Billy Joe Aemstrong needs no introduction. He’s also no stranger to a great cover tune.

His newest recording ‘Black Haired Girl’ takes an old Jesse Malin track and gives it a kick via a very recognisable vocal. With a top notch production bringing out the track’s solid bass groove and Armstrong’s trademark style lending more of a power pop slant, it actually improves upon the original cut where Malin’s own huge drawling tones drove the number with a little more of a retro rock feel.

Malin’s original is a great recording – and for those who’ve yet to check out his back catalogue it’s loaded with treats – but an endorsement from someone as well renowned as Armstrong can only be a good thing. This recording is as catchy as hell and likely to bring a lot of younger Green Day fans to Malin’s extensive catalogue (ie: the legions of listeners who weren’t old enough to see the band on the ‘Dookie’ tour or earlier, or old enough to remember Malin’s debut with D Generation at the time of release), and that can only be a positive thing.

Armstrong’s recording of ‘Black Haired Girl’ is featured on the forthcoming Jesse Malin tribute album ‘Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin’ alongside contributions from Ian Hunter, Bruce Springsteen, Counting Crows, Elvis Costello, Tom Morello and others, which is released on 20th September.

You can watch the new video below. A full press release can be found beneath the embedded YouTube clip.

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“As always in my songs, the themes are all there – transcendence, positivity and global unity through music,” says American rock musician Jesse Malin, who suffered a rare spinal stroke in May 2023 that left him paralysed from the waist down. “This is what I love to do, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep doing it.” ‘Silver Patron Saints: The Songs of Jesse Malin’ is both a tribute and benefit album, with all proceeds going to to Malin’s Sweet Relief Musicians Fund.

“This record is also a dynamite and long-overdue awareness project, non-stop star time in vigorously personal twists on behalf of a great rock & roll songbook,” states Rolling Stone magazine editor David Fricke, a longtime fan.

Often a contributor to other people’s causes, Malin is grateful to all the musicians who have rallied around him, including Bruce Springsteen, Billie Joe Armstrong, Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello, The Hold Steady, Tommy Stinson, Alison Mosshart (with the late Wayne Kramer), Tom Morello, Counting Crows, Dinosaur Jr., The Wallflowers, Spoon, Susanna Hoffs, Frank Turner, Rancid and many more. The full album tracklisting has been revealed today and can be read below, while the 3xLP set can be pre-ordered HERE.

A new single from the album is available now that sees Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day cover ‘Black Haired Girl’, the original version of which was a standout song included on Malin’s 2007 solo record ‘Glitter In The Gutter’, issued via Armstrong’s own co-founded Adeline Records label. The two had first met when Malin’s band D-Generation opened for Social Distortion in the ‘90s, while Malin has opened for Green Day in both Europe and the US. They had also formed the band Rodeo Queens in 2009 – check out ‘Depression Times’ – plus Armstrong co-wrote and featured on the song ‘Strangers & Thieves’ that was included on Malin’s 2019 album ‘Sunset Kids’.

“Jesse is a dear friend to me,” says Armstrong. “I love his songwriting. He is all heart, and his passion is endless. We send each other YouTube videos (mostly old Ramones clips and New York Dolls). Every time I’m in New York he goes out of his way to make me, my friends and my family feel at home. He’s always down for a laugh or a shoulder to cry on. Jesse, we love you and we’d do anything for you.”

“When I heard Billie Joe was doing ‘Black Haired Girl’ I was so blown away,” states Malin. “He took it to another level, a lot of attitude, a lot of power, a lot of style, like everything that he does.”

Malin will return to the stage at the Beacon Theatre in New York City at the beginning of December for the biggest hometown shows of his career. A previously announced date on 1st December has already sold out, but an additional one on 2nd is on sale HERE with premium packages available via Sweet Relief. All proceeds from the shows will benefit Malin’s Sweet Relief Artist Fund.

Malin will perform a full set with his band, followed by special guests at each show that include Lucinda Williams, Jakob Dylan, Butch Walker, J Mascis, Adam and David Immy of Counting Crows, The Hold Steady and Alejandro Escovedo, with more yet to be announced.

Malin revealed to Rolling Stone in late 2023 that “I have a lot of anxiety and insomnia. Your mind goes into some dark places. But I just have to keep a positive outlook and believe.” He is now undergoing a strict daily regimen with physical therapy and stem-cell treatments. “I am getting some strength back in my legs, but it moves a lot slower than I would like. I don’t want to portray it like I’m ready to do the James Brown splits onstage. I definitely have a long way to go, but I’m blessed and so grateful for the amazing fans and friends that I have.”

Fricke adds: “Jesse Malin knows about scars, from his youth, observation and more. They all carry tales, and he’s not done telling them. ‘Silver Patron Saints’ is the gang back at the bar, coming to the stage to toast the composer and his story so far.”

SILVER PATRON SAINTS: THE SONGS OF JESSE MALIN
TRACKLISTING

1  Prisoners of Paradise (feat. Bleachers)
2  Oh Sheena (feat. Counting Crows)
3  She Don’t Love Me Now (feat. Bruce Springsteen)
4  Black Haired Girl (feat. Billie Joe Armstrong)
5  Brooklyn (feat. Dinosaur Jr.)
6  About You (feat. Frank Turner)
7  Turn Up the Mains (feat. Alison Mosshart, Wayne Kramer, Tom Morello, Steven Van Zandt, Mike Watt & Joey C.)
8  Room 13 (feat. Lucinda Williams and Elvis Costello)
9  Don’t Let Them Take You Down (Beautiful Day) (feat. The Wallflowers)
10  The Way We Used to Roll (feat. Spoon)
11  Shane (feat. Rocky O’Riordan)
12  In the Modern World (feat. Butch Walker)
13  High Lonesome (feat. Susanna Hoffs)
14  Greener Pastures (feat. Graham Parker)
15  Meet Me At The End of the World (feat. Alejandro Escovedo)
16  Death Star (feat. The Hold Steady)
17  Riding on the Subway (feat. Tommy Stinson and Ruby Stinson)
18  St. Mark’s Sunset (feat. The Walker Roaders)
19  Dead On (feat. Ian Hunter)
20  Almost Grown (feat. Danny Clinch and Christopher Thorn with Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country)
21  Shining Down (feat. Aaron Lee Tasjan)
22  When You’re Young (feat. Low Cut Connie)
23  All The Way From Moscow (feat. Willie Nile)
24  No Way Out (feat. Rancid)
25  You Know It’s Dark When Atheists Start to Pray (feat. Gogol Bordello)
26  God Is Dead (feat. Agnostic Front)
27  Frankie (feat. Murphy’s Law)