Billie Joe Armstrong has discussed Green Day’s history and said the band is “not a political band,” according to NME. In a new interview with the LA Times, he said the group’s songs are rooted in heart and personal experience rather than a political agenda.
Armstrong reflected on the band’s early years, saying Green Day were not focused on politics even though they emerged from a scene that was outspoken. He pointed to the 1994 album Dookie, which dealt with boredom, anxiety, depression and other personal themes.
He also talked about how the band shifted with American Idiot in 2004, which was shaped by the aftermath of 9/11 and the Iraq War. He said the album “came out of nowhere” and described it as a response to confusion about the changing world.
Armstrong added that watching the World Cup made him feel proud of America, saying the event did more than the United Nations has done in the last 20 years. Green Day are also preparing to release their comedy film Nimrods, which is due in theaters on August 14.
