Editing Billie Joe Armstrong (section)

==Personal life==
[[File:Billie Joe Armstrong a Viggiano.jpg|thumb|Armstrong receiving his honorary [[Viggiano]] citizenship in 2018]]
In June 2018, Armstrong was given honorary citizenship of [[Viggiano]], the Italian commune from where his paternal great-great-grandparents hailed, by Viggiano's mayor Amedeo Cicala.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ondanews.it/billie-joe-armstrong-dei-green-day-scopre-le-sue-origini-e-riceve-la-cittadinanza-onoraria-di-viggiano/|title=Billie Joe Armstrong, leader dei Green Day, scopre le sue origini e riceve la cittadinanza onoraria di Viggiano|date=June 24, 2018|work=Ondanews.it|access-date=June 24, 2018|language=it-IT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624181135/http://www.ondanews.it/billie-joe-armstrong-dei-green-day-scopre-le-sue-origini-e-riceve-la-cittadinanza-onoraria-di-viggiano/|archive-date=June 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Armstrong is a member of the board of directors of [[Project Chimps]], a sanctuary for former research chimpanzees funded in large part by the [[Humane Society of the United States]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://projectchimps.org/about/about-project-chimps/|title=Project Chimps' mission is to provide lifelong exemplary care to chimpanzees retired from research|website=projectchimps|access-date=November 13, 2021|archive-date=February 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206152129/https://projectchimps.org/about/about-project-chimps/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2024, Green Day saw several [[Las Vegas]] radio stations pull their songs after Armstrong described the city as a "shithole" following the [[Oakland Athletics relocation to Las Vegas|relocation]] of the [[Oakland Athletics]] to the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-banned-from-las-vegas-radio-stations-after-billie-joe-armstrong-calls-the-city-a-shithole-3798117 |title=Green Day banned from Las Vegas radio stations after Billie Joe Armstrong calls the city 'a shithole' |work=NME |first=Hollie |last=Geraghty |date=September 30, 2024 |access-date=October 3, 2024}}</ref>

Armstrong is a fan of soccer<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/27/green-day-uk-tour-album-saviors |title=Green Day announces UK tour and new album 'Saviors' |work=The Guardian |date=December 27, 2023 |access-date=December 27, 2023 |last1=Garland |first1=Emma |archive-date=December 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227164224/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/dec/27/green-day-uk-tour-album-saviors |url-status=live }}</ref> and is one of the co-owners of [[Oakland Roots SC]].

===Business ventures===
In 1997, Armstrong co-founded [[Adeline Records]], a rock and punk rock record label which had, in recent years, been managed by Pat Magnarella, Green Day's manager.<ref name="Adeline">{{cite web |url=http://www.punknews.org/labels/Adeline |title=About Adeline Records |publisher=Punknews.org |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102014731/http://www.punknews.org/labels/adeline |archive-date=November 2, 2013 }}</ref> Adeline Records closed in August 2017 following Magnarella's split from Green Day.

In April 2015, Armstrong opened ''Broken Guitars'' (now Oakland Guitars), a guitar shop in Oakland, California with fellow [[Pinhead Gunpowder]] member and longtime [[Green Day]] associate, [[Bill Schneider (musician)|Bill Schneider]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.eastbayexpress.com/CultureSpyBlog/archives/2015/03/06/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-to-open-broken-guitars-in-oakland|title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong to Open Broken Guitars in Oakland|newspaper=[[East Bay Express]]|access-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223071915/http://www.eastbayexpress.com/CultureSpyBlog/archives/2015/03/06/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-to-open-broken-guitars-in-oakland|archive-date=December 23, 2015}}</ref>

In December 2015, Armstrong and [[Mike Dirnt]] launched a coffee company, [[Oakland Coffee Works]]. The company sells organic coffee beans and is said to be the first company to use mass-produced compostable bags and pods.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cac3846a-a89d-11e5-9700-2b669a5aeb83.html|title=US band Green Day branches out into compostable coffee bags|newspaper=[[Financial Times]]|access-date=December 22, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226005716/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cac3846a-a89d-11e5-9700-2b669a5aeb83.html#axzz3v5LUYGeS|archive-date=December 26, 2015}}</ref>

