Billie Joe Armstrong's bandmates were ''scared for their friend's life'' when he went to rehab.

Bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool were surprised by their bandmate's foul mouthed outburst at a show in Las Vegas last September - after which the band cancelled all promotional duties and tour dates while Billie went to rehab - and worried if he would pull through.

Mike said: ''It was the first time in my life I've ever been in a position of being scared for my friend's life. We are a very close band. We don't want our personal lives in the tabloids, but this was as real as it gets.''

The 'Warning' hitmaker admitted there were clues to Billie's drinking and drug abuse, but he didn't want to interfere with his personal life.

Mike added: ''You could sense it coming. That's the s**t thing, you knew something was going on, but you don't know that's the reason his backpack would sound like a baby rattle when he put it on.

''We're a close band but it's personal s**t. You don't want to be like 'Hey man, what are you doing?' You look around and everybody in the world is on pills and alcohol nowadays.''