Time In Rehab Won't Keep Billie Joe Armstrong Off 'The Voice'
by Sean ComerBillie Joe Armstrong's weekend on-stage meltdown and ensuing announced substance-abuse rehab stay won't throw a wrench into the punk veteran's planned guest mentorship on NBC's "The Voice" this fall.
"We're taped and all set," a network representative told Deadline. The Green Day lead singer and guitarist filmed his time earlier this summer with contestants of the team picked by judge Christina Aguilera.
At Friday's Clear Channel-sponsored iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas, Armstrong went vintage punk when he was reportedly signaled onstage after stopping the bad midway into their hit "Basket Case" that he needed to wrap their set within the next 60 seconds.
It bears noting that the band reportedly took the stage 30 minutes later than scheduled.
"Give me a f**king break," Armstrong let loose. "One minute left. One minute f**king left. You're gonna give me f**king one minute? Look at that f**king sign right there. One minute. Let me f**king tell you something. Let me tell you something. I've been around since f**king 1980-f**king-8 and you're going to give me one f**king minute? You gotta be f**king kidding me. I'm not f**cking Justin Bieber."
Considering the band was following Bieber's mentor, Usher, it would've been something to have seen the look on the R&B star's face at that pot shot. In any case, Armstrong put an exclamation point on his outrage by demolishing his guitar. Bassist Mike Dirnt joined in at Armstrong's side quite gleefully, while drummer Tré Cool .... well, Tré just stood back by his kit and watched.
Over the weekend, Armstrong announced he was voluntarily entering a treatment program, according to The Los Angeles Times.
"We would like everyone to know that our set was not cut short by Clear Channel and to apologize to those we offended at the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas. We regretfully must postpone some of our upcoming promotional appearances," the band wrote to fans.
For what it's worth, nobody seemed too "offended." Judging from the video below, fans were with Armstrong's brief path of destruction. No offense apparently taken, guys.
The band's new album Uno - the first in a three-album succession, and the band's first studio release since 2009's 21st Century Breakdown - hits stores Monday, with a supporting tour originally set to begin Nov. 26.