May 31, 2002 | Bob Gruen
 
May 31, 2002 dataharvest

May 31, 2002

Green Day played at Madison Square Garden and everyone had a ball! They are the most fun live band around and they really involve the audience. The best part of the show is when they take fans from the crowd and bring them on stage and let them play a song! I first saw them do this a few years ago; Billie Joe would get a fan up and give him his guitar, but now they replace the whole band! It was amazing to see them pull it off at Madison Square Garden. It starts with Billie Joe asking who can play and then questioning him and the friends around him and if he gets the nod, he gets passed up over the crowd to the stage. Sometimes the guy is a looser and gets booed back into the crowd but sometimes they get a real showman and the crowd roars. Everyone wishes it could be them on stage and a few lucky fans get their chance.

May 31 - NYC - Green Day plays on the big Madison Square Garden Stage.
May 31 - NYC - Green Day plays on the big Madison Square Garden Stage.
America's biggest promoter, Ron Delsener came backstage before the show to meet the band. He told Billie Joe that he thought Green Day was his favorite group today. He said the way Billie Joe communicates with the audience was a rare talent.
America's biggest promoter, Ron Delsener came backstage before the show to meet the band. He told Billie Joe that he thought Green Day was his favorite group today. He said the way Billie Joe communicates with the audience was a rare talent.
Before the show, Tre sampled some grapes.
Before the show, Tre sampled some grapes.
Ron asked me to get a shot of him and Tre. Ron really enjoyed the show, and he stayed till the end.
Ron asked me to get a shot of him and Tre. Ron really enjoyed the show, and he stayed till the end.
Billie Joe really reaches out to his fans.
Billie Joe really reaches out to his fans.
Billie Joe acknowledges the applause as he finishes a song.
Billie Joe acknowledges the applause as he finishes a song.
Tre is a wildman onstage, very reminiscent of the late Keith Moon of the Who. At the end of the show he usually trashes his drum kit and jumps on it.
Tre is a wildman onstage, very reminiscent of the late Keith Moon of the Who. At the end of the show he usually trashes his drum kit and jumps on it.
Mike keeps the beat going and the fans dancing.
Mike keeps the beat going and the fans dancing.
When the band asked for fans to play for them, a very young guy in the front was waving a sign saying "I can play bass" and Mike picked him. He took his moment and soared as the crowd roared. The boy who played lead was so good, Billie Joe let him keep the guitar.
When the band asked for fans to play for them, a very young guy in the front was waving a sign saying "I can play bass" and Mike picked him. He took his moment and soared as the crowd roared. The boy who played lead was so good, Billie Joe let him keep the guitar.
Everybody was on their feet cheering as Green Day finished their show.
Everybody was on their feet cheering as Green Day finished their show.
Green Day posed for a portrait backstage after the show. They are Mike, Billie Joe and Tre.
Green Day posed for a portrait backstage after the show. They are Mike, Billie Joe and Tre.
Mike invited the bass player from the audience to come backstage to meet the band. His name is Dan Francia and he's from New Jersey. Mike gave him his bass to keep and Dan was last seen in a chair backstage playing his new bass. I wouldn't be surprised if we hear more about him soon, he was good!
Mike invited the bass player from the audience to come backstage to meet the band. His name is Dan Francia and he's from New Jersey. Mike gave him his bass to keep and Dan was last seen in a chair backstage playing his new bass. I wouldn't be surprised if we hear more about him soon, he was good!
Billie Joe with his wife Adrienne after the show.
Billie Joe with his wife Adrienne after the show.
Tre gets a hug from his wife. I mentioned to him that my brother has given me golf clubs and I don't know what to do with them yet and Tre said that he loves playing golf!
Tre gets a hug from his wife. I mentioned to him that my brother has given me golf clubs and I don't know what to do with them yet and Tre said that he loves playing golf!
Billie Joe says hi to his New York friends, Jimmy Gestapo, leader of Murphy's Law and Jesse Malin formerly of D-Generation who's now set to release his new solo CD.
Billie Joe says hi to his New York friends, Jimmy Gestapo, leader of Murphy's Law and Jesse Malin formerly of D-Generation who's now set to release his new solo CD.
Billie Joe also said hello to my friends, Amy Wilder and her nephew Nick Shoemake.
Billie Joe also said hello to my friends, Amy Wilder and her nephew Nick Shoemake.
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