Green Day's Billie Joe Admires Eminem

Green Day's Billy Joe / Eminem

With the classic rock sound of their new record, 21st Century Breakdown, it's been no secret that Green Day have a penchant for the epic, operatic sounds of the Who and Queen. But the boys' tastes are far more eclectic than that -- in fact, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong digs Detroit rapper Eminem!

"Looking at a guy like Eminem, the way he put his records out and how he goes from character to character and how a lot of hip-hop artists use different names, conceptually, I think that's why a lot of hip-hop records become so eventful," Armstrong told MTV.com of Em, whose first record in five years, Relapse, dropped yesterday and will be battling Green Day's latest for the No. 1 spot on the charts next week. "All of a sudden a character will come up. A dialogue will come up. The ambition a lot of hip-hop records have, that's something I can relate to."

Fair enough -- but let's just hope Armstrong and the sadistic rhymer don't share the same feelings about Sarah Palin.

Green Day will hit the road this summer on a 38-date U.S. tour. Check out the complete itinerary here. The band recently previewed the outing with a surprise hometown gig, during which they played their whole new album and unveiled an elaborate stage set featuring bright lights and a cityscape backdrop. See a photo gallery of the show here.