NEW YORK, NY  [Tuesday Aug.2.2005]  /WMQT.com/ -- Green Day was thrilled to receive eight MTV Video Music Award nominations last week, but Billie Joe Armstrong is especially pleased for Samuel Bayer.

Bayer directed all three clips of the band's "American Idiot" album.

"Sam has got the same sort of heart that we do - he wants to reach something that is great. And he's incredibly passionate about the way he does his art. So for him to get the recognition is great too," singer Billie Joe Armstrong tells MTV.com.

Green Day kicks off its fall US tour on Wednesday, August 10, in Chicago.

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