Green Day, Morrissey: Billie Joe Didn’t Know

Billie Joe Armstrong has commented on the backlash he received — particularly in Britain — from his guest shot on Morrissey’s latest album.

The Green Day frontman duetted with Moz on the Fifth Dimension hit “Wedding Bell Blues” on last year’s covers record California Son. While Armstrong initially described working with Morrissey as an “honor,” he now tells Britain’s The Guardian that he “wasn’t aware” that Morrissey supported a controversial far right party that’s been connected with racist behavior “until the song came out.”

He explained that Morrissey was “very lovely” when the two recorded together “and then the song comes out and a lot of Brits were like: ‘What the hell are you doing?’ I really did not have a clue.”

In other Morrissey news, the former Smiths frontman will headline a new L.A.-area music festival with an impressive lineup that was announced Tuesday.

Cruel World will take place at The Grounds at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on May 4th. The lengthy lineup includes many ’80s punk, post-punk and goth acts and a smattering of newer bands, including:

  • Morrissey
  • Bauhaus
  • Blondie
  • Devo
  • Echo & the Bunnymen
  • The Psychedelic Furs
  • Violent Femmes
  • The Church
  • English Beat
  • Public Image Ltd.
  • Gary Numan
  • Marc Almond
  • Gene Loves Jezebel
  • Berlin
  • Missing Persons
  • She Wants Revenge
  • Blaqk Audio