Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has picked one of the band’s American Idiot tracks as his favourite from the band’s discography.
Armstrong, who has fronted the band since its founding in 1987, says one song is “something that just stayed with me” over the years. Speaking to radio host Howard Stern, Armstrong confirmed American Idiot track Wake Me Up When September Ends is his favourite song by the band. The song references the loss of Armstrong’s father, and that it marked a “breakthrough” for him as a songwriter who had “avoided” writing about the death of his parent. The Green Day frontman, speaking with Stern, said: “I think it’s something that just stayed with me; the month of September being that anniversary that always is just, I don’t know, kind of a bummer.
“But it’s weird. When things happen like that when you’re that young, it’s almost like life starts at year zero, or something like that. I think about him every day, really. I kinda avoided writing about him for many years, and then finally having a breakthrough like that felt good. It wasn’t like a negative emotion so much, but it was just kind of like honouring him.”
Green Day fans had previously praised American Idiot and decided on the “best-ever” three track run of songs from their whole discography. Wake Me Up When September Ends was featured by a fan who believes it forms part of the three best song run from the band.
While the band may have plenty of moments worthy of mention, fans taking to the r/GreenDay subreddit have shared their favourite three-track moments from the band. While there were plenty of suggestions for the best three songs in a row, including a “legendary” moment tipped by one person. They wrote: “What’s the best three songs in a row on any Green Day album? Three songs, back to back to back, all legendary.
“For example, Letterbomb, Wake Me Up When September Ends, and Homecoming, play in that order on American Idiot, and I love all three of them. So what’s yours?”
Though the original user praised American Idiot, the band’s best-known release, others pointed to Nimrod for a far stronger run. One user wrote: “The Grouch, Redundant, Scattered is the best songs in a row on Nimrod in my opinion.” Another agreed, writing: “This is the correct answer. Scattered is an incredible song to end on.”
Another has suggested their latest album, Saviours, may feature one of their best-track runs. They wrote: “Man, that’s tough. I’m a huge fan of the opening three on Saviours, though I don’t think I can say it’s my favourite. Same goes for the opening on Uno, and if I’m being honest American Idiot feels like cheating (I’d give it to St. Jimmy, Give Me Novacaine, and She’s a Rebel, though). Nimrod is right there with Scattered, All the Time, Worry Rock, but…”
They added: “I think listening to Chump, Longview, Welcome to Paradise just works perfectly.” Another added: “Bang Bang, Revolution Radio, Say Goodbye.” A third has suggested: “80 – Android – No One Knows. It’s kind of cheating with Kerplunk because the whole album is so good I just listen to it on repeat ad nauseum.”
