Dennis Erokan: "Green Day showed up one year at the Bammie Awards in Oakland and brought their families. Early in the gig, Billie Joe came up to me and said, 'Hey, we'd love to play tonight.' We didn't have any of their equipment. So I spent an hour running around trying to set them up with equipment. They closed the show. No rehearsal - they just came out and played. And they just blew the room away."

hollywood.com: "Green Day dominated the California Music Awards Saturday night (April 28) at the Henry J. Kaiser Arena in Oakland by earning so-called 'Bammies' in all eight categories in which the group was nominated; including artist of the year, outstanding group, and outstanding album for Warning. Bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool both bested all comers in their individual instrument categories, while frontman Billie Joe Armstrong earned outstanding male vocalist honors and songwriting props over Neil Young, Aimee Mann, and others. The group also grabbed the award for outstanding punk/ska album for Warning."

Sarah Quelland: "I have to admit I thought the California Music Awards were a bust last year, and I don't think I was alone in that assessment. Since Bam folded and the Bammies have been taken over by Tower Records and renamed the encompassing California Music Awards, the ceremony seems to have lost its focus. Last year, musicians like the Red Hot Chili Peppers' bassist Flea, Metallica's drummer Lars Ulrich, Rage Against the Machine's guitarist Tom Morello and singers like Fiona Apple and Smash Mouth's Steve Harwell won awards. It appears that Tower was trying to compete with the Grammys and MTV, but few seemed to be taking the award seriously. Last year, most of the nominees, including Santana, didn't even show up.
Though this year's crop features some major-label stars, including Limp Bizkit, Marilyn Manson, Green Day, Stone Temple Pilots, No Doubt and A Perfect Circle, other nominated bands like Creeper Lagoon, the Mr. T Experience, Imperial Teen, Grandaddy, Aisler's Set and Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers seem to give the award a little more street credibility. (I was disappointed to see that (hed)pe, Flogging Molly and Strait Up, the tribute to Snot's Lynn Strait, were overlooked.) The CMAs also partnered with LIVE 105 for a contest with the prize being a slot at the awards ceremony. Three regional bands (San Jose's Brickhead, San Francisco's Downtemper and Oakland's Dork.com) were chosen from some 40 entrants to perform last Saturday (April 21) at Jack London Square in Oakland. Our own Brickhead was named the winner and will perform at the CMAs. This year's ceremony will be held this Saturday (April 28) at the Henry J. Kaiser Arena in Oakland. Huey Lewis will host the event, and scheduled performers include Blackalicious, Brad Davis (of Fu Manchu), Chuck Prophet, Count Dante, members of the Doobie Brothers, Lewis, Jackpot, Little Feat, Noelle Hampton, Orixa, Sammy Hagar, Victoria Williams and others. Artists scheduled to appear include Aisler's Set, 100 Watt Smile, Boney James, Dave Koz, Green Day, Lavay Smith, Lynn Perko (of Imperial Teen), the Santana Band, Tom Morello and Tracy Chapman. Tickers ($25-$135) are available at Ticketmaster outlets."