Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Wants To Play Shows In Fans' Backyards

When punk rock titans Green Day first announced details of their 13th studio album Father Of All… in a world-exclusive Kerrang! interview last September, the band were keen to emphasise how much mischief had gone into the record. And now, with just a month to go until the LP's release, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is bringing back the playfulness by asking fans if anyone wants the band to perform in their backyard.

In a new Instagram post appropriately captioned, "Hijinx", the vocalist and guitarist says, "Looks like our new record's coming out in like a month or something, so we're just planning some stuff… some surprises. But one thing I was thinking is: does anybody have a relatively big backyard that we could do like a backyard party somewhere, and we could come and play at your house, or your garage, or your backyard? I don't know… Or if you have like a barn, or is there a church, or a church parking lot? You know I was conceived in a church parking lot? Anyway, just hijinks, fun, mischief. A backyard party with your favourite band, Green Day!"

In a second video, Billie Joe adds just one catch: "Oh yeah, it would have to be in California."

So if you're a Green Day fan on America's west coast, it could be your lucky day…

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The frontman's comments echo his musings regarding Father Of All…, telling K! last year: “There’s a very fine line threading the needle for us, because we do want to try new things, but we always want to make sure it’s absolute Green Day, you know? It’s a very fine line – clever and stupid (laughs). But Green Day’s credo is mischief, no matter what. We’re always down for mischief and we want to fuck with people… to the point of it being abusive!”

“Do you want to go back and do the same old thing?” added drummer Tré Cool of the album's recording process, and the band's mindset going into Father Of All… “We don’t want to do what everyone would expect us to do, so it was just kinda mischief and making it fun. That was the bottom line of it.”

Watch Billie Joe's new Instagram video below:

Catch Green Day in considerably bigger venues than backyards this summer with Fall Out Boy, Weezer and The Interrupters (U.S. only) on the Hella Mega Tour. Tickets are on sale now.

June

13 Paris, France, La Defense Arena,
14 Groningen, Netherlands, Stadspark
17 Antwerp, Belgium, Sportspaleis
21 Vienna, Austria, Ernst Happel Stadium
24 Glasgow, UK, Glasgow Green
26 London, UK, London Stadium
27 Huddersfield, UK, The John Smith’s Stadium
29 Dublin, Ireland, RDS Arena

July

17 Seattle, WA, T-Mobile Park
21 San Francisco, CA, Oracle Park
24 San Diego, CA, Petco Park
25 Los Angeles, CA, Dodger Stadium
28 Commerce City, CO, DICK’s Sporting Goods Park
31 Arlington, TX, Globe Life Field

August

1 Houston, TX Minute Maid Park
5 Miami, FL Hard Rock Stadium
6 Jacksonville, FL TIAA Bank Field
8 Atlanta, GA SunTrust Park
11 Minneapolis, MN Target Field
13 Chicago, IL Wrigley Field
15 Pittsburgh, PA PNC Park
16 Hershey, PA Hersheypark Stadium
19 Detroit, MI Comerica Park
21 Washington, DC Nationals Park
22 New York, NY Citi Field
24 Toronto, ON Rogers Centre
27 Boston, MA Fenway Park
29 Philadelphia, PA Citizens Bank Park

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