Tower Records Gets Trashed
November 11, 1997 - Broadway Tower Records, New York
You can start a riot," Billie Joe encouraged
the crowd that gathered at New York City's Tower Records for an in-store
performance. "It's your prerogative - you can do anything you want,
Cuz you're not at Tower Records, you're at a Green Day concert!"
During their 45 minute performance: Billie Joe spray-painted "Nimrod"
in black and red on store walls, showered beer and water over CD racks,
and body surfed over the crowd to reach the window, where he spray-painted
"Fuck You" on the window and then pulled down his pants to
moon the crowds gathered outside. A store manager forcibly had to wrestle
a 200-pound monitor away from BJ, who attempted to throw it over the
staircase landing where the band played. Tre managed to hurtle a bass
drum over the ledge. "The store couldn't handle it" a grinning
Tre Cool said later.
Green Day Cause Havoc At The Sunset Marquee
March 24, 1997 - Sunset Marquee, Los Angeles
The infamous Sunset Marquee was in for a shock
when Green Day stayed there. First off, Mike kicked off the night by
squatting over his hotel balcony and shitting on Juliette Binoche's
patio below. Binoche meanwhile was off picking up an Oscar at the Acadamy
Awards. "It wasn't me," said Dirnt, "Ok, maybe it was
me. But as they say, shit happens." Tre remembers, "She was
so pissed. She tried to get us thrown out of the place. But they let
us stay...big mistake." Tre then nabbed the guest register from
the reception area after he discovered the Rolling Stone's where staying
there, and made a series of late night calls to Keith Richards. Later
that night, one of the band members (which one is a mystery, but my
money's on Billie) walked down the hotel corridors knocking on peoples
doors, naked. Billie then almost got in a fight was some 80's pop star,
and they then topped off the evening by throwing their tv out a third
story window. "Glass was everywhere, thats all I can tell you,"
said Billie, "You have to live that arrogant lifestyle now and
again."
Band Kicked Off Recovery TV Show
April, 1998 - Recovery TV, Australia
The band was escorted from an Australian TV studio
when they spontaneously performed the track "Grouch" while
appearing on the show "Recovery TV." Anyone familiar with
that particular number is well aware that its lyrical content (especially
the chorus of "The world owes me, so fuck you") makes for
something less than family viewing. On top of that, the band (who were
not scheduled to perform on the show) hijacked instruments from the
house band for the performance. After whipping the crowd into a decent
lather, the band wrapped up its song, and was promptly escorted out
of the building by studio security.
Dirnt Hospitalized After Fight
June 20, 1998 - KROQ Weenie Roast, California
A fight between Arion Salazar of Third Eye Blind
and Mike began after Green Day's set as part of the Weenie Roast when
Salazar ran onstage and bear-hugged Dirnt. Mike, apparently surprised
by Salazar, then allegedly kicked and hit Salazar, leading to a scuffle
onstage and later backstage after the show. Backstage Mike was hit in
the head by a beer bottle by either Salazar or a fan protecting him,
causing a skull fracture. In a statement released by Third Eye Blind's
management, Salazar said, "I am sorry that my attempt at doing
something I thought would be funny escalated into Mike getting hurt.
That was never my intention. I simply had too much to drink and made
a very bad decision. If I had been in Mike's place, I'm sure I would
have acted similarly. My heart goes out to him and I hope he recovers
quickly. We have many friends in common and I just hope that he can
accept my sincerest apology. I am sorry, Mike." No charges were
ever laid in the matter.
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