Billie Joe Armstrong's 1961 Gibson Les Paul Junior
Musician
Billie Joe Armstrong
(American, born 1972)
Maker
Gibson
(American, founded 1902)
Date1961
ClassificationsMusic
DescriptionBillie Joe Armstrong's 1961 Gibson Les Paul Junior, in TV Yellow finish. The guitar features a mahogany body and neck with a rosewood fretboard. In a later hardshell case.This Les Paul Junior in TV Yellow was owned and played by Billie Joe Armstrong during performances with Green Day. Armstrong referred to this guitar as “Chip” because of the chipped wood on the side of the headstock.
Green Day’s brand of pop-punk helped bring punk to the mainstream. The band has sold over 75 million records, won five Grammy Awards, and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
Les Paul Juniors became popular among punk rock guitarists for their overdriven sound and cheaper price tag compared to the traditional Les Paul guitars.
John Lennon
