Billie Joe Armstrong Has Chosen The Best Green Day Song, And It’s A Doozy

Earlier this week, Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer of Green Day, sat down with Vulture‘s Craig Jenkins for a killer interview.

Part of Vulture‘s ‘Superlatives’ series, the chat sees Armstrong go back through his band’s history, picking favourites, and sharing raucous stories. For instance, Armstrong reveals that he’s been hungover for “pretty much every one of the band’s music videos” and that he once had a bizarre moment encountering a Green Day air freshener in a deserted truck stop.

“This is something that wasn’t a part of our merchandise at all,” said Armstrong. “It was just this bootleg freshener. And that moment really sticks out for me.”

But perhaps most interestingly for fans, Armstrong also reveals what he thinks the best song that Green Day ever wrote is. The answer? ‘Jesus of Suburbia’, the sprawling pop-punk masterpiece that cribs from bands like Queen and Genesis to create something wholly distinct.

“It’s so epic,” Armstrong said in the interview. “I mean, I’m tooting my own horn, but I think it encompasses so much about my life and friendship and family, and it’s flamboyant and big and bombastic. It’s one of those moments where I was feeling like I wanted to take a big risk. It’s so fun to play live, seeing how the entire crowd sings along. It’s just one of those songs.”

Agree with Armstrong? Think that he’s gotten his own band’s best moment all mixed up? Sound off in the comments below. Oh, and while you’re at it, reacquaint yourself with the nine beautiful minutes of ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ here.