Show Notes: MTV: Green Day Begin North American Tour
Green Day are back from Europe and are spending a few days cooling their heels in their adopted hometown of Berkeley, California before they begin their swing through the Pacific Northwest and Canada beginning October 16 in Portland, Oregon. Our Berkeley correspondent, Hayley Kaufman, spotted bassist Mike Dirnt this past weekend at a "Mobilize To Legalize" rally in San Francisco. Kaufman said he was trying to keep a low-profile, and acting "really mellow". But that didn't stop her from approaching him and saying "Hey, Mike". He turned around looking a little unnerved and inquired "You know who I am?" She answered "Yeah," a little surprised at his response. No further words were spoken and Dirnt disappeared in a how-you-say, puff of smoke. Green Day's "Insomniac" will be released next week.

Green Day Tour Possibly Postponed
Equipment problems might be hindering the kick-off of Green Day's North American tour due to begin on October 16 in Portland. Since the group is taking all their equipment with them on this tour, (and we mean everything) they may not have enough time to gather every little mic stand and guitar pick, so they're threatening to blow off Portland and Seattle. When ATN called Green Day's record label, they said they couldn't substantiate the rumor, but then they didn't deny it either.

Show Notes: Tampa Bay Times: "Organizers tried to move it and reschedule it, but it seems a planned Dec. 2 show by Green Day will not come to the area, following a decision by officials at the state Department of Agriculture to ban the concert from Florida Expo Hall. Originally scheduled for the 12,000-capacity Expo Hall in Tampa, the concert was scratched last week by state officials _ who claimed the punk trio's last appearance in September 1994 brought more than $28,000 in damages to the venue. Negotiations aimed at moving the show to nearby Lakeland Civic Center had all but fallen apart Thursday, according to area promoter Dave Hundley. "Right now, it looks like the band is more willing to add a show to an already sold-out date in Fort Lauderdale," said Hundley, whose locally based No Clubs Presents company planned to promote the bay area concert. According to state officials, the price of doing business with Green Day last year proved too high. "The Florida State Fair is not in the business of bringing in events that have a likely potential for disruption and damage," said Terry McElroy, spokesman for the Department of Agriculture. Most of the hall's hefty repair bill came from fixing damage to bleachers erected for the show, said Fred Brown, director of operations at the Florida Expo Park fairgrounds site. Though the band forked over about $20,000 for repairs, the Fair Authority still paid the remaining costs, McElroy said. "There was also some damage done to the restrooms _ towel dispensers and doors ripped off the walls _ kids just getting carried away," said Brown, who noted the problems were the most extensive he has seen at any recent Expo Hall show. McElroy denied state officials were cracking down on concerts by punk bands and cutting-edge acts at Expo Hall, saying the Department of Agriculture and the Fair Authority have made no unilateral decisions about what kinds of artists will appear there.""

Show Notes: Mills: "...aside from the 1996 concert that they cancelled to go shoot the "Brain Stew/Jaded" video".