Sunday, March 24, 2013
Billie Joe Armstrong to Write Songs for Yale Repertory Theater Show
NYTimes.com: The Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong will write new songs for Yale Repertory Theater’s production of “These Paper Bullets,” a rock ‘n’ roll updating of “Much Ado About Nothing” that will have its world premiere next March, the theater announced on Thursday.
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It's funny that the photo of Mr. Armstrong in this article is from the "iHeart Radio" show (produced by Clear Channel) where he broke down and summarily entered rehab. Poor guy. I guess fame and fortune aren't for everyone. I know I'll just sound like another hater, and usually I wouldn't bother casting aspersions on the lives of the rich and clueless, but there is something particularly insidious to me about the career arc of Green Day that arouses a unique brand of contempt in my heart. I had the dubious distinction, if it even can be called that, of building the set for the premier of "American Idiot" that subsequently went to Broadway. It was always a mystery to me how a band like Green Day, who cut their teeth in the underground, all-ages punk clubs around the Bay Area like Gilman Street, weren't simply ashamed to premier such a useless, anti-creative, unabashedly sell-out piece of garbage in their home town. Watching that show on opening night was like watching the Mouseketeers sponsored by Hot Topic. Like I said, I know I sound like a hater. For the record, I have no problem with selling out, and when someone finally signs that check over to me I will simply say "Thank you very much" and catch the next cab to the bank. What I do have a problem with is dishonesty, especially with oneself. The problem with Green Day, in my stupid opinion, and with "American Idiot", is that they somehow think they're still punk rock. If you're going to sell out, at least have the conviction to admit it. The punk aesthetic and ethos were based in part on an unwillingness to accept the hypocrisies perpetrated by American culture, and an unapologetic embracing of honesty, no matter how ugly and unwashed. Green Day has become the shiny, marketable packaging around that now dead movement, and "American Idiot" was the black bow on top. I don't know where Mr. Armstrong will find the time between rehab and tour to write music for this show, and while I understand the draw for theatre companies to get into bed with "artists" such as he, I can't imagine there aren't better ways to expand interest in a show than branding it with nothing more than a name. I know, I know, just an other hater. Apologies.
Its really cool that artests are starting to collaberate more with theater. Green day already has the American Idiot tour out and i think its great that billy joel is starting to even more reach out towards theater. i think theater could get alot more yoe and busniess if more famous artists were involved i know that thats not what theater is about but it could liven it up again. and bring something new and interesting to the table. it would also connect to the public more.
Ugh, Billie Joe, when will you quit?! I went through a huge Green Day phase....and that was almost 10 years ago. At that point the band had already been around for another 10 before that. The thing about it is that he's just not cool anymore. There was a big market for that genre a while back, then not so much. Then it kind of exploded again after 9/11 when everyone was feeling really angsty and American Idiot was released. But.......that wasn't the end. American Idiot the musical is okay. I can think about it without wanting to vomit. HOWEVER, I do not feel like Billie Joe has a place at the Yale Rep. It's not even like they're trying to go contemporary by getting someone who is cool. They're going with someone who kind of sort of used to be cool but also is old now and has a lot of drug problems. What I'm getting at is that there are SO MANY talent musicians, so I just don't understand why it had to be Billie Joe Armstrong.
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