Green Day will not let any ''idiots'' backstage, in order to protect Billie Joe Armstrong.

The 'American Idiot' band are making drastic changes to the way they tour to accommodate their newly sober frontman - who recently completed rehab after an on-stage breakdown last September- in order to make sure there's no chance of him suffering a relapse.

Bassist Mike Dirnt told NME magazine: ''It's nerve wracking playing these shows after Billie Joe's rehab. The s**t really hit the fan.

''He's in a good place. What I will say is backstage is going to be a lot different from now on. We'll watch for stuff getting passed around, not let idiots walk backstage, not get hammered and s**t like that.''

Mike and drummer Tre Cool said they were ''scared for their friend's life'' when Billie was admitted to rehab for a drug and alcohol addiction last year. He left rehab in January after four months of treatment, undergoing a ''gruesome'' detox process to suppress his addictions.

He is on the road to recovery but admitted: ''I have to work on it every day. Because I know what goes on out there.''