Billie Joe Armstrong

Background

Billie Joe Armstrong is an American musician, singer, composer, music producer, and actor, born on February 17, 1972, in Oakland, California. Of his five siblings, he is the youngest son of Ollie Jackson and Andrew Marciano Armstrong. His zodiac sign is Aquarius, and he preaches agnosticism. From a very young age, he had contact with the musical world since his father was a jazz drummer who unfortunately died when he was 10 years old. At that age, he met his friend Mike Dirnt with whom he performed heavy metal songs in his pajamas at home. He continued to train in music, and in high school, his teacher asked him to perform “Look for Love” for Fiat Records.

When he turned 11, he received his first electric guitar which he named “Blue.” Sometime later, in the company of childhood friend Mike Dirt and drummer John Kiffmeyer, he formed his first band called Sweet Children, with which they performed punk songs. A day before his 18th birthday, he left school to dedicate himself completely to his band, and managed to get a contract with Lookout! Records, releasing his first E.P. “1,000 Hours.” By 1990, Sweet Children was a success. In a single year, they released a studio album “39/Smooth,” and two E.P.s “Slappy” and “Sweet Children.” Fate smiled on Armstrong and he met Adrienne Nesser, the woman who would be his wife four years later. That same year, the band had to change drummers and hire Tré Cool, with whom they toured all over the United States while staying at the homes of some of their fans. In 1991, Sweet Children changed its name to Green Day and dropped its third album “Dookie,” which brought them further under the spotlight and allowed them to collaborate with great bands and artists such as Riverdales, Penelope Houston, and Iggy Pop. It was not until 2004 that Green Day ventured into the rock opera genre with their album “American Idiot,” their most successful album which reached the top of the charts in 26 countries.

After conquering the music industry, the band ventured into the world of the small and large screen, appearing in several music videos. Armstrong participated in television productions such as “The Voice,” where he mentored Christina Aguilera’s team and made a stellar appearance at the beginning of “The Simpsons” animated film. His musical life has always been closely linked to his personal life since he met his future wife at a concert in Minneapolis in 1990. In 1994, they got married, and in 1995, they had their first child, Joseph Marciano Armstrong. In 1998, they had their second child, Jakob Danger Armstrong.