I've been a Green Day fan for as long as I can remember. My earliest memory of the band was on Sunday, August 14, 1994 - the day of discovery.
My parents scored tickets to Woodstock ’94 for my brother’s 16th birthday. He was set to take my other brother (14) to my uncle’s place a couple towns north and he would take them over to the festival. The morning they were set to leave, my uncle called up my parents and convinced them to let me tag along, and since kids got in free (I was only five at the time). Apparently, my uncle used to be a good, respectable college student, so they allowed me to go. I remember being ecstatic, even though I had no idea where we were going.
My eldest bro drove us up to my uncle’s place and he packed us all four duffle bags filled with pudding cups and root beer (nutritional, right?). From there, we all piled into his jeep and headed on over to the festival. It was the most packed place I ever remember being (This coming from a guy who works overtime at the mall during the holidays). We somehow made our way to my uncle’s roomie’s tent. We got there as the music began.
I was pretty damn bored most of the time, mostly because I couldn’t see anything, but when Green Day stepped on stage, my oldest bro lifted me onto his shoulders and I was fascinated by the cool looking blue haired dude. My bro told me Green Day was is favorite band and he just bought their latest album with the money from his first paycheck. They started playing and it was pretty cool, but it got awesome when the mud started flying. ( link if you want to see what I saw.) We were too far back to be a part of the action, but I thought it was the coolest thing. I loved how they ran around the stage like kids, and how they teased the crowd, and how everyone responded to them. (When you’re a five year old boy, that kind of thing amuses you)
Ever since that day, me and Green Day were inseparable. I stole my bro’s CD player and all his Green Day CDs and listen to them as often as I could, so he went out and bought me my own (cheap, but who’s complaining) CD player and made copies of all his CDs for me.
My other brother soon became a diehard fan of The Killers while I was struggling in school. I got into the party scene and lost interest in my education. He held me hostage in my room, made me focus, and helped me out with my homework and studying, all while playing Hot Fuss in the background. I still owe my educational success to him (Even though I can act like an idiot, sometimes. That’s the influence of the oldest bro)
I look up to both my brothers. They were close to parents for me. My parents were great and all, but my brothers were my brothers, and more. We were a trio. When Brandon made that comment about Green Day ( link if you’re oblivious) they laughed about it. They’d tease each other, telling each other
“The Killers suck”
“Naw man, Being anti-American sucks”
“Your wannabes suck. Listen to real music”
“You think you’re so punk rock”
They could jab at each other for hours, laughing the whole time, but it soon got personal. They argued, it brought them apart, but I swooped in and saved the day. I made them each a mix tape of each of their favorite GD and TK songs, and switched them. They learned to love and respect each other’s tastes.
From then on, we were a tight trio again. A few years later I left home for college. My brothers left home way before I did, but they got apartments nearby. I went to stay in the dorms, so I was away from them a lot. It was a little tough at first, but I got settled in. We kept in touch using internet and phone calls, so it was all good.
This past summer, 2010, my brothers and parents were piled in the van on their way to pick me up so we could vacation for the summer when they were in a tragic accident, leaving me all on my own. I turned to music to cope. Green Day gets me in the mood to have fun and forget it all, and The Killers give me the strength to deal with it. This conflict is very confusing, so I tried listening to other music, ignoring these two bands, but that gives me nothing. No other band, singer, or even composer has given me enough emotion or influence to do anything.
I tried listening to The Killers only for some time. I felt relaxed and inspired to do good things and help people out. It helped me to reach out to my little cousin and help her out with problems she’s been having with her father (my Woodstock uncle)
A couple months ago, I switched to non-stop Green Day. It had a notable effect. I felt the need to go out and party all night with an eff-the-world attitude. It got me into drinking and acting like a punk. I got irritable and grew a short fuse.
As much as I love the sound of Green Day, it’s not a good drug for me. I like the person I am when taking TK pills a lot better; and the people around me are happier. I hate to say I like The Killers better than Green Day; it’s not exactly true; but I like myself better when I listen to The Killers.
Much like my brothers, GD is fun; TK is motivational.