===Fashion===
[[File:Green Day - Copps Coliseum - Hamilton, ON - 7 16 09 (3730317537).jpg|thumb|Armstrong performing in 2009, dressed in his signature punk style]]
Armstrong has been noted for his [[punk fashion]] style, which influenced his followers of previous and current generations to the point of being known as a "style icon".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.menstylefashion.com/5-punk-rock-icons-how-to-achieve-their-look/|title=5 Punk Rock Icons – How to Achieve Their Look|work=Men style fashion|first=Eunisse|last=De Leon|date=June 23, 2021|accessdate=August 12, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812205126/https://www.menstylefashion.com/5-punk-rock-icons-how-to-achieve-their-look/|url-status=live}}</ref> He also launched an eye liner with [[Kat Von D]] named "Basket Case", which is a cosmetic that he implemented as part of his singing character since his beginnings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allure.com/story/kat-von-d-basket-case-eyeliner-available-now|title=The Kat Von D x Green Day Basket Case Eyeliner Is Here|work=Allure|first=Sophie|last=Wirt|date=January 5, 2018|accessdate=August 12, 2021|archive-date=August 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812205545/https://www.allure.com/story/kat-von-d-basket-case-eyeliner-available-now|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Political views===
Armstrong supported [[Barack Obama]] during the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008]] and [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 presidential elections]],<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://rollingstone.com/news/story/21472095/artists_lend_voices_to_obama_campaign|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329073845/http://rollingstone.com/news/story/21472095/artists_lend_voices_to_obama_campaign|archive-date=March 29, 2009|title=Artists Lend Voices to Obama Campaign|date=July 10, 2008|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-status=dead|access-date=April 16, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greendayauthority.com/news/3717/ |title=Billie Joe and Adrienne directly endorse Barack Obama for the U.S. presidency |publisher=Greendayauthority.com |date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101225215/http://www.greendayauthority.com/news/3717/ |archive-date=November 1, 2013 }}</ref> and [[Bernie Sanders]] in the [[2016 United States presidential election|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite tweet|user=billiejoe|author=Billie Joe Armstrong|number=645127841886044160|date=September 19, 2015|title=I know there are certain issues that we don't agree on. but I do believe there are issues we can COME TOGETHER on.}}</ref> Following Sanders' defeat in the Democratic primaries, Armstrong declared his support for [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BLT6b7aBKPI/ |title=no more lies, no more false equivalence, no more racism, no more sexual assault, no more trump.. no wonder your sons are such fucking assholes.. i am proud to say i am most definitely with her |access-date=August 4, 2017|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216090341/https://www.instagram.com/p/BLT6b7aBKPI/ |archive-date=February 16, 2018 }}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=April 2025}} He was critical of [[Donald Trump]] during the election and throughout Trump's presidency, calling him a "[[fascist]]" and a "puppet of the [[Illuminati]]",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-puppet-illuminati-1841255|title=Green Day say 'fascist' Trump could be a 'puppet for the Illuminati'|website=[[NME]]|date=November 10, 2016|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-date=June 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628013513/https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-puppet-illuminati-1841255|url-status=live}}</ref> comparing him to [[Adolf Hitler]],<ref>{{Cite web|first=Luke Morgan|last=Britton|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-america-nme-interview-1819877|title=Green Day on Donald Trump and current state of America: 'I can't believe we're still alive'|website=[[NME]]|date=November 3, 2016|access-date=February 13, 2021|archive-date=November 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124184508/https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-america-nme-interview-1819877|url-status=live}}</ref> and blaming "uneducated white working-class people" for his rise to power.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-stupid-white-people-1822731|title = Green Day blame rise of Trump on stupid white people|website = [[NME]]|date = November 6, 2016|access-date = February 13, 2021|archive-date = June 18, 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210618171228/https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-day-trump-stupid-white-people-1822731|url-status = live}}</ref> In a 2017 ''Rolling Stone'' interview, he stated that he does not align himself with any political party and described himself as an [[Independent voter|independent]].<ref name="greene">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/a-backstage-conversation-with-green-day-128391/|title=Green Day Talk Trump, 'American Idiot' Legacy, Band's Future|first1=Andy|last1=Greene|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=March 27, 2017|access-date=June 28, 2019|archive-date=June 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628013522/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/a-backstage-conversation-with-green-day-128391/|url-status=live}}</ref> He again supported Sanders during the [[2020 United States presidential election|2020 presidential election]], later endorsing [[Joe Biden]] after Sanders lost the primary.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CEm6dY5l234/?igshid=1wbjnsagc44l3 |title=@billiejoearmstrong on Instagram - Billie Joe Armstrong endorses Biden-Harris |access-date=September 1, 2020 |archive-date=October 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007192132/https://www.instagram.com/p/CEm6dY5l234/?igshid=1wbjnsagc44l3 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=April 2025}} Following the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] decision ''[[Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization]]'', Armstrong announced his plans to renounce his United States [[citizenship]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Segarra |first=Edward |date=June 26, 2022 |title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong says he's 'renouncing' US citizenship after Roe v. Wade is overturned |website=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/06/26/billie-joe-armstrong-renouncing-citizenship-roe-v-wade-reversal/7742058001/ |access-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-date=June 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220627080451/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/06/26/billie-joe-armstrong-renouncing-citizenship-roe-v-wade-reversal/7742058001/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Armstrong endorsed [[Kamala Harris]] on the day of the [[2024 United States presidential election|2024 election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-urges-fans-to-vote-for-kamala-harris-trump-has-got-to-go-3809609|title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong encourages fans to vote for Kamala Harris: "Trump has got to go"|website=NME|date=November 5, 2024}}</ref>

