Ashley's stage show with rock superstars
A BRECHIN teenager became the envy of her peer group across the world when she was invited on stage to join her idol, Billie Joe Armstrong of rock superstars Green Day, at the band's Scottish leg of their world tour in the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow last week.
Ashley Mitchell (16), was one of only a handful of fans at the latest leg of the tour to join the group on stage after an invitation from the multi-millionaire singer. Green Day have played to sell out audiences around the globe.
Ashley said: "I couldn't believe it, he just grabbed my hand and pulled me up on to the stage, along with a little help from his body guard.
"It was an unforgettable experience. It would have been great just to get to meet the band in person, but to actually be on stage with them when the show was going on was just incredible.
"I actually got to join in singing "Are we the Waiting" and the atmosphere was awesome. He tried to get me to dance with him and spin me around, which was quite daunting in front of 10,000 people and there were quite a few there from Brechin. It all happened so quickly that I didn't really have time to think about it.
"Basically the security man leaned over and hauled me up on to the stage.
"There was an older guy who had been taken up before me to join Billie Joe and then two younger teenagers who came on with him after me.
"I think they were all as surprised as I was to join him on stage. The boy who came after me certainly got involved entertaining the crowd. He was banging his head off the symbols at one stage!
"Billie Joe was really nice and, along with the rest of the band, they put on a fantastic show that was enjoyed by people of all ages.
"It's little wonder they are so popular all over the world. Apart from the obvious fact that their music is really, really great, they know how to come out and entertain people and make sure they have a good time.
"I have been to see My Chemical Romance, McFly, Thursday and Mindless Self Indulgence, but this was by far the best live gig I have been to.
Because right from the very start of their set, Green Day got the crowd involved. I don't think I am ever likely to forget meeting Billie Joe, in front of all those people."
The band, which is are best known for hits like "Wake Me Up When September Ends" and "American Idiot", a song partially inspired by previous US President, George W. Bush, has enjoyed massive hits in both the United States and the United Kingdom.
Green Day were recently nominated for three MTV Awards. After winning three awards at the MTV Video Music Awards the band now has the chance to pick up even more recognition for its music. Green Day are nominated as Best Rock group, Best Live Act and Best Live Act for the music awards ceremony which takes place next month.
"American Idiot", the album was released on September 21, 2004 and began a whole new era in Green Day's career.
In a way, it paved the way for a huge increase in the band's popularity. Although the group's roots are in punk music, this album was widely considered to have a more mainstream feel to it, which opened many new doors for the group literally overnight.
However, the high quality of the album was proved not only by the multi-platinum status of the record, but also by an incredible number of awards that American Idiot earned for Green Day - Three European Music Award nominations, seven Video Music Awards nominations; plus American Idiot got a number of Grammy nominations both in 2005 and 2006 and won Best Rock Album and Record of the Year.
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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