Billie Joe Armstrong Reckons The VMAs Aren't Supporting Rock Bands

Yesterday’s 2015 MTV Video Music Awards saw pop royalty bask in the spotlight of one of the biggest music award shows of the year, but Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong believes the VMAs aren’t showing enough support for up-and-coming rock acts.

Taking to Twitter following this year’s VMAs ceremony, Armstrong posted, “Just watched VMAs. Seriously MTV not a single young rock n roll band?”

Shortly after, he tweeted again saying, “There r great up and coming rock bands headlining festivals AND on social media. What the hell?”

Armstrong’s sentiment has been echoed by others in the music world, including US music media personality Eddie Trunk, who took to Twitter to say, “I miss the days MTV was about rock music and the #VMAs actually featured some… But I get I’m not the audience. But to totally ignore ANY rock? Sad!

“There are tons of great new up & coming rock & metal bands out there. Would it have killed them to feature one!? MTV #VMAs beyond brutal.”

The only two winners from this year’s VMAs who might be considered ‘rock’ bands were Aussie pop-rockers 5 Seconds Of Summer, who took home the Song Of The Summer award for their track She’s Kinda Hot; and Fall Out Boy, who were awarded the Best Rock Video nod for Uma Thurman before the award ceremony even started.

Metal genres didn’t get much of a showing either, despite new Billboard rankings putting American nü-metal outfit Disturbed’s latest album, Immortalized, at number one on the charts.

At least this year’s awards didn’t cause the levels of confusion seen last year when Lorde’s Royals won the Best Rock Video category. Actually, we take that back, because this year’s ceremony saw Kanye West announce he will run for US president in 2020.

Catch Billie Joe Armstrong’s tweets alongside the full list of this year’s VMA winners, below.

just watched VMAs. seriously @MTV not a single young rock n roll band?

— Billie Joe Armstrong (@billiejoe) August 31, 2015

there r great up and coming rock bands headlining festivals AND on social media. what thee hell?

— Billie Joe Armstrong (@billiejoe) August 31, 2015

I miss the days @MTV was about rock music and the #VMAs actually featured some. I know I'm not the demo anymore but it still blows.

— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) August 31, 2015

FF through @MTV #VMAs Cringe would be an understatement at every level. But I get I'm not the audience. But to totally ignore ANY rock? Sad!

— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) August 31, 2015

There are tons of great new up & coming rock & metal bands out there. Would it have killed them to feature one!? @MTV #VMAs beyond brutal..

— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) August 31, 2015

2015 MTV VMA Winners

Best Rock Video: Fall Out Boy, Uma Thurman

Best Pop Video: Taylor Swift, Blank Space

Best Male Video: Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars, Uptown Funk

Best Hip-Hop Video: Nicki Minaj, Anaconda

Best Female Video: Taylor Swift, Blank Space

Best Video With a Social Message: Big Sean featuring Kanye West & John Legend, One Man Can Change the World

Song of the Summer: 5 Seconds of Summer, She’s Kinda Hot

Best Collaboration: Taylor Swift ft. Kendrick Lamar, Bad Blood

Best Direction: Kendrick Lamar, Alright (Colin Tilley & the Little Homies)

Best Choreography: OK Go, I Won’t Let You Down (OK Go, air:man and Mori Harano)

Best Cinematography: Flying Lotus feat. Kendrick Lamar, Never Catch Me (Larkin Sieple)