Billie Joe Armstrong Shares the Soundtrack to His Life with EW.Com 

Nick Jonas, Janelle Monae, James Corden and more at EW\'s ultimate pop culture festival.

Green Day's Tré Cool dishes on band's return: 'We're ready to rock'

Famed Bay Area punk trio Green Day returned Friday with their tenth studio album,

. Clocking in at a mere 44 minutes, the collection of down-and-dirty cuts reels in the grandiosity that defined 2009’s

— and frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, 44, says the reception so far has been astounding.

“Without any exaggeration, it’s been the most positive response that we’ve ever had,” he tells EW. “I would even say more than

, because this record is probably more anticipated — where I think

’s aesthetic. But other styles — from vintage rhythm and blues to classic rock — periodically cut through the rebellious squall the band has perfected since their days as teenagers performing at Berkeley’s legendary 924 Gilman Street club.

Armstrong connected with EW to discuss the music that has most influenced him throughout his life.

There was a lot of Elvis in my house, because my mom is of that generation. All of his movement, the way he played guitar… I was attracted to it right away. I picked up that record and the first song I heard was “Mystery Train” and just how spooky it felt.

I got it on eight-track at Fiat Music Company in Pinole, Calif. I remember singing “Pleasant Valley Sunday.” We watched the syndicated Monkees television show after school every day. It was pretty cool.

THE FIRST SONG I LEARNED TO PLAY: “Johnny B. Goode,” Chuck Berry

I got my first guitar when I was 8 years old. It was a Hohner Les Paul. I had a guitar teacher back then; he’s the one that showed me how to play that song. It was the first song [where] I realized, “Oh, I’m playing something!” It shaped everything I did after that, subconsciously, for the rest of my life.

THE MUSIC THAT INSPIRED ME TO BECOME AN ARTIST: “Don’t Want to Know if You Are Lonely,” Hüsker Dü

I’ve been playing music ever since I can remember, but when I first started getting into alternative music, I picked up [1986’s]

by Hüsker Dü, because I was watching the video for “Don’t Want to Know if You Are Lonely” on

on MTV. I was immediately blown away by that song. I started a long love affair with Hüsker Dü. I wanted to be like Hüsker Dü when I started Green Day.

THE CONCERT THAT CHANGED MY LIFE: The Replacements at the Fillmore in San Francisco, 1987

My sister took me. That was my first time at the Fillmore. It changed my attitude toward playing rock & roll. It humanized it, watching the Replacements, sort of half drunk but playing. They were [having] a good night, so it was great.

THE CONCERT I’D GO TO IF I HAD A TIME MACHINE: The Who at University of Leeds, 1970

Just to see them play “A Quick One, While He’s Away,” with all the original members. And seeing [drummer] Keith Moon—he was poetry in motion.

THE MUSIC I LISTEN TO BEFORE PERFORMING: Bikini Kill

[Frontwoman] Kathleen [Hanna] is one of my favorite singers. Bikini Kill embody everything that I love about music: They’re full of power, there’s a vulnerability about them, and obviously there’s the political side. It’s great to listen to before a gig, because it totally gets me jacked up and ready to play. Kathleen Hanna makes me drunk.

Joey is the Jesus of punk. He has this endearing quality where his voice matches the way he looked. He’s incredibly handsome, in a praying-mantis kind of way. He’s just gangly and long-legged and his voice [sounds like] that—it’s like a really insecure kid that’s become empowered through rock & roll music.

THE MUSIC I ENJOY PLAYING WITH MY FAMILY: Songs by our own band, the Boo

We wanted to start a dysfunctional Partridge Family kind of band. We came up with a bunch of songs and I convinced [my wife] Adrienne to sing. She just sounds like a total girl-group diva.

THE MUSIC I ENJOY LISTENING TO WITH MY KIDS: The Who, Dog Party

Just the other day, my youngest son, Jakob, was suddenly going through a Who phase. I was all over it, to the point where I was probably the annoying dad. They’ve got great taste in music, and then they turn me onto new music all the time. Even the band Dog Party that’s out with us [on tour], I heard about them through my sons.

THE ARTIST CURRENTLY MAKING THE BEST BOUNDARY-PUSHING MUSIC

THE MUSIC I WANT PLAYED AT MY FUNERAL: “Waiting on a Friend,” the Rolling Stones

It’s one of the best songs they’ve ever written. When you’re up in heaven, or wherever you’re at, you’re just waiting for friends to come along. For something dark like a funeral, it’s a bit more positive.

THE MUSIC I LISTEN TO BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP: Cannibal Corpse

I have too much music going on in my brain. If I listened to anything else before I went to bed, it’d drive me crazy.

\'Once Upon a Time\' bosses, Jennifer Morrison on Emma\'s unraveling

Ben Higgins, Lauren Bushnell are \'figuring out life\' in new series preview

\'Chuck\' vs. Netflix: Zachary Levi, fans mobilize to keep show streaming

\'War for the Planet of the Apes\' crew share remarks on Harambe

\'Grey\'s Anatomy\' star Camilla Luddington on Jo\'s \'dangerous\' ex

Sean Penn does live read of novel, which he may or may not have written

See the Voices Behind Your Favorite \'Hey Arnold!\' Characters

EW\'s Evening With BBC America Party: See the Photos

\'Legends of the Hidden Temple\' Movie: 9 Exclusive Behind-the-Scenes Photos

NYCC Heroes After Dark Kick-Off Party: See The Photos

New York Comic Con: 10 Panels We Can\'t Wait to See