Green Day is an Americanrock band formed inRodeo, California, in 1987, by the lead singer and guitaristBillie Joe Armstrong and the bassist and backing vocalistMike Dirnt, with the drummerTré Cool joining in 1990. In 1994, their major-label debutDookie, released throughReprise Records, became a breakout success and eventually shipped over 20 million copies in the US. Green Day has been credited with reigniting mainstream interest inpunk rock.
Before taking its current name in 1989, the band was namedSweet Children. They were part of thelate 1980s/early 1990s Bay Area punk scene that emerged from924 Gilman Street, a club inBerkeley, California. The band's early releases were with the independent record labelLookout! Records, including their first album39/Smooth (1990). For most of the band's career, they have been apower trio[3] with Cool, who replacedJohn Kiffmeyer in 1990, before the recording of the band's second studio albumKerplunk (1991). Though the albumsInsomniac (1995),Nimrod (1997), andWarning (2000) did not match the success ofDookie, they were still successful, withInsomniac andNimrod reaching double platinum status, whileWarning achieved gold. Green Day's seventh album, arock opera calledAmerican Idiot (2004), found popularity with a younger generation and sold six million copies in the US. Their next album21st Century Breakdown was released in 2009. It was followed by a trilogy of albums,¡Uno!,¡Dos!, and¡Tré!, released in September, November, and December 2012, respectively. The trilogy did not commercially perform as well as expected, in comparison to their previous albums, largely due to a lack of promotion and Armstrong entering rehab. These albums were followed byRevolution Radio (2016) - their third to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 -Father of All Motherfuckers (2020), andSaviors (2024).
Concert poster, dated March 16, 1990, at 924 Gilman Street forLookout!-signed punk bands, including Green Day,Neurosis,Samiam, andthe Mr. T Experience.
In 1987, guitarist friends Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt, both 15 years old at the time, along with bassist Sean Hughes and drummer Raj Punjabi, a fellow student fromPinole Valley High School, formed the band Desecrated Youth and played together in Punjabi's house garage inRodeo, California.[5][6]
A few months later, the band renamed to Sweet Children.[7][8][9] One of their first songs written together was "Best Thing in Town".[10] The group's first live performance took place on October 17, 1987, at Rod's Hickory Pit inVallejo, California.[11] In 1988, Armstrong and Dirnt began working with formerIsocracy drummerJohn Kiffmeyer, also known as "Al Sobrante", who replaced original drummer Raj Punjabi.[12] It was around this time that bassist Sean Hughes also left the band, causing Dirnt to switch fromguitar to bass. Armstrong cites the bandOperation Ivy (featuringTim Armstrong andMatt Freeman, who would later contact Armstrong to fill in as a second guitarist for their bandRancid) as a major influence in inspiring him to form a band.[13][14]
In 1988,Larry Livermore, owner ofLookout! Records, saw the band play an early gig and signed them to his label.[15] In April 1989, the band released its debutextended play1,000 Hours.[16] Shortly before the EP's release, the group dropped the name Sweet Children. According to Livermore, this was done to avoid confusion with another local bandSweet Baby.[17] Sweet Children adopted the name Green Day, instead, due to the members' fondness forcannabis.[18][19][20] In theBay Area, where the band was formed, "green day" was slang for spending a day doing nothing but smoking marijuana.[21] Armstrong admitted in 2001 that he considered it to be "the worst band name in the world".[22]
Lookout! released Green Day's debut studio album39/Smooth in early 1990.[23] Green Day recorded two extended plays later that year,Slappy andSweet Children, the latter of which included older songs the band recorded forMinneapolis independent labelSkene! Records.[24] In 1991, Lookout! Records re-released39/Smooth as1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours and added the songs from the band's first two EPs,Slappy and1,000 Hours. In late 1990, shortly after the band's first nationwide tour, Kiffmeyer left the East Bay area to attendHumboldt State University inArcata, California.[11][25]The Lookouts' drummerTré Cool began filling in temporarily, and later permanently, a situation which Kiffmeyer "graciously accepted".[26] The band went on tour for most of 1992 and 1993 and played a number of shows overseas in Europe.[27] By then, the band's second studio albumKerplunk had sold 50,000 copies in the US.[27] Green Day supported another California punk bandBad Religion as an opening act for theirRecipe for Hate Tour for most of 1993.[28]
1993–1995: Signing with Reprise Records and breakthrough success
