

What color is Billie Joe's hair naturally? Reddish brown. If you've seen him with it dyed, you know he's no-holds-barred: blue, red, green, orange, and bright yellow are regularly rotated.

Do Green Day use drugs or drink? The band admits to using speed in their younger days but since they have had children they have cleaned up a bit. The band does not hide the fact that they smoke pot quite frequently. Billie has said that he drinks a lot and it's not rare to see one of the band members with a beer in their hand.

Could you tell me more about Adrienne (Billie's wife)? [ By Adrienne]: "Billie Joe and I met on the very first Green Day tour when Al Sobrante was in the band. I was one of only ten people at a Green Day gig and me and Billie ended up hitting it off. So, I moved out to California in the heat of Dookie. Thats when we got married, a month later. I had been working in the this small town in Minnesota called Mankato as a manager for Pier 1 imports. I had graduated with a degree in sociology from Mankato State University and stayed there till Billie Joe finally convinced me to move out to Cali. I work now, occasionally, at Cinder Block Printing. They do music merch. for band like Screeching Weasel, OP IVY, Mr. T -Experience, first GD shirts for kerplunk, tons of other great bands. But mostly Joey's & Jakob are my full time job."

Why did they cut the Insomniac tour short? They cut the 1995 tour short because they were totally wiped out from so much time on the road. They went on a break for about a year to relax and spend more time with their families. After two years of almost non-stop touring, they just needed a good long break.

How did Tre Cool get his name? He was dubbed "Tre Cool" by Lawrence Livermore, founder of Lookout! Records when he signed 12 year-old Frank Edwin Wright III to be the drummer in his band, The Lookouts. Tre was born in Willits, CA. His father was a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam war. He moved to Willits to escape the pressure in San Francisco. Tre was also the DJ for his high school.

Where do Green Day live? They live in Oakland, California, USA. If you're not too technical, it's a part of San Francisco. Other bands from the Bay Area include Rancid, Dance Hall Crashers, the Mr. T Experience and A.F.I.

Is Tim Armstrong of Rancid related to Billie Joe? Actually, Tim Armstrong is not Billie Joe's brother, nor are they cousins, even though they have the same last name. However, Tim and BJ do get along. FYI, Tim was in Operation Ivy (he went by the name Lint), the band that wrote Knowledge which Green Day covered and plays at many of their concerts. Billie also helped Tim write the song "Radio" on Rancid's "Let's GO!" album.

What is the painting on Insomniac? The title of the artwork on Insomniac is "God Told Me to Skin You Alive." It was created by Winston Smith.  He also designed the classic Dead Kennedys logo. Here's what said about making the Insomniac cover: "I knew Tre back  when he was a teenager up in
Mendocino County where my ranch is, not far from Lawrence's (Livermore) place up near Willits.  The original title for that LP (Insomniac) was Tightwad Hill.  Then I did the cover, staying awake over 48 hours to assemble it.  By the time I delivered it to the green boys I was a zombie.  Bill asked me how I could stay awake all that long and I said, "It's easy for me, I do it all the time.  I have no choice.  I'm an insomniac."

Where can we get Sweet Children music? There were 6 songs written while BJ, Mike, and John were called Sweet Children, but only 4 are on the Skene! Sweet Children EP:

• Sweet Children
• Best Thing in Town
• Strangeland
• My Generation

Who was that guy playing guitar with Green Day during the "Warning" Tour? That guy is Jason White! Straight outta Little Rock, Arkansas Jason White was brought along to add a richer sound to many of the songs on "Warning." Jason also plays with The Influents, and Pinhead Gunpowder both on Billie Joe's Adeline Records.

What does Green Day have to do with Adeline Records?  Billie Joe and friends started Adeline Records once upon a time, and it has become home to his other band Pinhead Gunpowder, Mike Dirnt's Frustrators, as well as releasing several Green Day singles on vinyl. For more information go to their website www.adelinerecords.net

Was Billie Joe ever in Playgirl Magazine Nude? The answer to this question is "yes and no." Playgirl Magazine printed a picture of Billie Joe from a live concert in which he flashed the crowd, but no he didn't pose for a Playgirl Magazine spread.

During the "Warning Tour" I saw a temporary trombone player fill in for the usual guy who plays during "King For a Day" who was she? Jeanne Geiger of The Influents and Pinhead Gunpowder fame.