Music virginity

My friend Danny coined the term "music virginity". In our minds, the band or artist that takes your music virginity is that first band that really means a lot to you. It's the first band that you go out of your way to purchase all their CDs, buy all the merch, absorb every single fact about them, know every song by heart. And it's the band where you find out who influenced them, so you listen to those bands, and so on and so forth. It's the band that you would spend all of your money on, every single last dime, just to see them live, just to be in their presence. They are the first band that truly means something to you, and stirs something inside of you that no other band has done before.

That band for me is Green Day.

I had always known Green Day. My mom was always a fan, and what kid, or anybody for that matter doesn't know "Basketcase" and "When I Come Around"? However, I wasn't obsessed. I vividly remember the day that all changed. Actually it was two separate occasions, but never mind that. 

The first instance was in the backseat of my mom's Jeep. I was on my way to school and my mom was listening to a new CD I hadn't heard before. I knew it was Green Day because I recognized the song American Idiot, and then the second track shuffled on the CD: Jesus of Suburbia. I was blown away by how fucking awesome that song was, and I wasn't even able to listen to it in its entirety. 

A few days later I was sitting in my sixth grade classroom, and this girl Maria (who ended up being one of my best friends in my entire life) was sitting across the aisle from me. It was study hall, so everyone was up and about doing whatever 11-12 year olds do (goddamn we were young!!!) and Maria looked at me and this is how our conversation went.

Maria: Do you like Green Day?
Me: Yeah I do.
Maria: Do you know that song Jesus of Suburbia?
Me: (I really thought she said Siberia) Yeah it's awesome!
Maria: Yeah the lead singer is really hot

Well, that night I wanted to hear that song again, so I went on a  6th grade Google rampage to find it. Too bad it was suburbia, not Siberia. I was clearly an idiot.

That's what got the ball rolling. Not only did I discover the greatest punk band on the face of this Earth, I found the first real best friend I had. Through Green Day, Maria and I formed not only a friendship but an unhealthy obsession. Seriously. We would NOT stop talking or thinking about Green Day. It was to the point where if we heard the number 34 in math class, we would look at each other because that was Billie Joe's current age. Kind of creepy, but whatever.

We inhaled every single fucking thing we could about them. Green Day Authority (the best Green Day site out there) was our homepage and we watched every youtube video ever, watched Bullet in a Bible until they skipped, knew every single fucking song, knew their quotes, and could even recite their birthdays, favorite meals, spouses birthdays, different tattoos, and weird things like that. I was also born on February 1, 1994, the exact release date of "Dookie" and I always claim that's fate hehehe

Green Day changed my life, and I owe them so much. Especially the song Jesus of Suburbia. My cat Gloria is even named after a Green Day song. 

Anyway, back to music virginity. Danny continued to say "the band that takes your music virginity can fuck you at anytime" which means, it doesn't matter if you aren't hardcore creepily obsessed anymore. It's the band that changed your entire life, and that's all that matters.

I saw the American Idiot musical on Broadway and Billie Joe was performing the part of St. Jimmy. He was on stage for one song. 4 minutes. And I cried. That's the closest I've ever been to Green Day. 

Until now. 

Green Day is releasing a set of three albums, and going on a North American tour. Great. I'd get to see them in an arena and all that? 

EVEN BETTER.

They're playing a random show at Irving Plaza this Saturday. The Irving Plaza, like holds 1,200 people, the most intimate and crazy punk show ever, Irving Plaza. Green Day has played to over 50,000 at Milton Keynes. I will be seeing them in a place that can hold 1,200 people.  Thinking about it makes me get so giddy.

Not to mention, private ticket companies bought out half the tickets and starting selling them for ridiculous prices, and only 700 were released online at $63. I managed to get five tickets by some stroke of luck. Other tickets are going for $400 and upward. This show is going to be FUCKING LEGENDARY. 

Needless to say, Green Day can "fuck me" anytime they'd like, and this Saturday is proof of that.

(all photo credit goes to their respective owners)