Kerplunk's underground success led to interest from major record labels and abidding war to sign Green Day.[29] The band eventually left Lookout! and signed withReprise Records after attracting the attention of producerRob Cavallo.[30] The group was impressed by his work with fellow Californian bandthe Muffs and later remarked that Cavallo "was the only person we could talk to and connect with".[30] Reflecting on this period, Armstrong toldSpin magazine in 1999, "I couldn't go back to the punk scene, whether we were the biggest success in the world or the biggest failure ... The only thing I could do was get on my bike and go forward."[31] After signing with Reprise, the band began recording its major-label debut,Dookie. On September 3, 1993, Green Day played their last show at 924 Gilman under the pseudonymBlair Hess before being banned permanently because of their major label signing.[32]
Recorded in three weeks and released in February 1994,[33]Dookie became a commercial success, helped by extensive MTV airplay for the videos of the songs "Longview", "Basket Case", and "When I Come Around", all of which reached the number one position on theModern Rock Tracks chart. The album went on to sell over 10 million copies in the US.[34] At a performance on September 9, 1994, atHatch Memorial Shell in Boston, mayhem broke out during the band's set (cut short to seven songs), and by the end of the rampage 100 people were injured and 45 arrested.[35] The band also joined the lineups of both the festivalsLollapalooza andWoodstock '94, at the later of which the group started an infamous mud fight. During the concert a security guard mistook bassistMike Dirnt for a stage-invading fan and punched out some of his teeth.[36] Viewed by millions onpay-per-view television, the Woodstock 1994 performance further aided Green Day's growing publicity and recognition.[30] In 1995,Dookie won theGrammy Award forBest Alternative Album, and the band was nominated for nineMTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year.[37][38]
In the band's homestead East Bay followingDookie's success, the band felt a sense of hostility. Billie Joe Armstrong recalled aggressive glares and furtive whispers. The band's success would trickle onto other East Bay bands such asJawbreaker, a local favorite of Armstrong's, which garnered accusations of selling out during a concert he attended.[39]
In 1995, a single titled "J.A.R." for theAngus soundtrack was released and debuted at number one on theBillboardModern Rock Tracks chart.[40][41] The band's fourth studio albumInsomniac was released in the fall.[42] Compared to the more melodicDookie,Insomniac was a much darker and heavier response to the band's newfound popularity.[30] The album opened to warm critical reception, earning 4 of 5 stars fromRolling Stone, which said "In punk, the good stuff unfolds and gains meaning as you listen without sacrificing any of its electric, haywire immediacy. And Green Day are as good as this stuff gets."[43] The singles released fromInsomniac were "Geek Stink Breath", "Stuck with Me", "Brain Stew/Jaded", and "Walking Contradiction".
Though the album did not approach the success ofDookie, it sold three million copies in the United States.[44] The album earned the band award nominations for Favorite Artist, Favorite Hard Rock Artist, and Favorite Alternative Artist at the 1996American Music Awards, and the video for "Walking Contradiction" earned the band nominations for Best Video, Short Form, at the Grammys, in addition to Best Special Effects at the MTV Video Music Awards. After that, the band abruptly canceled a European tour, citing exhaustion.[45]
Following a brief hiatus in 1996, Green Day began work on their next album in 1997. From the outset, Cavallo and the band agreed it had to be different from previous albums.[46] The result wasNimrod, an experimental deviation from the band's standard melodic punk rock.[47] The album was released in October 1997 and provided a variety of music, from punk, pop,hardcore,folk,surf rock, andska, to the acoustic ballad "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)".[48][49][47]Nimrod entered the Billboard charts at Number 10. The mainstream success of "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" won the band an MTV Video Award for Best Alternative Video.[50] The song was used in the second clip show episode ofSeinfeld and two episodes ofER.[49] The other singles released fromNimrod were "Nice Guys Finish Last", "Hitchin' a Ride", and "Redundant".[51][52] The band made a guest appearance in an episode ofKing of the Hill later that year.[53] In late 1997 and most of 1998, Green Day embarked on a tour in support ofNimrod.[54][55] In 1999,Jason White began supporting the band during concerts as guitarist.[56]
