Billie Joe Armstrong

Billie Joe Armstrong (www.greendayauthority.com)

Billie Joe Armstrong was born on February 17,1972. He was born in Rodeo, California. Billie’s dad died when Billie was only ten years old. Billie’s mom had to work as a waitress. She worked at Rod’s Hickory Pit. She had to support six kids all by herself. She bought Billie his first guitar when he was eleven. As soon has Billie learned to talk, he started to sing. He would go around to hospitals and sing to cheer up the patients. Billie first song was “Looking for Love.”

Billie first met Mike (the bassist for Green Day) when he was ten. They met in school and both got hooked on punk rock. The first song Billie wrote on his own was “Why do you want him?” Billie soon dropped out of school to spend more time on his music. The former drummer, Al Sobrante, quit the band and was replaced by Tre Cool.

I chose Billie Joe Armstrong because of what he said at the 2005 VMAs (Video Music Awards) "Do what you ... Believe in!" I feel that if Billie Joe can overcome his father dying at age 10, I can overcome my mother dying when I was twelve.