Green Day were presented with key to the city in Pinole on Sunday – and it happened at the very location Billie Joe references in Jesus Of Suburbia: ‘At the centre of the Earth in the parking lot / Of the 7-Eleven where I was taught…’
From giant stadium shows on both sides of the pond, to getting Dookie inducted into the National Recording Registry, to yet another Number One album, Green Day’s achievements have been non-stop this year. Now, their hometown of Pinole, California have chosen to honour the punks with a key to the city.
On Sunday, September 22, the band – vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool – gathered at their chosen location of 7-Eleven for the special occasion, with Pinole recognising them for their ‘profound impact and ties to the local community’. As well as the aforementioned key, there was a commemorative Green Day plaque put up, as well as a mural tagged with their signatures. Oh yeah, and lots of their own Punk Bunny Coffee consumed throughout the day!
Via ABC7 San Fransisco, Mike reflected of where they were standing that, “We spent a lot of time in class – and ditching class across the street…” (Which is why this very store was later immortalised by Billie Joe in one of American Idiot’s most beloved songs, Jesus Of Suburbia: ‘At the centre of the Earth in the parking lot / Of the 7-Eleven where I was taught’)
The frontman himself also told the crowd gathered, “We both came together because there were so many great bands that were from Pinole…”
Watch the short ABC7 broadcast below:
Swipe to see more pics from the day:
