It's hard to believe NorCal pop-punk trio Green Day broke through more than 30 years ago, and harder still to believe it's still going strong.

Nominated for multiple Grammys for 2024's Saviors, singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool will be headlining festivals across the globe this spring and summer, and making their Coachella debut atop the bill on April 12 & 19. Green Day is booked by CAA's Jenna Adler.

Armstrong drew the short straw among his bandmates so begrudgingly answered our pesky questions.

What’s the first concert you ever saw?
Van Halen, 1984, at the Cow Palace in San Francisco. I still have the T-shirt.

You can go back in time and see any artist perform in concert. Which artist and when?
I wish I’d seen Mötley Crüe at The Whisky in 1982. I would love to have seen the Sunset Strip at that time.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever seen while performing?
We were playing a festival with Slayer. Before we went on stage there was a giant wind and dust tornado. We had to wait to go on until it stopped. I looked at Kerry King from Slayer and asked, “Is Slayer responsible for this tornado?”

Who’s the artist or celebrity that you’ve most enjoyed meeting backstage at a festival?
It would have been great to meet Kurt Cobain at the Reading Festival in ‘91… but it never was to be.

What was the first Coachella you attended, and who was your favorite act that year?
I went to Coachella once kinda by accident. I got to sit in with The Replacements. It was like a fever dream. Goes to show anything can happen at Coachella.

What’s the most rock-star item in your rider?
I’m easy when it comes to backstage needs. I pretty much wear the same thing every night. I love playing a lot of different guitars. I like to eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich after we play.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing perform at this year’s Coachella?
The Misfits, The Go-Go's and Charli xcx.

Do you have a ritual right before going onstage?
The whole band does an unusual fist bump and then it turns into something off the wall. Not gonna lie, it gets a little weird.

What do you plan to do between Coachella weekends, and can we tag along?
I don’t have any plans. Maybe a BBQ. Maybe play a show with my cover band at Pappy and Harriet's. Come one come all.