LAS VEGAS, NV - SEPTEMBER 21:  Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs onstage during the 2012 iHeartRadio Music Festival at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on September 21, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada.  (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Clear Channel)

Billie Joe Armstrong Lashes Out at High School For Cancelling Green Day Musical

Outspoken Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has delivered an open letter to Enfield High School in Connecticut, after it was revealed that a musical production of American Idiot was cancelled at the request of parents, who voiced their concerns regarding the manner of content, including sex, drug use and swearing.

Censorship seems to be the buzz word of the week in the music business. However this time it’s not B.O.B mouthing off about his Twitter being censored because he has miraculously discovered that the world is flat.

Labelling the school as engaging in censorship, Armstrong pulls no punches in insisting that the younger generations should be exposed to the political and social landscape that they are a part of:

“I realize the content of the Broadway production of AI is not quite ‘suitable’ for a younger audience. However there is a high school rendition of the production and I believe that’s the one Enfield was planning to perform which is suitable for most people.

It would be a shame if these high schoolers were shut down over some of the content that may be challenging for some of the audience. But the bigger issue is censorship. This production tackles issues in a post 9/11 world and I believe the kids should be heard. And most of all be creative in telling a story about our history.”

I’m sure Billie Joe is even more ecstatic that the school has now chosen a production of Little Shop of Horrors to be performed in place of American Idiot. That doesn’t exactly scream punk rock now does it?