This is the obsession that started them all. I’ve been a Green Day fan since I was 12. I’m now 31. So more than half my life I’ve been totally obsessed with the band, their music, and of course their fearless leader, Billie Joe Armstrong. (Yes, even in spite of recent events. What’s funny is how many of my friends asked me if I was OK after hearing the news! I am a die-hard fan. A little substance-induced-meltdown doesn’t change that! I’ve seen Billie play naked and light drums on fire. So what if he dropped a lot of f-bombs and smashed his guitar? I mean, they’re Green Day, not Bieber…)

I have a feeling this post might make me sound a little crazy. Those of you who know me would probably agree that I am. Those of you who don’t know me, I hope I don’t scare you away! I know you might not get this one. Most people don’t. I get a lot of, really, Green Day? They’re still around? And yes, really. And I know I’m not alone.

Let’s break down the anatomy of this obsession. My grandmother bought me the Kerplunk CD in ’93. (Thanks, MomMom for buying me an “explicit lyrics” CD when my parents wouldn’t!) She also bought me Salt-n-Pepa’s Very Necessary. The Green Day obsession stuck. The S-n-P obsession did not. (Although I still know all the words to Shoop, but who doesn’t?) My first Green Day concert was in ’95, and my most recent was two weeks ago at an intimate show at Irving Plaza. I’ve seen them countless times in between, including a tiny 300 person Halloween Show (with another fave Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the crowd) and a few trips to American Idiot on Broadway.

This post was almost impossible to write. I was stuck somewhere between saying way too much and not knowing what to say. I’m not sure I can actually explain this one. But to give you a glimpse of how deep my obsession runs, I think it’s actually the reason I started the blog. In fact, I used Billie Joe as a placeholder image in the Photoshop file for the blog. He’s also my iPhone backdrop. When we got a fire-proof safe for our home, my Green Day signed Converse and CDs were the first things to go in. I may or may not have washed the jacket I was wearing when I hugged him, like, 3 years ago. My punk princess alter ego wants to be a professional Green Day groupie. I used to record all their appearances on MTV onto a VHS tape which I labeled: Green Day Shrine. (I wonder if my parents still have that?) There’s a lot more, but I think you get the idea.

Since this is a hottie post, and it’s already long enough, let’s get down to why I love Billie Joe. Beyond his looks and general rock star hotness. Beyond the guyliner and tats and skinny jeans and hair, no matter what color. I love all of that, and my love runs deep. (He was part of the same pre-teen hot guy wall as Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio. So if nothing else, I’m a devoted fan!) Seeing Billie Joe live is what gets me every time. He really has the most amazing stage presence. He has SO much energy (it’s hard to believe he’s 40!) and he is truly at home on the stage. I love his voice and they way he interacts with the crowd, getting everyone all excited and rowdy. He’s charming and mesmerizing and I’m completely under his spell.

All I can say is, I’m really lucky my husband gets me. Oh, and why wait to post this now? Their new album ¡Uno!, part of a trilogy of new albums, came out yesterday. You can also see Billie as a mentor on this season of The Voice.

So, please tell me someone out there gets it! I know there are plenty of crazed fans. I’ve met you! But, any of you reading this blog? What do you love about Billie and Green Day? 

Photos courtesy of Green Day Authority & Out.