Front man for
Green Day, Billie Joe Armstrong, is headed to rehab following an unusual verbal and physical rant onstage in Las Vegas.
John Katsilometes has the story at the
Las Vegas Sun:
Two days after blowing up the opening night of the iHeart Radio Music Festival, the frontman for Green Day is headed to rehab for substance abuse.
The 40-year-old vocalist/guitarist erupted in a verbal and physical torrent at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday night, profanely shouting at the crowd for perceived lethargy and bellowing about the band’s set being cut short.
Armstrong shouted about Green Day not being afforded proper respect (the band hit it big in 1988), and tossing the microphone over his shoulder before lurching off stage. He also pulled at a camera boom and nearly exposed himself midway through the set.
In a statement issued today to the Associated Press, the band apologized for the incident and said their set, which preceded the closing performance by Rihanna and followed Usher’s appearance, was not cut short by Clear Channel officials. Initially, it appeared Green Day was allotted less time than originally scheduled, but that was not the case.
Apparently, Armstrong was insulted at having a time limit for their appearance.
"One minute left, one minute (expletive) left. You're gonna give me (expletive) one minute? ... I'm not (expletive) Justin Bieber, you (expletives)!" he yelled (although Bieber was not part of the night's festivities).
Armstrong smashed his guitar before leaving the stage.
This comes at an awkward time for the band as Green Day is due to release the album "Uno" on Tuesday, the follow-up to "21st Century Breakdown," released three years ago.
The band is due to kick off a nationwide tour Nov. 26 in Seattle.
