Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong Calls Himself "Part Canadian Now"
In Hamilton for the Grey Cup, the Green Day frontman explains his Canada connection goes beyond football.
Green Day
He might be playing songs off of American Idiot, but Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong says he’s actually Canadian now. Or at least, partly. In an interview with MuchMusic ahead of the band’s halftime show at the Grey Cup on Sunday, Armstrong revealed that his son is married to a Canadian — making him “part Canadian now” Armstrong says.
“My son married a girl from Toronto,” Armstrong says in the interview. (His pronunciation emphasized the final “TO” in “Toronto,” revealing that his accent still needs a bit more time north of the border to adjust.)
“Canadian-in-law,” chimes in drummer Tré Cool.
Though Armstrong was born in Oakland, California, the musician has long been critical of American politics. Last year, he claimed he was renouncing his citizenship following the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade and enabled states to outlaw abortion. “I’m f–king coming here,” he told a U.K. crowd at the time. Maybe with his Toronto connection he’ll pursue citizenship in Canada instead.
Even if Armstrong doesn’t quite have the local accent down yet, fans were more than happy to welcome him at the halftime show on Sunday. Green Day played new and old hits in their four-song set and brought out the pyrotechnics on a cold night in Hamilton. The set has received rave reviews online, from music and sports fans alike.
Green Day - Grey Cup Halftime Showwww.youtube.com
Green Day will be coming back to Canada next year on the Saviors Tour, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of Dookie and 20th anniversary of American Idiot, as well as the release of their new album. They’re slated to play Toronto's biggest stadium, Rogers Centre, on Aug. 1 alongside the Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid and The Linda Lindas. They'll also play Osheaga Festival on. Aug 3 in Montreal. “I promise it’s gonna be sunny and beautiful,” Cool says in the interview, possibly compensating for the chilly Hamilton performance.
The band went on to talk about their unusual off-stage hobbies — painting plates and raising pigs — and their favourite pizza toppings. “I’m a new ingredient in the Canadian pizza,” Armstrong jokes. He also reveals that he’s been listening to Charli XCX lately, while bassist Mike Dirnt has been bumping some Chris Stapleton.
The band further cemented their Canadian cred by recently shouting out Ajax, Ontario pop-punk icons Sum 41. Speaking in an interview about how contemporary musicians use social media, Armstrong recalled the first time he ever heard Sum 41: on a VHS tape of them doing pranks. Armstrong called Sum 41’s antics a precursor to today’s social media practices.
“We’ve been waiting 23 years to find out if you ever watched that VHS we gave you!” Sum 41 replied on X.
Sum 41 released a new single, “Landmines,” in September ahead of their planned final album. Green Day’s new record, Saviors, comes out in January.
