Green Dayz
"Basking In the ever more popular light of the worlds greatest punk-rock band, four Londoners emerge from the shadows to become the greatest Green Day tribute EVER. We have an exclusive interview with ‘Green Dayz’ (well getting second-best is close to ideal!) Gavin and Mike finish the sound-check and come to what is laughingly referred to as ‘backstage’ of The Crypt.Interview
Is this the first gig you've performed in Hastings?
Gavin: Yeah (laughs) ever. I've nevereven been to Hastings.
What do you think of the venue?
Gavin: It's a dirty old bunk-bed; good for 'Green Day' (laughs) This is the most punk rock gig we've ever done (pointing to the peeling paint and chipped walls)
Have you seen 'Zucchini' play before?
Gavin: yeah I went on their
THIS IS THE MOST PUNK ROCK GIG WE'VE EVER DONE -Gavin Munn
website.it's really good!
Mike: Yeah. (they both look guilty and smile)Mm yeah.
Why are 'Green Day' such an inspiration for you?
Gavin: Well I kinda grew up listening. You know I bought 'Dookie' when it came out, when I
was at school when I was fourteen. It's like every guys manual of things on how to grow up. beer, smoking and masturbation.
Do you remember the first Green Day song you heard?
Mike: Yeah it was Basket case.
Gavin: Yeah Basket case.
What are your three favourite Green Day songs?
Mike: Well I love ‘Minority’ and I love ‘Holiday’…they’re good songs for me to play. Have I got to pick three? (pauses) ‘She’, I think ‘She’s a really good one for me to play.
Gavin: um ‘American Idiot’ kicks arse, it was their big come-back, ‘Nice Guys Finish Last’ (cause we’re nice guys). It’s a really good video and it has a great melody. And ‘Holiday’ because it’s a kick ass, stomping song that you have to jump up and down to.
Do you think 'Green Day' are becoming too commercial?
Mike: I keep hearing this. It’s not case of them becoming too commercial, they’re a band that have been around for sixteen years. What happens in that time is that you build up a catalogue of material and you either go one of two ways. You either stay an underground band that just pass along and does their gigs blah, blah, blah. Or you become a bigger band, more people in the world hear you, you write more material. Somebody, somewhere along the line… something that you write makes a certain bunch of people, who didn’t like you before, become interested. What I think happened with their latest album is that they’ve written something that’s unlike anything they have ever written before. So suddenly a lot of people in the world are saying “actually I think they’re quite a good band.” Whereas before they might have said “it’s a bit noisy and a bit messy.” Now ‘Green Day’ have a bit more structure, their arrangements are better. They are becoming a stadium band rather than a club band. It’s not a case of them becoming too commercial, you can’t stop people buying you’re records. (looks at Gavin) I’ll shut up now, you alright?
Gavin: yeah, yeah you go ahead. (Smiles)
Mike: Well you did the first four, I’m just catching up.
Gavin: yeah you catch up.
Mike: Basically you become a world class band or you don’t, you can’t help it.
If you were going to recommend an album to someone who’s never heard Green Day before- what would it be?
Mike: It depends what their preferences are, but the latest album is the most easy going to get into Green Day. I’m the sort person who, if I liked an album I’d go and buy the back catalogue. If you gave them punky stuff, and they didn’t like it they’d say “oh I don’t want to hear the rest of it.” But if you play them stuff that’s fairly melodic they’ll go out and purchase other albums. The thing is the way the world is today with politics and the way we grew up in London… even younger people are now appreciating shit if it’s the politics that need addressing. This album kind of… maybe that’s why younger people like it because its them doing their bit for the
government.
Do you follow the same political statement as Green Day?
Mike: Yeah pretty much, I’m not American so I don’t go as over the top about it. Personally my preference is not to mix politics and music. If people want to use music to make a political statement that’s fine. I’d rather go out and use it for entertainment.
Gavin: Yeah it’s the enjoyment rather
than the…
When did you decide to become a tribute band?
Gavin: Well we were going to do Green Day, and not a tribute band weren’t we?
About sixteen years ago we wrote this song called ‘Basket Case’, and we just threw it away. Then someone came alone and stole it. Bastards.
Mike: Yeah the bastards.
Gavin: No it was a Christmas we decided it was time. Well I knew it was time to play the songs I grew up with that I loved. In the UK there are only two other ‘Green Day’ tributes. We play partly to be (Pauses)Well we are the UK’s… no Europe’s no.1… Yeah the ‘international tribute’.
Do you perform as your only job?
Gavin: Yeah we’re full time musicians.
And two of your members left?
Gavin: Ben and Ian. The second guitarist and bassist. They west to Westminster college, did music, wrote their own stuff. This guy offered them £250,000 to go and record their album so…so they went off. Well I’ve known Mike for a while and went “hang on, he plays bass and he looks a bit like Mike Dirnt.” So I got in touch and here we are.
What’s more important though, the looks or the music?
Gavin: Well the thing is, is that I knew he was a great bass player before that, and knew he could do the job. I was thinking “who can I get in?”, Then I thought f**k, Mike Looks a bit like him too.So it’s a mix?
Mike: Yeah. When the moon shines at about 45°, I look just like him.
Gavin: And on every second Wednesday of the month.
