BURBANK, Calif. (Top40 Charts/ Warner Bros. Records) - The video for the new version of Green Day's platinum single '21 Guns,' now available from all digital service providers, will premiere on AOL
Music on February 1st.
'Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals'
Both the song and video feature the members of Green Day, singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool, recording in the studio with the cast of American Idiot � the critically acclaimed stage version of Green Day's chart-topping 2004 album that completed a record-breaking three-month run at The Berkeley Repertory Theatre and is now moving to Broadway where it opens on April 20th. The video was shot by Doug Hamilton, who lensed all the behind-the-scenes documentary-style footage for the theatrical production.
'21 Guns,' originally featured on the band's gold album 21st Century Breakdown, has been newly arranged by Tom Kitt, who is credited with the show's arrangements and musical supervision. The new version was recorded at Green Day's studio in Oakland, CA and produced by Armstrong. Prominently featured on the track are American Idiot cast members John Gallagher, Jr., who won a Tony Award in 2007 for Spring Awakening, Matt Kaplan, Michael Esper, Rebecca Naomi Jones (Passing Strange), Christina Sajous, and Mary Faber. Though the bulk of the songs in the musical are taken from American Idiot, four songs from 21st Century Breakdown, including '21 Guns,' are featured in the show.
A brand-new three-song 21 Guns EP, featuring the original version, the new version with the American Idiot cast, and a live version recorded in Japan, is now available for purchase on iTunes.
The digital version of the original '21 Guns' has sold more than one million downloads, while the video won three 2009 MTV Video Music Awards in September, including 'Best Rock Video.' The band took home their second American Music Award for 'Favorite Alternative Music Artist' in November. In addition, Green Day have been nominated for three 2010 Grammy Awards, including two for '21 Guns ('Best Rock Song' and 'Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals') and one for 21st Century Breakdown, which was nominated for 'Best Rock Album.' The band will perform '21 Guns' live with the Broadway cast of American Idiot at the Grammy Awards ceremony, which will air on CBS on Sunday, January 31st at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
