Billie Joe Armstrong Songwriter, singer and guitarist for Green Day. Date of Birth: 17.02.1972 Country: USA

Biography of Billy Joe Armstrong

Billy Joe Armstrong is an American musician and actor, best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and producer of the punk rock band Green Day. He was born on February 17, 1972, in a small town called Rodeo, California. He was the youngest of six children in his family. His father worked as a truck driver and also played jazz in clubs as a side job. Billy Joe's mother worked as a waitress in a local restaurant.

In September 1982, when Billy Joe was only 10 years old, his father Andy passed away from stomach cancer. Two years later, his mother remarried, which Billy Joe resented and came to hate the man. Billy Joe started singing at a young age, around 5 years old. He would often visit hospitals and sing to the patients. Later, he recorded his own song titled "Look For Love" with a local company called Fiat Records. At the age of 11, his mother gave him his first electric guitar, the famous "Blue," which he still plays to this day.

When Billy Joe was 10 years old, he met Mike Dirnt at a school cafeteria. They would sleep over at each other's houses and listen to songs by rock legends such as Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard, and Van Halen. The alternative band Bay Area also had a significant influence on their music throughout the 80s. At the age of 14, Billy Joe wrote his first song, "Why Do You Want Him?", which was about his mother and stepfather.

In 1987, Billy Joe and Mike invited drummer John Kriftmeyer, also known as Al Sobrante, to join their band Sweet Children, marking the beginning of their musical career. Their first performance took place at Rods Hickory Pit in Vallejo. Just a day before his 18th birthday, and almost finished with school, Billy Joe dropped out to dedicate all his time to Sweet Children. Music became his calling.

In 1990, their drummer Al Sobrante left the band, leaving Billy Joe and Mike to search for a new candidate. The best option was drummer Tre Cool from Gilman Street. The band then changed their name to Green Day, which is now known worldwide. But it was just the beginning. They embarked on their first nationwide tour, with Tre's father driving them in his old mobile home. In Minneapolis, Billy Joe met a girl named Adrienne Nesser, who would later become his wife on July 2, 1994. A day before the wedding, they found out that Adrienne was pregnant. In March 1995, Billy Joe's son Joseph Marcicano was born, and in September 1998, his wife gave birth to their second son, Jacob Danger.

Today, Billy Joe Armstrong and his family reside in Berkeley, California. Besides Green Day, he has performed in bands such as Pinhead Gunpowder, Blatz, Rancid (playing one concert and co-writing the song "Radio"), The Lookouts, Goodbye Harry, and Corrupted Morals. His main roles in the band are guitar playing and, of course, vocals. Billy Joe is also proficient in harmonica, mandolin, piano, and drums.