Billie Joe Armstrong explores mental health and addiction struggles in 'Dilemma' from Green Day's upcoming album 'Saviors'

The singer spoke about a track from Green Day's latest album dealing with themes of mental health and addiction
PUBLISHED JAN 18, 2024
Billie Joe Armstrong reflects on his battles with mental illness and addiction (billiejoearmstrong/Instagram)
Billie Joe Armstrong reflects on his battles with mental illness and addiction (billiejoearmstrong/Instagram)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Billie Joe Armstrong delves into the struggles of mental illness and substance abuse in the track 'Dilemma' from Green Day's latest album 'Saviors' set to release on Friday, January 19. 

The punk-rock icon shared that the track 'Dilemma' "definitely deals with mental health and addiction."


 
 
 
 
 
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Billy Joe Armstrong's mental health journey

Before he opened up about his anxiety issues and panic attacks, Armstrong talked about his sobriety.

"When I say, 'I was sober, now I’m drunk again,' that could be looked at two different ways," he told People.

"It could be someone going, 'F**k, yeah. I was sober, now I’m drunk again,' at a party, or it could be someone that’s fallen. That’s what it means to me, anyway," he added.

The five-time Grammy winner who has been candid about his battles addressed his anxiety issues and panic attacks on Green Day's single 'Basket Case' in 1994.


 
 
 
 
 
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In 2012, the band announced that Armstrong entered a treatment center following an onstage rant.

Billie Joe Armstrong says 'being around sober people' helped him in his sobriety

Armstrong who shares sons Joey, 28, and Jakob, 25, with his wife Adrienne, 54 further reflected on being happy and sober.

"I don't drink. I didn't use any kind of program or anything like that. I ended up being around a bunch of really good friends that don't drink," he said.

"There's a lot more sober people — I've noticed that, and maybe because I was the only one that was hammered before, that now I notice that people are more sober now, and it was just something that I was unaware of, because I was s----faced or something," he added.

The 51-year-old said that alcohol "gets in the way of my happiness."

"For me, alcohol gets in the way of everything, from my relationship with my family to just trying to get a good night’s sleep," he added.

"So that's why really I wanted to quit, and I was done," continued Armstrong who is set to hit the road in May with Green Day for the Saviors World Tour.


 
 
 
 
 
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"So with the friends that I have, I'm still able to go out and go listen to some music, see some band or go to a party — and it's still a fun, sexy kind of evening, even though there's no alcohol."

"And then the next day, I wake up. I'm just tired. Now there’s no shame and hangover and all that s---. I feel really good," he added.

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