Billie Joe Armstrong Talks IDIOT, Palin, and More!

Billie Joe Armstrong, who is currently starring in AMERICAN IDIOT at the St. James Theatre, recently chatted with Details magazine about everything from Broadway to politics.  

When asked if his past partying ways affects his performance of St Jimmy, Armstrong responded: "That's more the main character, Johnny-going from being a big fish in a small pond to swimming with sharks. I had a tendency in my past to get caught up in partying too much or making bad decisions. Stealing a limo from David Letterman during the Insomniac tour-I got into a little bit of trouble. In 2003, I ended up in jail with a DUI, and I definitely regret that."

On being to poilitical, he added: "It dawned on me at the end of the last tour that things had become heavy. It's a f**king balancing act, man. And you don't want to always write about politics just for the sake of writing about politics. I don't want to become Rage Against the Machine. Bono is having lunch with George Bush to get money from him. I don't operate that way. I stick to my opinions."

As for his thoughts on Sarah Palin, he commented, "I listen to the shit that comes out of her mouth, and I'm just in awe. These are Sunday-school teachers becoming politicians. Mike Huckabee? He's the guy that diddled you while holding the Bible. He's so soft-spoken, so Mr. Rogers. Palin is thesame-it's this sneaky way to make Americans feel comfortable, but you know they're rotten to the core."

To read the full interview, click here.

Based on Green Day's groundbreaking rock opera American Idiot, Billie Joe Armstrong and the band collaborate with one of the theatre's most acclaimed creative teams, led by the Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer, Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony Award-winning composer and orchestrator Tom Kitt, and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett, to bring this explosive, iconic album to the stage.

The show features Tony Award winning scenic design by Christine Jones (Spring Awakening), costume design by Baryshnikov fellow Andrea Lauer (The Butcher of Baraboo), Tony Award winning lighting design by Kevin Adams (Hair), Sound design by Olivier and Obie Award-winner Brian Ronan (Cabaret), as well as video design by Darrel Maloney. The Music Director is Carmel Dean and Lorin Latarro is the Associate Choreographer.

The playing schedule for AMERICAN IDIOT is Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday 8pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sunday at 3pm and 7:30pm through its closing on April 24. Tickets range from $127.00 - $49.00 and can be purchased at The St. James Box Office or via telecharge.com ( 212-239-6200 ). www.AmericanIdiotonBroadway.com.