Have you ever wondered how some of the greatest songs are written? Often, inspiration strikes when you least expect it. Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong can attest to this, especially concerning the hit "Brain Stew."
Armstrong, the frontman of the iconic rock band, has achieved numerous number-one hits. However, one of Green Day's biggest successes, "Brain Stew," came about almost by accident. It all started with a simple equipment test.
In an interview on The Howard Stern Show, Armstrong explained the song's origins. "I just got some recording equipment, and I was just kind of testing it out," he said. He then started messing around and stumbled upon the opening riff of "Brain Stew."
After creating the riff, Armstrong continued to build upon it. "Then I just wrote a melody over it that was like you know almost Beatle-esque or something that kind of floated over the top of it," Armstrong told Stern. The lyrics, he explained, came from a feeling of nocturnal restlessness.
Armstrong's experience teaches a valuable lesson about creativity. Don't force it; inspiration will come when the time is right. Patience is key when writing a song.