In 2000, Green Day released theirfolk-punk-inspired sixth studio albumWarning, and, in support, participated in that year'sWarped Tour.[57] In November 2000, in a show produced byIan Brennan, the band performed for free on the steps on San Francisco's City Hall to protest the eviction of artists from the city.[58] The band also launched an independent tour to support the album in 2001. Critics' reviews of the album were varied.[59]AllMusic gave it 4.5/5, saying, "Warning may not be an innovative record per se, but it's tremendously satisfying."[60]Rolling Stone was more critical, giving it 3/5 and saying, "Warning ... invites the question: Who wants to listen to songs of faith, hope and social commentary from what used to be snot core's biggest-selling band?"[61] Though it produced the hit "Minority" and smaller hits "Warning" and "Waiting" , some observers were coming to the conclusion that the band was losing relevance,[59] and a decline in popularity followed. While all of Green Day's previous albums had reached at least triple platinum sales,Warning was only certified gold.[62]
At the 2001 California Music Awards, Green Day won all eight awards for which they were nominated: Outstanding Album (Warning), Outstanding Punk Rock/Ska Album (Warning), Outstanding Group, Outstanding Male Vocalist, Outstanding Bassist, Outstanding Drummer, Outstanding Songwriter, and Outstanding Artist.[63] The release of two compilation albums,International Superhits! andShenanigans, followedWarning.[64][65]International Superhits! had a companion collection of music videos,International Supervideos![66]Shenanigans contained collected B-sides, including "Espionage", which was featured in the 1999 filmAustin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me and nominated for aGrammy Award for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.[67] In Spring 2002, Green Day co-headlined thePop Disaster Tour withBlink-182, documented on theDVDRiding in Vans with Boys.[68]
Tré Cool (bottom left) and Mike Dirnt (right) performing on July 27, 2005
In the Summer and Fall of 2002, the band wrote and recorded material for an album tentatively titledCigarettes and Valentines,[69] set to release in August 2003. Dirnt said the album was written and recorded in six months, and the official track list consisted of 16 songs.[70] He also said two or three additional songs were recorded and were something "worth chasing" after turning in the record.[70] The band got together and thought the additional songs were really good. Instead of releasingCigarettes and Valentines, the band decided to make an album with those additional songs, which led to the creation ofAmerican Idiot:[70]
Those are really good songs, but we got these over here, and we kinda felt like, should we put out these, and wait three or four years to put out these other songs and chase this thing that we kind of got going on over here?[70]
However, the band has stated multiple times that when the album was nearly finished, themaster recordings were stolen from the studio. Instead of re-recording the stolen tracks, the band decided to abandon the entire project and start over, considering the taken material to be unrepresentative of the band's best work.[71]
It was then revealed that a band calledThe Network was signed to Armstrong's record labelAdeline Records with little fanfare and information.[72][73] After the band, who concealed their identities with masks and costumes,[74] released an album calledMoney Money 2020 in September 2003, it was rumored that The Network was a Green Day side project, due to similarities in the bands' sounds.[75] At the time, these rumors were not addressed by the band or Adeline Records, except for a statement on the Adeline website discussing an ongoing dispute between the two bands.[75] The bands "feuded" via press releases and statements from Armstrong.[74][76] Several journalists openly referred to the group as a Green Day side project,[77][78][79][80] although it was not confirmed as such until 2013.[81]
Green Day collaborated withIggy Pop on two tracks for his albumSkull Ring in November 2003. On February 1, 2004, a cover of "I Fought the Law" (originally performed byThe Crickets) made its debut on a commercial foriTunes duringNFLSuper Bowl XXXVIII.American Idiot was released in September 2004 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Backed by the success of the album's first single "American Idiot", it was the band's first album to reach this pinnacle.American Idiot was labeled apunk rock opera and follows the journey of the fictitious "Jesus of Suburbia".[82] It depicts modern American life under the control of an idiot ruler who lets people be misinformed by the media and a "redneck agenda". It gives different angles on an everyman, modern icons, and leaders.[83] Released two months before US PresidentGeorge W. Bush was reelected, it became protest art[84] and went on to sell 6 million copies in the US.[62]
