Green Day are the mainstream Hold Steady

[Deleted]

I know the title sounds crazy, but i’ve done some investigation. Green Day wrote 2 concept albums about people with religious names that combine punk with Springsteen. They had to pay the D4 for ripping off Doublewhiskeycokenoice in American Idiot. Sometimes Billie Joe plays in The Replacements. One of their side projects has a song called MNPLS Song. And after I heard this theory, I heard in the Celebration Rock Podcast (https://omny.fm/shows/celebration-rock/37-raising-a-toast-to-st-joe-strummer-with-craig-f) that Craig and Billie Joe were friends in the Lifter Puller days.

[mtruslow]

I think that's giving Green Day too much credit. With all due respect friend.

[Deleted]

I’m not saying they’re anywhere near as good, just saying they’re probably influenced by THS in their rock operas. American Idiot rips off Dillinger 4. Is that really such a stress?

Randomly read about Billie Joe covering the Replacements with Tad Kubler and Little Steven too.

[doctoracula]

American Idiot came out the same year as the first THS record, so I dunno how much influence there could’ve been. I haven’t paid much attention to Green Day in years, but IMO they were one of the best bands in the world when they were at their peak. I dont think they’re particularly good at the opera thing though. I like American Idiot because it flirts with a story and characters but doesn’t get too deep in the weeds. Craig is much better at the details than Billie Joe. When GD went full on into opera mode with 21st Century Breakdown, they lost me.

[fowler1969]

Another connection there is Jesse Malin touring with Craig having played with Bruce as well and Jesse and Billie Joe doing a duet on the new Jesse album
Kindred spirits maybe

[Deleted]

There’s a cheeky Time of Your Life shoutout on the the new album