Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has added fuel to the fire regarding the Network, the mysterious band on Armstrong’s Adeline Records label that some fans claim is actually Green Day itself in disguise. With rumors flying that the Network’s debut album,Money Money 2020, is a new Green Day disc that was rejected by their record company, Armstrong left this message on Green Day’s official website.
“All I gotta say is f-k the Network, those guys are totally spreading rumors,” Armstrong said. “I tried to do those guys a favor by bringing them to this country, and putting out their record, and this is how I get repaid, by talking sh-t about my band. Anyways, unfortunately, there’s a contract and I have to put out their record, so the only thing I can say is: f-k you, Network. Bring it on.”
Despite Armstrong’s denial, no one has seen the Network without masks on, and parts of their album sounds suspiciously like Green Day, particularly the vocals.
Two of the Network’s members go under names associated with Green Day. The band’s leader, Fink, says he is an Aquarius and funded the album out of his own money. Billie Joe Armstrong is an Aquarius and, since he owns Adeline Records, did in fact fund the Network’s album. Green Day also wrote a song called “The Ballad Of Wilhelm Fink.”
Another member of the Network is known as Captain Underpants. This is a name that drummer Tre Cool used in a pre-Green Day band called theLookouts.
The members of Green Day, under their real names, make a guest appearance on Iggy Pop’s new album, Skull Ring, due out November 4.
An official “new” Green Day disc is due out in early 2004.