They are my brothers, I love them both.
Here's a TK vid for your enjoyment
link
My parents scored tickets to Woodstock ’94 for my brother’s 16th birthday. He was set to take my other brother (14) to my uncle’s place a couple towns north and he would take them over to the festival. The morning they were set to leave, my uncle called up my parents and convinced them to let me tag along, and since kids got in free (I was only five at the time). Apparently, my uncle used to be a good, respectable college student, so they allowed me to go. I remember being ecstatic, even though I had no idea where we were going.
My eldest bro drove us up to my uncle’s place and he packed us all four duffle bags filled with pudding cups and root beer (nutritional, right?). From there, we all piled into his jeep and headed on over to the festival. It was the most packed place I ever remember being (This coming from a guy who works overtime at the mall during the holidays). We somehow made our way to my uncle’s roomie’s tent. We got there as the music began.
I was pretty damn bored most of the time, mostly because I couldn’t see anything, but when Green Day stepped on stage, my oldest bro lifted me onto his shoulders and I was fascinated by the cool looking blue haired dude. My bro told me Green Day was is favorite band and he just bought their latest album with the money from his first paycheck. They started playing and it was pretty cool, but it got awesome when the mud started flying. ( link if you want to see what I saw.) We were too far back to be a part of the action, but I thought it was the coolest thing. I loved how they ran around the stage like kids, and how they teased the crowd, and how everyone responded to them. (When you’re a five year old boy, that kind of thing amuses you)
Ever since that day, me and Green Day were inseparable. I stole my bro’s CD player and all his Green Day CDs and listen to them as often as I could, so he went out and bought me my own (cheap, but who’s complaining) CD player and made copies of all his CDs for me.
My other brother soon became a diehard fan of The Killers while I was struggling in school. I got into the party scene and lost interest in my education. He held me hostage in my room, made me focus, and helped me out with my homework and studying, all while playing Hot Fuss in the background. I still owe my educational success to him (Even though I can act like an idiot, sometimes. That’s the influence of the oldest bro)
I look up to both my brothers. They were close to parents for me. My parents were great and all, but my brothers were my brothers, and more. We were a trio. When Brandon made that comment about Green Day ( link if you’re oblivious) they laughed about it. They’d tease each other, telling each other
“The Killers suck”
“Naw man, Being anti-American sucks”
“Your wannabes suck. Listen to real music”
“You think you’re so punk rock”
They could jab at each other for hours, laughing the whole time, but it soon got personal. They argued, it brought them apart, but I swooped in and saved the day. I made them each a mix tape of each of their favorite GD and TK songs, and switched them. They learned to love and respect each other’s tastes.
From then on, we were a tight trio again. A few years later I left home for college. My brothers left home way before I did, but they got apartments nearby. I went to stay in the dorms, so I was away from them a lot. It was a little tough at first, but I got settled in. We kept in touch using internet and phone calls, so it was all good.
This past summer, 2010, my brothers and parents were piled in the van on their way to pick me up so we could vacation for the summer when they were in a tragic accident, leaving me all on my own. I turned to music to cope. Green Day gets me in the mood to have fun and forget it all, and The Killers give me the strength to deal with it. This conflict is very confusing, so I tried listening to other music, ignoring these two bands, but that gives me nothing. No other band, singer, or even composer has given me enough emotion or influence to do anything.
I tried listening to The Killers only for some time. I felt relaxed and inspired to do good things and help people out. It helped me to reach out to my little cousin and help her out with problems she’s been having with her father (my Woodstock uncle)
A couple months ago, I switched to non-stop Green Day. It had a notable effect. I felt the need to go out and party all night with an eff-the-world attitude. It got me into drinking and acting like a punk. I got irritable and grew a short fuse.
As much as I love the sound of Green Day, it’s not a good drug for me. I like the person I am when taking TK pills a lot better; and the people around me are happier. I hate to say I like The Killers better than Green Day; it’s not exactly true; but I like myself better when I listen to The Killers.
Much like my brothers, GD is fun; TK is motivational.
They are my brothers, I love them both.
Here's a TK vid for your enjoyment
link