Billie Joe Armstrong Covers The Avengers’ “Corpus Christi”
Three weeks ago, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong kicked off what he calls No Fun Mondays: Each week, he shares a cover of a song, freshly recorded from his home studio. So far, we’ve heard “I Think We’re Alone Now,” “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory,” and “Manic Monday” featuring Susanna Hoffs. This week, though, No Fun Monday came early! Billie Joe just shared his cover of “Corpus Christi,” by the punk band The Avengers. The band originally released it in 1983.
Billie Joe introduced his cover:
Welcome to another No Fun Mondays, but on a Sunday (Easter edition). This is one of my all time favorite songs by the legendary San Francisco band The Avengers.. I give you “Corpus Christi”
Billie’s cover captures the original song’s spirit and energy. On the verses, Billie puts his own stamp on the vocals, not mimicking Avengers frontwoman Penelope Houston. For the choruses, Billie recreates the group chant with his own harmonies, giving it a more polished sound. “Corpus Christi” is a great fit for Billie Joe, and even sounds like an actual Green Day song. The new cover also comes with a simple lyric video.
Watch the lyric video for Billie Joe’s “Corpus Christi” cover below:
Father Of All… & “Otis Big Guitar Mix” EP
Green Day’s new album Father Of All… just came two months ago. It features the singles “Father Of All…,” “Fire, Ready, Aim,” “Oh Yeah!,” and “Meet Me On The Roof.”
It’s a fun and straightforward record, weaving in elements of Motown along with Green Day’s brand of punk rock. While it’s not their strongest or most ambitious release (see instead American Idiot, 21st Century Breakdown, and the trilogy), it is refreshingly carefree and fast-paced.
Then, surprising fans everywhere, Green Day just put out an EP at the beginning of April. The “Otis Big Guitar Mix” EP features alternate versions of three trilogy songs. Sure, the trilogy came out 8 years ago, but it’s never too late for more goodies from it, right? Hear new mixes of “Lazy Bones,” “Wild One,” and “Oh Love.”
Changing Labels & More Music Possibilities
In a series of interviews last September, Green Day did imply that Father Of All… would be their last album with Warner Records. They’ve been with the major label since the early 1990s, and all of their albums from Dookie onwards have been released by Warner.
Additionally, at the time, the band members also suggested the possibility of them releasing a second album 2020 – possibly on their own label after leaving Warner.
Billie Joe has repeated this idea, including in an interview last month. He stated that he’d written several songs in the previous six months and had several left over from the Father Of All… sessions. However, he did not indicate how they would release new music this year, if they indeed do so. We’ll just have to wait and see.
Now, Billie Joe recently told Kerrang that he’s written another six songs since the quarantines began. We could have a ton of new music ready once the pandemic is over!
Hella Mega Tour
Later this spring, Green Day will embark on the Hella Mega Tour, co-headlining with Fall Out Boy and Weezer.
Assuming COVID-19 doesn’t derail things, the tour is set to start on May 24th in Moscow, and extends through Europe, culminating in a Dublin show on June 29th. Then the Hella Mega Tour will take the bands to North America, starting in Seattle on July 17th and finishing in Philadelphia on August 29th. In November, the tour will go to Australia and New Zealand.
Asian dates have been cancelled due to Coronavirus, but will hopefully be rescheduled once the illness is under control. Dates in other territories have not been announced.
Tickets for the Hella Mega Tour are on sale now. Be sure to get tickets before it’s too late! Some dates have already sold out, so don’t wait!
Enjoy Billie Joe’s cover of “Corpus Christi,” and be sure to spin Green Day’s recent Father Of All… album and new “Otis Big Guitar Mix” EP. Get ready for more music from Green Day, potentially out this summer, and for their Hella Mega tour with Fall Out Boy and Weezer. Keep checking back here for all the latest Green Day music news.
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