Billie Joe ArmstrongBillie was born in Oakland, California on February 17, 1972, and was raised in Rodeo California. He is the youngest of six children to Andrew "Andy" Marsicano Armstrong and Ollie Jackson. His five older siblings are: David, Alan, Marci, Hollie and Anna.
His father worked as a jazz musician and truck driver to support the family. He died of esophageal cancer on September 10, 1982. The song "Wake Me Up When September Ends" is a memorial to Billie's father. His mother worked at Rod's Hickory Pit restaurant in El Cerrito, where Armstrong and Mike Dirnt played their first gig in 1987. Armstrong attended Hillcrest Elementary, Carquinez Middle School and John Swett High School before transferring to Pinole Valley High School. On his 18th birthday (February 17, 1990), he dropped out to pursue his musical career. |