Bille Joe Armstrong, the oldest of six children, was born in Oakland, CA. He showed a musical aptitude at a young age, and after his father died in 1982, Armstrong found comfort in music. He formed his first band with friend Mike Dirnt while they were still in high school. This group later became the alt-punk rock group Green Day, which propelled them to super-stardom in 1989. Armstrong also performed with several other bands throughout the 1990s.
American Idiot, a rock opera that follows the anti-hero character "Jesus of Suburbia" and his friends, debuted in 2004. Some of the bands greatest hits--"American Idiot," "Wake Me Up When September Ends," and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"--premiered on this album. The album was adapted to a stage musical in 2009, and Armstrong occasionally made appearances as the character St. Jimmy in the Broadway production. Despite a controversial personal life, Billie Joe Armstrong remains a popular musician, producer, and collaborator.
More about Billie Joe Armstrong
