Green Day's Billie Joe in treatment after on-stage meltdown
NEW YORK (AP) - Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong is headed to treatment for substance abuse.
Sunday's announcement by the band's rep comes after the 40-year-old frontman had a meltdown onstage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on Friday. As Green Day was wrapping up its performance during the all-star, two-day concert, Armstrong profanely complained that the band's time was being cut short.
"One minute left, one minute (expletive) left. You're gonna give me (expletive) one minute? ... I'm not (expletive) Justin Bieber, you (expletives)!" he yelled (although Bieber was not part of the night's festivities).
Armstrong smashed his guitar before leaving the stage.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Green Day apologized "to those they offended at the iHeartRadio Festival" and said its set was not cut short by Clear Channel, the host of the two-day festival.
The Grammy winning band also is canceling some of its promotional appearances. It is due to release the album "Uno" on Tuesday, the follow-up to "21st Century Breakdown," released three years ago. "Uno" is the first in a trilogy of albums; the second is to be out in November, and the last in January. The band is due to kick off a nationwide tour Nov. 26 in Seattle.
Armstrong was hospitalized in early September in Bologna, Italy, for an undisclosed ailment, but recovered well enough to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 6. Since then, the band has made a series of performances, including a "Good Morning America" performance and a New York City concert for the launch of Nokia Music on Sept. 15. No interviews of the band were allowed that evening, but the band chatted with fans and Nokia and AT&T executives before performing for about two hours.
It's unclear what Armstrong is receiving treatment for; in 2003, he was arrested for DUI, and has acknowledged in the past taking various drugs but has said he now eschews them.
Green Day is one of rock's top acts and had huge success with its 2004 politically charged album "American Idiot," which went on to become a Broadway musical. Armstrong performed for a stretch in the musical.
Most recently, he was a mentor on the NBC talent competition "The Voice."
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View a YouTube video here » Warning: The video contains expletives and foul language.
Sunday's announcement by the band's rep comes after the 40-year-old frontman had a meltdown onstage at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas on Friday. As Green Day was wrapping up its performance during the all-star, two-day concert, Armstrong profanely complained that the band's time was being cut short.
"One minute left, one minute (expletive) left. You're gonna give me (expletive) one minute? ... I'm not (expletive) Justin Bieber, you (expletives)!" he yelled (although Bieber was not part of the night's festivities).
Armstrong smashed his guitar before leaving the stage.
In a statement to The Associated Press, Green Day apologized "to those they offended at the iHeartRadio Festival" and said its set was not cut short by Clear Channel, the host of the two-day festival.
The Grammy winning band also is canceling some of its promotional appearances. It is due to release the album "Uno" on Tuesday, the follow-up to "21st Century Breakdown," released three years ago. "Uno" is the first in a trilogy of albums; the second is to be out in November, and the last in January. The band is due to kick off a nationwide tour Nov. 26 in Seattle.
Armstrong was hospitalized in early September in Bologna, Italy, for an undisclosed ailment, but recovered well enough to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 6. Since then, the band has made a series of performances, including a "Good Morning America" performance and a New York City concert for the launch of Nokia Music on Sept. 15. No interviews of the band were allowed that evening, but the band chatted with fans and Nokia and AT&T executives before performing for about two hours.
It's unclear what Armstrong is receiving treatment for; in 2003, he was arrested for DUI, and has acknowledged in the past taking various drugs but has said he now eschews them.
Green Day is one of rock's top acts and had huge success with its 2004 politically charged album "American Idiot," which went on to become a Broadway musical. Armstrong performed for a stretch in the musical.
Most recently, he was a mentor on the NBC talent competition "The Voice."
-----
View a YouTube video here » Warning: The video contains expletives and foul language.
Druggie...who's fn' off now dude? Â Seriously, pull it back together my daughter still likes your band.
well......if was funny because once the guy started busting his Les Paul Jr the bassist started busting his axe too! I treat my guitars/basses like beautiful women with gorgeous lines and silky smooth finish. To intentionally destroy an instrument like that is self incriminating in my mind.
Treatment will give your drugs a fresh start for next time.
You mean a punk rocker got mad on stage and started breaking things and yelling profanities?? Oh the humanity!!
I thought they ALL (except Willie Nelson types that are into wearing holes into their guitars) smashed their guitars before leaving the stage ;>
Get better Billie Joe
This guy is a idiot and they only have one ok song. A few years back they played in auburn at the valley 6 drive in for a video or something and he said they were the greatest thing Auburn has ever seen (sarcastically). To bad he did not just go kill himself and do everyone a favor so no new Green Day music will be made again.
 @SkingCoWa Their new album comes out tomorrow, so too bad. Green Day have more to offer the world than a person with a confederate flag for their profile pic. If you hate America so much, leave. Oh, the concert was back in 2000, so 12 years ago. I've never seen anything better in Auburn.
 @SkingCoWa Somebody needs a Xanax!
 @SkingCoWa I guess he didn't know our Governor hails from "Auburn, More Than You Imagine!"
The Triple Album Concept did wonders for the longevity of the #1 Rock Group of All Time; The Clash.
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Don't get me wrong. "Sandinista" was a great SINGLE album but it was all downhill after that.
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Yeah, I said #1. Now buzz off, ya wankers. If you can find better songs than; "Career Opportunities," I'm So Bored With The USA," and "Safe European Home" you're a better man than I.
 @Sid Vishess "Career Opportunities" is the best along with "Guns of Brixton" "Straight to Hell" and "Death or Glory". The Clash really are the best band ever. I'm almost surprised you didn't say the Sex Pistols.
 @SalParadise As much as I enjoyed (and still do),"Never Mind The Bollocks," it had a rather narrow appeal. The Clash were able to translate the punk ethos into something a bit more palatable to the masses while still retaining their musical integrity, an almost impossible task.
Look on the bright side Billie Joe at least you made it past 28.
A true American idiot
In his ramble, he mentions how he's been around since 1988; OK - thats 24 years.Â
Well, Billie should be a pro by now and know that substance abuse amongst celebs and rockers is so outdated and un-original - should've outgrown it by now, bub...
@DualLeads substance abuse among celebs and rockers is outdated? Well you should probably tell them so they stop doing it.
@northwestsurfer I have already sent the email requesting such to the Screen Actors Guild, and all major record labels.
In all seriousness - I should have said "so cliche" instead. Victim of the "lack of edit" button once again. Point being - and apparently over many people's heads - is the fact this episode should be far back in a 24-year performing veterans past.
 @DualLeads With all due respect, drugs are not and never will be outdated. Your statement is way too broad. Food can and is produced as a drug. Anything chewable for sure. So how are taking antacids outdated and unoriginal? You know monkeys eat silt for their upset bellies, should we then do that for "originality"?
As the story states, substance abuse. How do you come off damning him and still sleep at night? He could be bi-polar and on psychotropics, He could be depressed or suffering from fatigue, he could be taking nerve-blocking pain relievers which also has some pretty nasty effects on people. You don't know so please stop making people look bad to feel good. I don't know about anyone else but it angers me to have someone tell me something that i know isn't true yet passes it off anyhow.
 @Glenn Gordon doesn't hide )  @DualLeads Uhhh, DualLeads didn't say DRUGS were outdated, he said substance abuse was outdated (and un-original). If you're gonna get all ticked off at someone, you ought to at least be able to quote them correctly!
@Glenn Gordon doesn't hide ) I won't be able to sleep well tonight because I know there are those with anger issues out there. Thanks for the heads up, though.
Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll....Keeping it real  :-P