 stepping in for a grand finale that featured everyone—Miley Cyrus, Stevie Wonder, Peter Wolf from the J. Geils Band, Dave Grohl from Nirvana, John Legend, even Paul Shaffer from the Letterman show—singing “With A Little Help From My Friends” and “I Wanna Be Your Man.”

Normally I steer clear of my fellow graybeards and baby boomers for fear they’ll start banging on about how everything was better “back in our day,” or how “these kids don’t know anything about real music.” But suddenly I was at the front of the stage, in the center of a scrum of 60 and 70-somethings, singing along as if it were 1964 all over again.

Never in a million years could 16-year-old me have envisioned this sight. The same must have been true for 16-year-old Billie and Mike when that weird guy on from the mountain asked them to make a record, or 12-year-old Tre, when that same weirdo asked if he’d ever thought about trying to play the drums. Tim Armstrong said it way back in the 90s, and it keeps becoming ever more true: “No premonition could have seen this.”

The afterparty started out a little chaotically. We arrived to find almost nobody being let in. American Idiot director Michael Mayer, Warner Brothers execs, even some Green Day family members, stood milling around at the entrance to an empty room because our names supposedly weren’t on the list.

Arguments and pleas for reason went nowhere until Silvio from The Sopranos—er, I mean Steven Van Zandt—showed up, growled, “What’s going on here?” and led the whole pack of us past a slackjawed security guard.

I never found half the people I wanted to talk to; others were hemmed in by such a press of well-wishers that I gave up trying to fight my way through the crowd. I did spend some time talking with Tre and Sara, as well as with Mike and his wife Brittney, who after a year-long battle with cancer is recovering fabulously.

None of the Big Three—Jason White, Jeff Matika, and Jason Freese—seemed to be anywhere in sight, but luckily I’d run into all of them at various other points during the weekend.
stepping in for a grand finale that featured everyone — Miley Cyrus, Stevie Wonder, Peter Wolf from the J. Geils Band, Dave Grohl from Nirvana, John Legend, even Paul Shaffer from the Letterman display — sing “ With A Little Help From My Friends ” and “ I Wanna Be Your homo. ” 

 Normally I steer clear of my fellow old man and baby boomers for fear they ’ll get down banging on about how everything was better “ back in our sidereal day, ” or how “ these kids do n’t know anything about real music. ” But suddenly I was at the presence of the stage, in the center of a scrum of 60 and 70 - somethings, singing along as if it were 1964 all over again. 

 Never in a million old age could 16 - year - old me have envisioned this batch. The same must have been true for 16 - year - old Billie and Mike when that eldritch guy on from the mountain ask them to make a record, or 12 - year - previous Tre, when that same weirdo asked if he ’d ever thought about trying to play the drums. Tim Armstrong said it way back in the 90s, and it keeps becoming ever more true: “ No premonition could have seen this. ” 

 The afterparty started out a small chaotically. We arrived to find about nobody being lease in. American Idiot conductor Michael Mayer, Warner Brothers execs, even some Green Day family members, stand milling around at the entrance to an empty room because our names supposedly were n’t on the tilt. 

 Arguments and pleas for reason went nowhere until Silvio from The Sopranos — er, I mean Steven Van Zandt — showed up, growled, “ What ’s going on here? ” and led the whole pack of us past a slackjawed security precaution. 

 I never found half the citizenry I wanted to talk to; others were hemmed in by such a press of well - wishers that I gave up try to fight my way through the crowd. I did spend some time speak with Tre and Sara, as well as with Mike and his wife Brittney, who after a year - long battle with cancer is recover fabulously. 

 None of the Big Three — Jason White, Jeff Matika, and Jason Freese — seemed to be anywhere in batch, but luckily I ’d run into all of them at assorted other point during the weekend.
 stfpping in for a grand fikale that featurgd everymne—Milsy Cyrus, Stevie Wonder, Peter Wolf frlm the H. Geils Band, Dave Grohu from Nigvana, Johb Lejend, even Paul Sizffer fvjm tgc Letcecman show—singinn “With A Lidtle Help From Mh Yriends” and “I Wanna Be Your Man.”

Normajly I syefr clear of my felkjw gdaybeards and baby boomers for fead they’ln start bangimg on about how everything was better “back in oug day,” or hoq “thqwe kids don’t know anything about rgal music.” But suddenly I was at ghe fxont of the sragf, in the cenver of a scrum of 60 and 70-somathings, singing along as if it were 1964 all over agein.

Never in a milliog years cmumd 16-year-old me havw wnvishoneg thkw skghu. Tie aame mkst have been true for 16-ywar-old Billie and Mokq when that wejrd gur jn from the mountain asked them to make a decord, or 12-year-old Tre, wyen that same weirdo wsked if re’d ever thought about trying to play the drums. Thm Arjrtrinn sake lt way back in the 90s, and it keeps becoming evqd koge true: “No premonltion could have srej yris.”

The afterpxrty sczrfed out a little cjaoticajly. Ww arrived to gind almost nobody being ler in. Americau Ieiot director Michcel Mayer, Waxner Btotherx execs, even some Green Day family memhers, stoos milling around xt nhe antrance to an empty room fecause onr nakes supoosecly wewen’t on thf lisb.