American Idiot won the2005 Grammy forBest Rock Album and was nominated in six other categories, includingAlbum of the Year.[85][86] The album helped Green Day win seven of the eight awards it was nominated for at the 2005MTV Video Music Awards;[87] the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" video won six of those awards. A year later, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" wonGrammy Award for Record of the Year.[88] In 2009,Kerrang! namedAmerican Idiot the best album of the decade,[89]NME ranked it number 60 in a similar list,[90] andRolling Stone ranked it 22nd.[91]Rolling Stone also listed "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "American Idiot" among the 100 best songs of the 2000s, at number 65 and 47, respectively.[92][93] In 2005, the album ranked 420 inRock Hard magazine's bookThe 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[94] In 2012, the album was ranked number 225 onRolling Stone's list of the500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[95]
Green Day performing in New Jersey in 2005
During theAmerican Idiot World Tour, the group filmed and recorded the two concerts at theMilton KeynesNational Bowl in England.[96][97] These recordings were released as a live CD and DVD setBullet in a Bible on November 15, 2005.[96][97] The DVD featured behind-the-scenes footage of the band and showed how its members prepared to put on the show.[96][97] The final concerts of the 2005 world tour were inSydney andMelbourne, Australia, on December 14 and 17, respectively.[98]
On August 1, 2005, Green Day announced it had rescinded the master rights to its pre-Dookie material fromLookout Records, citing a continuingbreach of contract regarding unpaid royalties, a complaint shared with other Lookout! bands.[99] On January 10, 2006, the band was awardedPeople's Choice Award for favorite musical group or band.[100]
2007–2011:21st Century Breakdown andAmerican Idiot's stage adaptation
Green Day engaged in many smaller projects in the time following the success ofAmerican Idiot. In 2008, under the nameFoxboro Hot Tubs, the group released a garage-rock-inspired album titledStop Drop and Roll!!!. The Foxboro Hot Tubs went on a mini tour to promote the record, hitting tiny Bay Area venues such as the Stork Club in Oakland and Toot's Tavern inCrockett, California.[101]
Green Day performing during a secret show at the Kesselhaus inBerlin on May 7, 2009
In an interview withCarson Daly,Garbage lead singerShirley Manson revealed that the band's drummerButch Vig would be producing Green Day's forthcoming album.[102] The span of nearly five years betweenAmerican Idiot and21st Century Breakdown was the longest gap between studio albums in Green Day's career. The band had been working on new material since January 2006. By October 2007, Armstrong had 45 songs written, but the band showed no further signs of progress until October 2008, when two videos showing the band recording with producer Butch Vig were posted on YouTube.[103] The writing and recording process, spanning three years and four recording studios, was finally finished in April 2009.[104]
21st Century Breakdown was released on May 15, 2009.[105][106] The album received mainly positive reception from critics, who gave it an average rating between 3 and 4 stars.[107][108] It reached number one in fourteen countries and was certified gold or platinum in each, achieving Green Day's best overall chart performance to date.[109] The band started playing shows in California in April and early May. These were the group's first live shows in about three years. Green Day went on aworld tour starting in North America in July 2009, and continued through the rest of 2009 and early 2010.[110] The album wonGrammy Award for Best Rock Album at the52nd Grammy Awards on January 31, 2010.[37] As of December 2010,21st Century Breakdown has sold 1,005,000 copies in the US.[111]
Walmart refused to carry the album, as it contains aParental Advisory sticker, and requested that Green Day release a censored edition. The band members did not wish to change any lyrics on the album and responded by stating, "There's nothing dirty about our record... They want artists to censor their records in order to be carried in there. We just said no. We've never done it before. You feel like you're in 1953 or something."[112][113]
In 2009, the band met with award-winning directorMichael Mayer, along with many cast and crew members of theTony Award-winning musicalSpring Awakening, to create a stage version of the albumAmerican Idiot.[114][115] The musicalAmerican Idiot opened in theBerkeley Repertory Theatre at the end of 2009.[114] The show featured an expanded story of the original album, with new characters such as Will, Extraordinary Girl, and Favorite Son.[115] On April 20, 2010,American Idiot opened on Broadway, and Green Day released thesoundtrack to the musical, featuring a new song titled "When It's Time". In June 2010, it was released as a single oniTunes.[116]
