Bullet in a Bible

Untitled

Bullet in a Bible is a live CD, DVD and UMD release by Green Day, which was issued in November 2005. Directed by Samuel Bayer, director of all the videos of American Idiot, Bullet in a Bible documents the two biggest shows that Green Day headlined in their career, playing to over 130,000 people at the Milton Keynes National Bowl in the UK on 18 and 19 of June, 2005. Despite having twenty songs in their live repertoire, Green Day elected to include only fourteen performances on this release. The Bullet in a Bible DVD not only includes the live performances (see song list below), but features interviews with fans/band members between each song. The movie also included many of the band's wild antics.

Released during a period of high public acceptance, Bullet in a Bible reached #6 in the UK and debuted at #8 in the US.

The name Bullet in a Bible was derived from Green Day's visit to the Imperial War Museum while in England, viewing a bullet lodged in a Bible that saved the owner's life.

According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Bullet in a Bible was the seventh largest one-band concert in history (with over 130,000 attending fans).

Criticisms of the event

Many fans felt that the restrictions on bringing water into the stadium by the company that lease the Bowl were unfair. This was especially true as it was the hottest day that year, though free water was given out throughout the day to those willing to queue for the privilege.

Another criticism of the show was voiced by Brandon Flowers, lead singer of Las Vegas band The Killers, who claimed that Green Day's decision to film the DVD in England was "calculated anti-Americanism". Flowers remarked how he was offended by Green Day's decision to film the DVD in England, and not America, considering the lyrical and political content of the American Idiot album. Flowers referred to the DVD as a "stunt", while adding that having English kids singing along to the song American Idiot was a calculated move by Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong as a way of perpetuating animosity towards the U.S.

Featured in the movie

While most of the movie is mainly performance, there is also a lot of footage of Green Day being interviewed and goofing around. One scene includes Billie Joe Armstrong going up to the camera to his crotch and then says "You like that bitch!?" and laughs. Another scene shows Tre Cool attempting to smoke lettuce. Other footage includes the band joking around while having some drinks. Other scenes include,

• Footage of the band and rehearsing Jesus of Suburbia while making coughing and animal noises.
• Tre impersonating The Beatles.
• Billie Joe and Mike Dirnt going over pictures and what will occur during their performance.
• The band about to go on stage and claiming that "Why are there no clouds in the sky?" "'Cause God wants to watch his favorite band again."
• Tre putting on eyeliner and then turning to the camera and yelling "SO BEAUTIFUL! FUCK!".
• Billie Joe walking around making obnoxious noises.
• Billie Joe mooning the camera.
• Tre attempting to snort doughnut sprinkles.

The movie is much like Riding In Vans With Boys, which was filmed during the Pop Disaster Tour.

Track listing

All songs by Billie Joe Armstrong, except where noted.

1. "American Idiot" – 4:32
2. "Jesus of Suburbia" – 9:24
   • I. "Jesus of Suburbia"
   • II. "City of the Damned"
   • III. "I Don't Care"
   • IV. "Dearly Beloved"
   • V. "Tales of Another Broken Home"
3. "Holiday" – 4:12
4. "Are We the Waiting" – 2:58
5. "St. Jimmy" – 2:55
6. "Longview" – 4:45
7. "Hitchin' a Ride" – 4:04
8. "Brain Stew" – 3:03
9. "Basket Case" – 2:58
10. "King for a Day / Shout!" (Billie Joe Armstrong/Kelly O. Isley/Ronald Isley/Rudolph Isley) – 8:47
    • Features an excerpt from "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" (Eric Idle), originally featured in Monty Python's Life of Brian
11. "Wake Me Up When September Ends" – 5:03
12. "Minority" – 4:19
13. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" – 4:45
14. "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" – 3:26

Charts

Billboard 200 8 - 37 - 48 - 48 - 42 - 48 - 71 - 81 - 110 - 129 - 159 - 189 - 191 - 182 - OUT

UK Top 75 6 - 15 - 26 - 31 - 29 - 23 - 30 - 36 - 42 - 47 - 60 - 59 - 71 - 61 - 65 - OUT

Removed Songs

These songs were played in the actual live performances, but did not make it into the DVD release:

• "Maria"
• "Jaded"
• "We Are the Champions"
• "Knowledge" (Jesse Michaels/Operation Ivy)
• "She"
• "Homecoming"(co-written with Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool)

Quotes and Reviews

• "Reclaims Punk's Ambition" -New York Times
• "One of the most powerful and best concerts of the year." -Minneapolis Star Tribune
• "Green Day are still the best live shows in rock" -Blender
• "Bullet in a Bible, the filmed and recorded distillation of Green Day's American Idiot concert tour, sounds and looks a bit like a victory rally." -Bill Lamb
• "The trio once seen as snotty punks and now revered as a heroic, almost legendary, band." -Bill Lamb

References

1. http://www.nme.com/news/the-killers/24702