All about Billie Joe

Billie Joe Armstrong was born in Oakland, California on February 17th, 1972. He was the youngest of six children in a family of wide musical talent. His mother worked as a waitress in a local diner, Rod's Hickory Pitt, and his father worked as a jazz musician and Safeway truck driver.

Billie Joe always shone above his siblings with his clear musical ability. From a young age, he was cheering people up at local hospitals with his beautiful singing. He attended singing lessons and was always destined for greatness. The first clear sign of this was when at the age of only five, he recorded his very first song at a recording studio in Berkeley. The song was called "Look For Love" and found him an interview with a local radio station, a clip of which can be found as the introduction of one of Green Day's songs: "Maria."

At the age of 11, Billie Joe's mother, Ollie, gave him his very first electric guitar, which he named Blue because of its pale blue color. Billie Joe treasured this guitar, a Fender Stratocaster; although little did he know, it was the beginning of a lifetime career in music. He continues to use the guitar today, and has had many replicas made.

Billie Joe formed a very strong relationship with his father, who died of cancer of the esophagus in 1982. His mother soon found herself a new husband whom none of the six children liked and caused Billie Joe to write his first song "Why Do You Want Him" which appears on Green Day's debut album, "1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours". He released a lot of his anger out on his guitar playing the hardcore punk rock songs he still sings today; unfortunately, he also released a lot of his anger with physical violence, both at school and at home, with his stepfather.