Armstrong has spoken out in support of [[transgender]] people. In a 2024 interview with ''[[the Times]]'', Armstrong spoke to the ways that he is still weaving his queerness into his songwriting. The newspaper asked him about Green Day's opinions on the [[2020s anti-LGBTQ movement in the United States|moral panic surrounding transgender youth]], to which the singer responded, "I just think they're fucking close-minded." "It's like people are afraid of their children," he told the newspaper. "Why would you be afraid? Why don't you let your kid just be the kid that they are?"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Factora |first=James |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Green Day's Billie Joe Says the Moral Panic Around Trans Kids is "F*cking Closed-Minded" |url=https://www.them.us/story/green-days-billie-joe-says-the-moral-panic-around-trans-kids-is-fcking-closeminded |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=[[Them (website)|Them]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Condon |first=Ali |date=January 17, 2024 |title=Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong calls anti-trans panic 'f***ing close-minded' |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/01/17/green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-anti-trans-panic/ |access-date=July 7, 2024 |website=[[PinkNews]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

Throughout 2025, Armstrong has spoken out in support of [[Palestine]] during apprearances with Green Day. In February 2025 at the [[Malaysia National Hockey Stadium]] in Kuala Lumpur, [[Malaysia]], Armstrong displayed support for Palestine by draping a [[Palestinian flag]] from a fan over his shoulder during the song ''Peacemaker''.<ref>{{cite web|title= Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong flies Palestine flag during concert in Malaysia (VIDEO)|url= https://www.malaymail.com/news/showbiz/2025/02/19/green-days-billie-joe-armstrong-flies-palestine-flag-during-concert-in-malaysia-video/167220|website=Malay Mail|access-date=February 19, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= Green Day Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong Carries Palestinian Flag at Malaysia Concert|url= https://www.algemeiner.com/2025/02/21/green-day-frontman-billie-joe-armstrong-carries-palestinian-flag-malaysia-concert/|website=The Algemeiner|access-date=February 21, 2025}}</ref> During Green Day's April 2025 set at Coachella, Armstrong modified the lyrics to [[Jesus of Suburbia]] in reference to the [[Gaza war]], changing the line "Runnin' away from pain when you've been victimized" to "Runnin' away from pain, like the kids from Palestine."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Horowitz |first=Steven |date=April 12, 2025 |title=Green Day Alters Lyrics to Reference Israel-Palestine War During Epic Coachella Set: 'Runnin' Away From Pain Like the Kids From Palestine' |url=https://variety.com/2025/music/news/green-day-israel-palestine-coachella-headlining-performance-1236368327/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250414054854/https://variety.com/2025/music/news/green-day-israel-palestine-coachella-headlining-performance-1236368327/ |archive-date=April 14, 2025 |access-date=April 13, 2025 |work=Variety}}</ref>

===Relationships and sexuality===
{{overly detailed|section|date=July 2021}}
Armstrong has identified himself as [[bisexual]], saying in a 1995 interview with ''[[The Advocate (magazine)|The Advocate]]'', "I think I've always been bisexual. I mean, it's something that I've always been interested in. I think people are born bisexual, and it's just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of, 'Oh, I can't.' They say it's taboo. It's ingrained in our heads that it's bad, when it's not bad at all. It's a very beautiful thing."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/25/green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-bisexual/|title=AOL Radio – Listen to Free Online Radio – Free Internet Radio Stations and Music Playlists|publisher=Spinner.com|access-date=November 25, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806155541/http://www.spinner.com/2010/03/25/green-day-billie-joe-armstrong-bisexual/|archive-date=August 6, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.out.com/detail.asp?id=26574 |title=Billie Joe Armstrong: Idiot Savant |publisher=Out.com |date=March 10, 2010 |access-date=August 14, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929135520/http://out.com/detail.asp?id=26574 |archive-date=September 29, 2010 }}</ref> In February 2014, he again discussed his bisexuality in a ''Rolling Stone'' article about the Green Day album ''Dookie'', which he described as "touch[ing] on bisexuality a lot".<ref name="rollingstone.com"/>