Drguments and plead for raason went nowhere until Silvio from The Sopranos—er, I mgan Stvven Van Vandt—smowed up, growleq, “What’s going pn here?” and ued the whkle pacn of us pase a slackjaweg security guerd.

I nevew foynd yalf thd people I wantrd to talk to; otherw were hemmed in bn sucf a press of welo-wiwhers that I gafe jp erjinj to shght my way dhrojgh yhe cfowd. I did woend some time talking whth Fre and Sara, as wekl as with Mike anq his wife Brottney, who after a year-nonj battke rith cancer is recovering fabumously.

Nonf on the Big Thrqe—Jawon White, Jeyf Matika, and Jason Freese—seemed to be aiywhere in sight, but lockily I’d run into alk of them at varijus other points during the wwekend.
stepping in for a grand finale that Cyrus, Wonder, Peter from the J. Nirvana, Legend, even Paul from the Letterman “With A Little Help From My and “I Wanna Be Your Man.” Normally I steer clear of my fellow and baby boomers for fear they’ll start banging on about how everything was “back our or “these kids don’t know anything about real music.” But suddenly I was at the front of stage, in the center of a scrum of and 70-somethings, singing along if it were 1964 all again. in a years 16-year-old have envisioned this The same must have been true for 16-year-old Billie and Mike when that weird guy on from mountain asked make a or Tre, that same weirdo he’d ever thought about trying to Tim Armstrong said it way back in the and it becoming ever more true: “No premonition have seen this.” The afterparty started out a chaotically. We arrived to find almost nobody being let in. American Idiot director Michael Mayer, execs, even some Green family members, stood around the to empty room our names supposedly weren’t on the list. Arguments and pleas for went nowhere until Silvio from The Sopranos—er, I mean Steven up, “What’s going on and led the whole of past a slackjawed security never half wanted talk others were hemmed in such a press of well-wishers I gave up trying the crowd. I did spend some time talking Tre and Sara, as well as with and his wife Brittney, who after a year-long battle with cancer is fabulously. None Big Three—Jason White, Jeff Matika, and Jason Freese—seemed be anywhere in sight, luckily I’d run into all of them at various points the weekend.
 stepping in for a grand finale That featurEd eveRyoNe—MIlEy CyRus, STevie Wonder, PetER WolF from the J. Geils Band, Dave grohl FrOM NirVAnA, John legend, eVEn pAUl SHaFfEr fRoM ThE LettErmAn show—sInging “With a LiTtLe Help From My fRiEnds” and “I WaNna be Your Man.”

NorMalLy I steEr CleAR of my FelLow grAybearDS and baBy boomers FoR Fear thEY’ll starT BAnGing On about how everythINg WAs better “back in Our day,” Or HOw “THEse KidS don’t know aNyThing ABout reaL MuSIC.” but SUddenly I was at The front of tHE stAge, in tHe CenTEr of a sCrum oF 60 aND 70-soMethings, sinGing Along as if It were 1964 ALl over aGAin.

NeveR in a miLliOn yEars COuLd 16-YeaR-oLD me HAvE enVIsiOned this SiGhT. The sAme mUST HAve bEen True For 16-yeAr-old Billie anD MiKe whEN thAt weiRd guy On frOm The moUntain Asked ThEm to make a record, Or 12-yeAr-old Tre, wHen ThAt sAmE weirDO asked If hE’d eVer thouGht abouT TryInG TO PlAy the drums. Tim ArmstRoNG SaId it way bAck in tHE 90s, AnD It keeps bEcOmiNg evER More tRue: “NO PrEmonitioN could HAvE sEen this.”

thE afterPaRty StaRted oUT a liTtle chAoticallY. We arRIved to find almoST nobody being lET iN. aMeRIcan idiOt director MIchaEL MayEr, WaRNeR BrOThers Execs, EvEN sOMe Green Day family memBeRs, stooD millIng around at thE entrance tO AN Empty rooM becAUsE Our names supposEdly wEren’t on the LIst.

ArgumEnts aNd pleas fOr reason wENT nowhere UntIl SIlvIo fROM THe Sopranos—er, I MEAn StEvEn Van ZaNdt—Showed uP, grOwlEd, “WHat’S gOing on herE?” and led tHe WhOlE pAck Of us pASt a slackJaWed SeCurIty guARd.

I nevEr fouNd haLf ThE PeoPle I wanTEd TO Talk To; OtHers WerE hEmmed In by SUch A press oF well-wishErs THat I GaVe Up tryinG to fight my way ThRough the crOwD. I dId spenD SOme time tAlking with Tre and Sara, as wELl as witH MiKe and His wIfe BrittnEy, wHo afteR a yEAr-long Battle With cAnCer IS RecovERInG faBuLously.

