Unlike Patti Smith and The Starting Line, neither Green Day‘s Billie Joe Armstrong nor The Smashing Pumpkins‘ Billy Corgan got a namedrop in Taylor Swift‘s new double album Tortured Poets Department, but both have recently spoken in praise of the artist. Armstrong went to one of her Eras Tour dates in France, and posted a picture of himself from the venue sporting a pair of Swiftie-style friendship bracelets. “Just saw Taylor Swift eras tour in Lyon France 🇫🇷!!,” he wrote. “Great production. Great voice . Great entertainer. Great songwriting. Crazy crowd. People even shared with me some friendship bracelets. Thanks a million @taylorswift . My bracelets say #sexybaby #assholeoutlaw”
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7xKMFCPNIg/
Corgan brought up Swift in a recent interview with the Irish Times, where he called her “one of the most gifted pop artists of all time.” He was defending the runtime of Tortured Poets Department — which, in its full The Anthology version, runs a lengthy 2 hours and 2 minutes over 31 songs — something Corgan can empathize with, considering how many Pumpkins albums go long. “Now that Sinéad’s gone, would it be a bad thing if somebody turned up tomorrow and said, ‘Hey, I just found this tape, and there’s enough for 20′ – or 30 or 50 – ‘Sinéad songs.’ Would that be a bad thing?,” he said to Irish Times. “Taylor Swift is one of the most gifted pop artists of all time. How is it a bad thing that she’s releasing more music? I can’t follow that … You can go on Spotify and just skip it.”
“People complained about the length of my last album, Atum,” he continued.” I thought, Well, just go make your own playlist. Just listen to the record one time – rag over the six or 10 songs you like and make your own record. Why is this such a strange concept? Have some sense of proportionality. This hyperbolic thing – ‘They ruined Star Wars. My God, this is all too much for me to process’ – it’s all a bit childish.” Read Irish Times‘ interview in full here.
Green Day and Smashing Pumpkins will be on a stadium tour together this summer, which is also with Rancid and The Linda Lindas. Green Day will play Dookie and American Idiot at the shows, which include NYC’s Citi Field on August 5, and you can see all dates below.
Corgan also has a new reality show.
GREEN DAY / SMASHING PUMPKINS / RANCID / THE LINDA LINDAS: 2024 TOUR DATES
Jul 29, 2024 Nationals Park Washington, DC #&^
Aug 1, 2024 Rogers Centre Toronto, Canada #&^
Aug 3, 2024 Osheaga Festival Montreal, Canada
Aug 5, 2024 Citi Field Queens, NY #&^
Aug 7, 2024 Fenway Park Boston, MA #&^
Aug 9, 2024 Citizens Bank Park Philadelphia, PA #&^
Aug 10, 2024 Hersheypark Stadium Hershey, PA #&^
Aug 13, 2024 Wrigley Field Chicago, IL #&^
Aug 15, 2024 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Maryland Heights, MO &^
Aug 17, 2024 Target Field Minneapolis, MN #&^
Aug 20, 2024 Azura Amphitheatre Kansas City, KS &^
Aug 22, 2024 Great American Ball Park Cincinnati, OH #&^
Aug 24, 2024 American Family Field Milwaukee, WI #&^
Aug 26, 2024 PNC Music Pavilion Charlotte, NC &^
Aug 28, 2024 Truist Park Atlanta, GA #&^
Aug 30, 2024 Geodis Park Nashville, TN #&^
Sep 1, 2024 PNC Park Pittsburgh, PA #&^
Sep 4, 2024 Comerica Park Detroit, MI #&^
Sep 7, 2024 Coors Field Denver, CO #&^
Sep 10, 2024 Germania Insurance Amphitheater Austin, TX &^
Sep 11, 2024 Globe Life Field Arlington, TX #&^
Sep 14, 2024 SoFi Stadium Los Angeles, CA #&^
Sep 18, 2024 Chase Field Phoenix, AZ #&^
Sep 20, 2024 Oracle Park San Francisco, CA #&^
Sep 23, 2024 T-Mobile Park Seattle, WA #&^
Sep 25, 2024 Providence Park Portland, OR #&^
Sep 28, 2024 Petco Park San Diego, CA #&^
# w/ The Smashing Pumpkins
& w/ Rancid
^ w/ The Linda Lindas