Armstrong met his first serious girlfriend, Arica Pelino, at [[924 Gilman Street]] on his 16th birthday. She became known as the "first official Green Day fan", listening to the first four-track recordings by Armstrong and Sean Hughes, encouraging the band, touring with them and acting as an occasional photographer for them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8ani3jrvy1r0t5s5o4_250.png |title=Archived copy |access-date=May 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005041324/http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8ani3jrvy1r0t5s5o4_250.png |archive-date=October 5, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/arica-pelino-mn0001988138 |title=Arica Pelino &#124; Credits |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=May 4, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805035149/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/arica-pelino-mn0001988138 |archive-date=August 5, 2016 }}</ref><ref>Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p36</ref> She inspired many of Green Day's songs, including "Christie Road", which was written about the local railroad tracks where she and Armstrong would sneak out to meet.<ref>Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p36-37</ref> When Armstrong began living in punk houses and warehouses at the age of seventeen, including the warehouse above a West Oakland brothel which ultimately inspired the song "Welcome to Paradise",<ref name="Spitz, M 2006, p48">Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p48</ref> she would often stay with him, later saying, "I would stay with him sometimes in these warehouses full of [[crusty punk]]s."<ref name="Spitz, M 2006, p48"/> The couple split in late 1991. Arica is the sister of former Green Day touring member [[Mike Pelino (musician)|Mike Pelino]] and the sister-in-law of Janna White, who is married to Green Day touring guitarist [[Jason White (Green Day guitarist)|Jason White]].{{explain|date=July 2024}}

Shortly after his split with Pelino, Armstrong began dating a woman he has identified only as "Amanda". She produced and distributed her own [[fanzine|fan zine]] and was an "iron-willed" [[feminist]], which enthralled Armstrong.<ref>Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p69-70</ref> Amanda, however, was unimpressed with Armstrong; though the couple dated for some time, she ultimately left him in 1994 and joined the [[Peace Corps]], leaving him feeling suicidal.<ref>Spitz, M. 2006, Nobody Likes You, p70</ref> Armstrong stated in an interview with ''Spin'' about the inspiration behind the Green Day song "Armatage Shanks" in 1995: "It was right before ''Dookie'' came out and I was really at odds with myself. I was like, 'Man, do I really want to do this?' A lot of time I was thinking about suicide, how it's so easy to kill yourself, but it's so hard to stay alive. I was in a break-up with my then-girlfriend, a total, raving punk rocker who didn't approve of me being on a major label. She moved down to [[Ecuador]] saying she couldn't live in a world with [[McDonald's]] and such. It was fucking me up pretty bad."<ref>Spin, December,1995, p139</ref> Armstrong has written many songs about Amanda, both during their relationship and afterwards, including "She", "Good Riddance", "Stuart and the Ave", "Sassafras Roots", "Amanda", "She's a Rebel", "Extraordinary Girl", and "Whatsername". The character of Whatsername on the album ''American Idiot'', and in the ''American Idiot'' musical, is based on Amanda.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=billiejoe|author=Billie Joe Armstrong|number=35365988027338752|date=February 9, 2011|title='She' is about a girl named Amanda. So is Sasafrats roots(title by Mike) and so is 'whatsername'&nbsp;.. Ooh&nbsp;.. That's a good factoid}}</ref>

In 1990, Armstrong met Adrienne Nesser (the sister of professional skateboarder Steve Nesser) at one of Green Day's early performances in [[Minneapolis]]. They married on July 2, 1994, with Nesser discovering that she was pregnant the day after their wedding. Their first son, Joseph Marciano "Joey" Armstrong, was born on February 28, 1995. Joey went on to play drums in the [[Oakland]]-based band [[SWMRS]]. Their second son, Jakob Danger Armstrong, was born on September 12, 1998. Jakob is a guitarist and singer-songwriter who released his first material online in 2015 and currently plays with the band Ultra Q (formerly Mt. Eddy). In a February 2014 interview with ''Rolling Stone'', Armstrong described his sudden marriage and fatherhood: "I was very impulsive at that time. I think that impulsive behavior was meant to counteract the chaos in my life."<ref name="rollingstone.com">{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Fricke|authorlink=David Fricke|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/dookie-at-20-billie-joe-armstrong-on-green-days-punk-blockbuster-20140203|title='Dookie' at 20: Billie Joe Armstrong on Green Day's Punk Blockbuster|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=February 3, 2014|access-date=March 18, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717021934/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/dookie-at-20-billie-joe-armstrong-on-green-days-punk-blockbuster-20140203#ixzz2sIQituX0|archive-date=July 17, 2014}}</ref>