Billie Joe Armstrong has spoken out on the power of the World Cup and explained why Green Day don't see themselves as a political band.
In a recent interview, Armstrong spoke about how the band were "not about politics at all." He explained that they were not political with their music, even though they came from an "outspoken scene."
However according to a recent report in NME, the release of 2004's American Idiot marked a shift, with Green Day drawing inspiration from the aftermath of 9/11 and the Iraq War. The band continued to explore political themes on later albums, including 2016's Revolution Radio, which was fuelled by their opposition to the rise of President Donald Trump.
Armstrong explained in the interview with the LA Times that American Idiot’ “came out of nowhere."
“It was done with heart and from a place of total confusion about why the world is changing and this dark and ugly place and I think that rings true, especially right now," the musician said.
However, Armstrong stated that after the World Cup, he felt "really proud of America."
“I felt like the World Cup did more than the UN has done in the last 20 years – that was a really beautiful thing,” Armstrong told the LA Times.
Armstrong concluded by stressing that Green Day's songwriting is driven by emotion rather than politics. While acknowledging that the band is outspoken, Armstrong said their music is deeply personal and reflects the experiences and emotions they are living through at the time. "We're definitely outspoken, but the songs are very personal and documenting where you're at in that particular time in your life," he said.