During the second leg of the21st Century Breakdown World Tour, the band members stated they were writing new material.[119] In an interview withKerrang! magazine, Armstrong spoke about the possible new album: "We did some demos inBerlin, some inStockholm, some just outside ofGlasgow, and some inAmsterdam. We wanted get [the songs] down in some early form."[120] The band members also stated that the group was recording a live album of the tour, featuring the previously unreleased song "Cigarettes and Valentines". In October 2010, Dirnt was interviewed by Radio W and mentioned that the group had completed the writing process of their ninth studio album. Dirnt also mentioned that a new live album would most likely be released.[121] The live CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray titledAwesome as Fuck was released on March 22, 2011.[122][123]
During the end of 2011, the band played several secret shows (under the nameFoxboro Hot Tubs) whose setlists consisted almost entirely of previously unheard songs. Green Day entered the studio and began recording new material in February 2012, later announcing a trilogy of albums titled¡Uno!,¡Dos!, and¡Tré! which would be released in fall 2012.[124][125] The trilogy featured longtime touring guitaristJason White joining the band in the studio as an additional musician. This marks the first time that White had played guitar on a Green Day album.[126] That summer, Green Day played several festivals and promotional shows, including theRock en Seine festival in France, the Rock am See festival in Germany, and theReading Festival in the United Kingdom.[127][128]
Armstrong performing with Green Day in 2013
¡Uno!,¡Dos!, and¡Tré! were released on September 21, November 9, and December 7, 2012, respectively, and were met with generally positive reviews from critics, though fans were more lukewarm towards the albums. On January 22, 2013, the band announced that¡Cuatro!, a documentary about the making of¡Uno!, ¡Dos! and¡Tré!, would premiere on January 26 inAspen,Colorado as part of the X Games FILM showcase, and would be released on DVD April 9, 2013.[129] Another documentary was announced calledBroadway Idiot which focuses on the creation on theAmerican Idiot musical and Armstrong's run as playing the character of St. Jimmy.[130] On March 10, 2013, Green Day began its99 Revolutions Tour to support the trilogy.[131] In June, Green Day brokeEmirates Stadium attendance record with 60,000 tickets sold.[132] The band playedDookie from start to finish on several dates on the tour's European leg, including during theReading Festival 2013 headline show.[133]
Demolicious, a compilation album that contains alternate versions and demos of songs from¡Uno!,¡Dos! and¡Tré! recorded during the studio sessions of these albums, was released on April 19, 2014, forRecord Store Day. It also contains a previously unreleased song called "State of Shock" and an acoustic version of "Stay the Night", from¡Uno!.[134]
2014–2018: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame andRevolution Radio
Green Day performed their first concert in a year on April 16, 2015. The group first played a set as Sweet Children withJohn Kiffmeyer, followed by a set as Green Day.[135] On April 18, 2015, Green Day were inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame byFall Out Boy.[136]
On April 24, 2015, Rob Cavallo revealed Green Day were recording a twelfth studio album. Cavallo claimed to have heard "five new songs that Billie has written and demoed", and that the fans should be "sure that when they do return, the music will be amazing".[137] On December 24, 2015, Green Day released a Christmas song, "Xmas Time of the Year".[138]
On August 11, 2016, Green Day released the first single, "Bang Bang",[139] from the group's twelfth studio album,Revolution Radio, which was released on October 7, 2016.[140] The band went on aworld tour supporting the album.[141] In November 2016, the band performed at theAmerican Music Awards in Los Angeles and made a political statement about the then-recent US election ofDonald Trump by chanting "No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA" during their rendition of "Bang Bang".[142]
Aaron Burgess atAlternative Press observed, "It's the first time in years Green Day haven't had all the answers. But as a statement on how it feels to fight, it's the closest to the truth they've ever gotten."[143] Gwilym Mumford ofThe Guardian stated "[after their last few albums] the band have decided to get back to basics:Revolution Radio is their most focused work in years. Lead single "Bang Bang" sets the tone, with a caustic consideration of the fame-hungry psychosis of a mass shooter".[144]
The band released their second greatest hits compilation,God's Favorite Band, on November 17, 2017. It contains 20 of their hits, along with two new tracks: a different version of theRevolution Radio track "Ordinary World", featuring country singerMiranda Lambert, and a previously unreleased song titled "Back in the USA".[145]
On April 13, 2019, forRecord Store Day, the band released theirWoodstock 1994 performance on vinyl for the first time. It contains all 9 songs they played live, as well as audio of the ensuing mud fight.[146] On September 10, 2019, the band announced theHella Mega Tour withFall Out Boy andWeezer as headliners alongside themselves, withthe Interrupters as the opening act. They also released the single, "Father of All..." off their thirteenth album,Father of All Motherfuckers.[147] The same day, in an interview withKROQ, Armstrong announced the band would be parting ways withReprise after the album's release, as they were off their contract withWarner.[148] On September 30, 2019, Green Day signed a two-year agreement with theNational Hockey League (NHL).[149] The album's second single, "Fire, Ready, Aim", was released on October 9, 2019.[150][151] The album's third single, "Oh Yeah!", was released on January 16, 2020.[152] The album was released on February 7, 2020.[153] The album's fourth single, "Meet Me on the Roof", was released on the same day as the album.[154]
On April 6, 2020, Armstrong revealed that he had written six songs intending to record new music with the band once theCOVID-19 pandemic had passed.[155] On May 21, 2020, the band released a cover ofBlondie's "Dreaming".[156]
Armstrong performing with a fan on the stage atRock am Ring in 2022
On October 30, 2020, the band's secret side project,the Network, teased upcoming activity with a video titled "The Prophecy" and mentioned their upcoming sequel album.[157] Then on November 2, 2020, the Network released a music video for their first song in 17 years, named "Ivankkka Is a Nazi".[158] After a couple of weeks of small hints on social media, as well as Green Day claiming they were not the Network, the band released an EP on November 20, 2020, titledTrans Am. On December 4, 2020, the Network released their second album,Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So!.[159]
In February 2021, Green Day announced a single, titled "Here Comes the Shock", which was later released on February 21, 2021.[160] The band would release a remastered version ofInsomniac in March for the belated 25th anniversary of the album's release, with bonus live tracks.[161] On May 17, 2021, Green Day released the single "Pollyanna".[162] The reshuffled Hella Mega Tour would take place in the United States from July to September 2021, and the United Kingdom in June and July 2022. Between legs, on November 5, 2021, the band released the single "Holy Toledo!".[163] This song was also in the soundtrack of the 2021 filmMark, Mary & Some Other People.
BBC Sessions, the fourth live album by Green Day, was released on December 10, 2021. Eight days later, they put out a teaser video with the captions "RAK Studios.London, England. Green Day. 1972".[164]
In 2022, Green Day played a handful of major festivals in the United States, includingLollapalooza, andOutside Lands. The band also played a surprise Lollapalooza aftershow set atMetro Chicago on July 29, a set that was mostly improvised. The set included their first performances of "Church on Sunday", and "Warning" since 2001, and also included fan favorite deep tracks "Whatsername", "Letterbomb", and "Murder City".[165] On October 26, 2022, Green Day was announced as a headliner for the fifth annual Innings Festival inArizona.[166]
In November 2022, the band stated they were recording for a new studio album.[167] The album was produced byRob Cavallo,[168] marking his first album working with the band since¡Tré! (2012). Prior to the album's release, the band played a new song titled "1981" during their live performance atFestival d'été de Québec on July 16, 2023.[169] On September 30, 2023, Green Day was announced as thehalftime show at the110th Grey Cup.[170] The following day, the band launched a new website with the name "The American Dream Is Killing Me". Included on the website was a video appearing to tease new music, and a circled date of October 24, 2023, leading some news outlets to believe that it is related to their next album.[171][172] Before the album's release, they played the first song, "The American Dream Is Killing Me", during a live show inLas Vegas,Nevada, on October 19, 2023,[173] and announcedthe Saviors Tour, which first North American leg was joined bythe Smashing Pumpkins,Rancid, andthe Linda Lindas.[174][175] They played another song, titled "Look Ma, No Brains!", from the upcoming album during theWhen We Were Young Festival on October 22, 2023.[176]