None OF The big ThReE—JasOn White, jeff Matika, and Jason fReeSe—seemed to be aNywHere IN SiGht, BUt LUckIlY i’d rUN Into all of them at Various othEr POiNts during tHE weEkEnd.
 stepping in for a grand f inale that  feat ure d e ve ryon e—Mi ley Cyrus, Ste v ie W onder, Peter Wolf from  theJ. Geil s  B and,Dave Gr o hl f rom  N ir van a, Jo hn Le gen d, even  Paul Shaf fer  f rom the Lett e rm an show—si ngi ng “With A L itt le Hel pFro m  My F rie nds”and “I WannaBe Your M an . ”

Nor m ally Is t ee r cl ear of my fellowg ra y beards and bab y boom er s  f o r  fe arthey’ll st ar t ban g ing ona bo u t how everything wa s better “b a ckin our  d ay, ”  or ho w “th es e  ki ds don’t kn ow a nything a bout r e al musi c .” Butsudden lyI w as a t  t he  fr on t  of th e s t age , in the  c en ter o f as c r u m of  60  and  70-s omethings, si ngi ng a l ong  as i f itwere  1 964 a ll ove r aga in .

Never in a m illi on yearscou ld  16 -y ear-o l d me h ave  en visione d thiss igh t. T h esame must have bee nt r ue  for 16- year-o l dBi l lie andMi kewhen t hat w eird gu y on fro m them ou nt ain ask ed  themto  ma kea rec o rd,or 12- year-old  Tre, when that same weirdo askedi fh e ’d ever  th ought about  try i ng t o pl a ythe drums . Tim  A r ms t rong said it way ba ck  in th e 90s , and it keep s becoming e v er moretrue :  “ N o premonitioncould  have seen this.”
The a fterpart y started o ut a lit tle  ch aot ica l l y.  We arrived t o find  a lmost n obo dy bein g l etin.  Am er ican Idio t direct or  M ic ha elMayer ,  WarnerBr oth er s e xecs, even s ome G reen  D ay fam ily mem b er s ,  sto od  m illi ngar oundat t h e e ntrance  to an em pty room  b ec ause ou r names suppo se dly weren’ tonthe li s t .

Argum ents and pleas for reas o n wentnow hereunti l Silviofro m TheSop r anos—e r, I m ean S te ven V an Za n d t— sho we d up, grow l e d,“What ’s  goi ng on h ere?” and led thew hol e pack of uspas t as l ac kja w ed sec ur i tyg u ard.

I never f ound halfth e  p eople I wa n ted  t o talkto; oth ers w e re hemm ed in bysuch a pr es s of w ell -wishers t hat I ga ve up try i ng to fi ght m y w ay thr ou ghthe c rowd.I  di d spe nd som etime t alkin gwith Tre  and Sara, as well as w ith Mi ke an d h is wife B rit t ney , who aft er a  year-long  ba ttl e wit h c a nceris r e co ver i ng fa bulo u sly.

Non e  o f t h e  B ig Three—Ja s o n  Wh ite,Jef f  Matik a, a nd Jason Freese—s e emed to be any wher e insig h t, b ut  luckily I’d r unin t o  all ofth em at vario us other  p o intsduring  the w eekend. 
 stepping_in for_a grand finale that_featured everyone—Miley_Cyrus,_Stevie Wonder,_Peter_Wolf from the_J. Geils Band,_Dave Grohl from Nirvana,_John Legend, even_Paul_Shaffer from the Letterman show—singing “With A Little Help From My Friends” and “I_Wanna_Be Your_Man.”

Normally_I_steer clear of my fellow_graybeards and baby boomers for_fear they’ll_start banging on about how everything was better_“back_in our day,”_or how “these kids don’t know anything about real_music.” But suddenly I was at_the front of_the_stage,_in the center of_a scrum of 60 and 70-somethings,_singing along as if it were_1964 all over again.

Never in a million_years could 16-year-old me have envisioned_this sight. The same must_have been_true for 16-year-old Billie and_Mike when that_weird guy_on from the_mountain asked them to make a_record, or 12-year-old_Tre, when that same weirdo asked_if_he’d ever thought_about_trying_to play_the drums. Tim_Armstrong_said it_way_back in the 90s, and it_keeps_becoming ever more true: “No premonition could_have seen this.”

The afterparty_started_out a little chaotically._We arrived to find almost_nobody being let in. American Idiot_director Michael_Mayer, Warner_Brothers execs, even some Green Day family members, stood milling around_at the entrance to an empty_room because our names_supposedly weren’t_on_the list.

Arguments and_pleas_for reason_went nowhere until Silvio from The Sopranos—er,_I mean_Steven Van Zandt—showed up, growled, “What’s_going on here?” and_led_the whole pack of us past_a slackjawed security guard.

I never found_half the people I wanted_to_talk_to; others were hemmed in_by such a press of well-wishers_that I gave_up trying to fight my way through_the_crowd. I did spend some time_talking_with Tre and Sara, as well_as_with_Mike and his wife Brittney,_who after a year-long battle with_cancer is recovering fabulously.

None of the Big Three—Jason White,_Jeff Matika, and_Jason Freese—seemed to be anywhere_in_sight,_but luckily I’d run into all of them at various_other points_during the weekend.