Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong has a message for autograph hawkers

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ABC/Heidi GutmanBillie Joe Armstrong is currently on tour with his new side project The Longshot, giving fans a unique chance to see the Green Day frontman in intimate venues. However, fans aren’t the only ones taking advantage of this opportunity.

On his Instagram, Armstrong has shared a statement directed at autograph hawkers who come to his shows just to get him to sign stuff, which they then turn around and sell.

“Dear eBay autograph collectors, I know you want to get musicians to sign records,” Armstrong writes. “I understand you make a living from signed memorabilia and I’m cool with it. I’m happy to sign your stuff. But please stop shoving your way through real fans. Especially the young ones that just want to have a moment to talk.”

The musician says that, on one occasion, he got hit in the face with a guitar someone was trying to get signed.

“I love getting to know our [Green Day] fans and having real conversations,” writes Armstrong. “But when the eBay guys shove s*** in my face…you make it near impossible to get to know real fans. Please respect my and and the real fans’ space. We’re just trying to get to know each other.”

The Longshot’s tour continues tonight in Brooklyn, New York.

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