Following the announcement that Green Day would be releasing a graphic novel as “an inspiring homage and handbook for the rebellious everywoman who refuses to capitulate“, a number of music fans have taken online to voice that frustration and confusion.
Yesterday, it emerged that the punk icons would be releasing Last Of The American Girls on October 29. Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool have collectively co-authored the book, which is named after the band’s ’21st Century Breakdown’ cut ‘Last of the American Girls’. It’s illustrated by cartoonist Frank Caruso.
However, a number of users on Twitter have argued that this is not an appropriate subject for four white males to tackle.
“Boys, I love u with all of my heart and would happily take SEVERAL bullets for you, but don’t you think the main ‘rule’ to being an independent woman in punk should be to, well, not be told how to live their lives by men who have no experience in what its like to live as a woman?,” wrote one fan on Twitter, addressing the band.
Another added: “I’m sure this book will be inspiring and meaningful to Green Day’s fans, and no one can take that away from them. But if you’re going to claim to empower women with your book you should probably consider the optics of having no women involved in creating it.”
See more reactions below:
boys i love u with all of my heart and would happily take SEVERAL bullets for you but dont you think the main ''rule'' to being an independent woman in punk should be to, well, not be told how to live their lives by men who have no experience in what its like to live as a woman??
— lina (@wedrovenorth) April 2, 2019
I’m sure this book will be inspiring and meaningful to Green Day’s fans, and no one can take that away from them. But if you’re going to claim to empower women with your book you should probably consider the optics of having no women involved in creating it.
— andi zeisler (@andizeisler) April 3, 2019
I’m a HUGE fan of Green Day — they are my favourite — but why in the hell are they writing a handbook for women???
— Tania Freedman ?? (@TaniaFreedman) April 2, 2019
A writing class in 2016
Instructor: The most important thing is to write about what you know, your experiences and your perspective.
Billie Joe, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool enter.
Green Day: Sorry we're late. What did we miss?
Instructor: Just take a seat. You'll catch up. https://t.co/YRzivePmaM
— Stephen LN (@RiffsandMeaning) April 3, 2019
greenday,, a band of men,, making a book,, for women,, about how to be independent punks uhhhh
— m (@HlRAlM0MO) April 3, 2019
A bunch of guys, writing a book about the last american woman with no female contributors ???…
#americanidiots— Michael Lastre (@M_Last0ftheTray) April 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/MoonlitProphecy/status/1113420689728593920
Green Day publishing a book about women without incorporating women…sounds very unpunk to me, boys
— kathleen c. (@fzzyapric0t) April 3, 2019
It’s been a nostalgic few weeks for Green Day fans, after unreleased songs from 30 years emerged online before footage appeared of frontman Billie Joe Armstrong aged 16 in his very first punk band.
Meanwhile, Armstrong recently confirmed that he was at work on writing songs for the next Green Day album. This comes amid speculation of an anniversary tour in 2019, after the band revealed that they had been rehearsing classic albums ‘Dookie’ and ‘Insomniac’ in full.
The band are also working on a movie adaptation of their now seminal album ‘American Idiot‘.