On October 24, 2023, the title of the new album was announced asSaviors,[177] and the album's first single, "The American Dream Is Killing Me", was released.[177] The album was released on January 19, 2024.[177] The second single, "Look Ma, No Brains!", was released on November 2, 2023.[178] A third single, "Dilemma", was announced on December 4, 2023, and released three days later on December 7, 2023.[179] On New Year's Eve, Green Day performed "American Idiot" on the television specialDick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Armstrong replaced the line "I'm not a part of a redneck agenda" with "I'm not a part of theMAGA agenda", a reference toDonald Trump's Make America Great Again slogan, in criticism of Trump.[180] The album's fourth single, "One Eyed Bastard", was released on January 5, 2024.[181][182] On the evening of January 16, 2024, the band appeared in a surprise performance in the 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center station of the New York subway system, with late-night hostJimmy Fallon joining them on tambourine to help draw attention to the upcoming album and tour, and played several songs, including the recent single "Look Ma, No Brains", "Basket Case", and "American Idiot"; this time, Armstrong left space to let the subway crowd sing out the song's revised line "I'm not a part of the MAGA agenda."[183][184][185] The album, and a music video for "Bobby Sox", were both released simultaneously on January 19, 2024.[186][187] A music video for "Corvette Summer" was released on July 23, 2024.[188]
On April 9, 2025, Green Day announced the deluxe edition ofSaviors, titled in FrenchSaviors (Édition De Luxe),[191] with "Smash It Like Belushi" released as the first single.[192] The same month, the band performed as headliners in theyear'sCoachella Festival.[193] "Ballyhoo" was released as the second single ofSaviors deluxe on May 2, 2025. The deluxe edition, and an official music video for "One Eyed Bastard", were both released on May 23, 2025.[194]
Artistry
Green Day performing "King for a Day", aska-inspired song featuring saxophones and trumpets
Billie Joe Armstrong has mentioned that some of his biggest influences are seminalhardcore punk bandsHüsker Dü andthe Replacements, and that their influence is particularly noted in the band's chord changes in songs.[45] Green Day has covered Hüsker Dü's "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" as a B-side to the "Warning" single, and the character "Mr. Whirly" in the group's song "Misery" is a reference to the Replacements song of the same name.[228] Southern California-based hardcore bandsSocial Distortion andBad Religion have also been cited as influences.[229][230] Green Day would cover the former's song "Another State of Mind" from their 1983 debut release,Mommy's Little Monster as a bonus track for21st Century Breakdown.[231]
Outside of their punk influences, Green Day have also citedhard rock bandsthe Kinks,the Who, andCheap Trick.[232][233][234] In August 1996, Billie Joe Armstrong toldGuitar World he "can remember a few different instances" of when he first discovered punk rock: "There were these two guys who introduced me to things likeD.O.A. and theDead Kennedys. Then, in the seventh grade, there was a girl at school who would bring in records likeT.S.O.L. and say, 'Here, listen to this.'"[45] Armstrong said he thinks he "really started getting into" punk rock "in 1987 withTurn It Around!, a double seven-inch compilation record put out by [punk fanzine]Maximumrocknroll."[45] Armstrong citedTurn It Around! as an influence, calling it "a pretty big record" for him.[235] Armstrong would also cite fellow East Bay punk bands Operation Ivy,Jawbreaker, andCrimpshrine as influences.[13][14][235][39] Tré Cool has stated that the band is influenced by music that they did not like, naming artists likeHall & Oates,Cyndi Lauper and other 1980s music.[236]
Although Green Day has been compared to Buzzcocks, the Ramones and the Clash, Mike Dirnt said he had never heard Buzzcocks when Green Day began.[45] Dirnt said: "First off, you can't sound like any of those bands. And secondly, those are probably the last ones in my record collection."[45] Armstrong responded to Dirnt, saying: "Mine too. Those are all bands I got into later."[45]The Dickies is another band Green Day has been compared to.[45] Dirnt said he "never owned a Dickies album, although" he "did see" the Dickies live "around the time of"Kerplunk!. Dirnt said "by that time, we'd played so many shows it had no bearing."[45] Armstrong referred to the Dickies as "just another Ramones rip-off".[45] Although in August 1996, Armstrong said bands like the Ramones are bands he listened to later, in June 2010, Armstrong cited the Ramones as an influence. He also said his "range of favorite songwriters goes anywhere from the Sex Pistols toLennon–McCartney".[235] During theAmerican Idiot and21st Century Breakdown era of Green Day, the band was influenced by the Who,U2,Motown albums, and musicals such asGrease.[237]
Lyrical themes
Green Day's lyrics explore themes includingadolescence,substance abuse,heartbreak,political sociology andanti-authoritarianism.[238] While Armstrong is the band's primary songwriter, he looks to the other band members for organizational help.[239] The band's lyrics frequently incorporateprofanity. In 2016, a study of 361 musical artists conducted by Italian music data companyMusixmatch found that Green Day used profanity the most among the rock music artists included in the study, beating outRed Hot Chili Peppers andAerosmith. The study suggested that across a selection of 136 tracks from the band's catalogue, the swear words most frequently uttered were "fuck", "fucking", and "shit", respectively.[240]
Live performances
Billie Joe Armstrong regularly invites musicians at Green Day concerts onstage to substitute for the band members on guitar, bass and drums, often letting the guest musicians keep the instruments they used during their guest spots. Armstrong is quoted saying: "I remember being a kid and seeing Van Halen play. I was, like, 12, and Eddie would come out, and I'd go, 'God, it would be so cool to be up there and do what he's doing. So I was always keeping that in mind, subconsciously that's basically what ended up happening, breaking down the barrier between the band and the audience."[241][242]
Green Day is credited (alongsideBad Religion,the Offspring,NOFX,Social Distortion, andRancid) with popularizing mainstream interest in punk rock in the United States,[247][248][249][250] particularly with the albumDookie,[251][252][253] which was cited byFuse as the most importantpop-punk album of all time, the best alternative album of 1994 byRolling Stone,[254][255] and as one of the best punk rock albums of all time byRolling Stone,Kerrang!,Revolver, andLA Weekly.[254][255][256][257][258] Diffuser.fm listedDookie as the greatest album of the 90s.[259] It was also placed on theRock and Roll Hall of Fame's "Definitive 200" list of 200 classic albums.[260] BothDookie andAmerican Idiot appeared onRolling Stone's list of the500 Greatest Albums of All Time.[261][262]Kerplunk was also listed in a 2007 ranking of the 100 greatest indie albums by Blender.[263] In 2011, they were voted the best punk rock band of all time byRolling Stone.[264]
Since 1991, members of the band have branched out past Green Day, starting other projects with various musicians. Notable projects related to Green Day include Billie Joe Armstrong'sPinhead Gunpowder with Jason White andthe Longshot with Jeff Matika,the Frustrators with Mike Dirnt, andthe Network, a collaboration between Green Day and friends in which all members play under fake stage names.[284] Green Day has also released an album titledStop Drop and Roll!!! on May 20, 2008, under the nameFoxboro Hot Tubs, which the band uses to book secret shows.[285] In late December 2011, Armstrong formed a family band called the Boo which recorded a one-off Christmas record for their friends and family making a few copies available in a local store. Since January 2018, Armstrong, Dirnt and White have played in the bandthe Coverups along with Green Day audio engineerChris Dugan and tour managerBill Schneider. The band sporadically performs one-off shows, usually in small clubs, and cover the songs of classic rock and alternative rock bands such asCheap Trick,Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,the Clash, andNirvana.
In September 2006, Green Day collaborated withU2 and producerRick Rubin to record a cover of the song "The Saints Are Coming", originally recorded by theSkids, with an accompanying video. The song was recorded to benefitMusic Rising, an organization to help raise money for musicians' instruments lost duringHurricane Katrina, and to bring awareness on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the disaster.[286] In December 2006, Green Day andNRDC opened a web site in partnership to raise awareness on America's dependency on oil.[287][288]
In 2009, the band collaborated with theater directorMichael Mayer to adapt the group'srock operaAmerican Idiot into a one-act stagemusical that premiered at theBerkeley Rep on September 15, 2009. The show then moved to Broadway on April 20, 2010. The reviews ofAmerican Idiot: The Musical have been positive to mixed. Charles Isherwood ofThe New York Times wrote an enthusiastic review for the Broadway production. He called the show "a pulsating portrait of wasted youth that invokes all the standard genre conventions ... only to transcend them through the power of its music and the artistry of its execution, the show is as invigorating and ultimately as moving as anything I've seen on Broadway this season. Or maybe for a few seasons past." Jed Gottlieb of theBoston Herald enjoyed the premise of the show but found that "the music and message suffer in a setting where the audience is politely, soberly seated".[293]
Michael Kuchiwara of theAssociated Press found the show to be "visually striking [and] musically adventurous", but noted that "the show has the barest wisp of a story and minimal character development". Paul Kolnik inUSA Today enjoyed the contradiction that Green Day's "massively popular, starkly disenchanted album ... would be the feel-good musical of the season".Time magazine's Richard Zoglin opined that the score "is as pure a specimen of contemporary punk rock as Broadway has yet encountered, [yet] there's enough variety. ... Where the show falls short is as a fully developed narrative." He concluded that "American Idiot, despite its earnest huffing and puffing, remains little more than an annotated rock concert. ... Still, [it] deserves at least two cheers—for its irresistible musical energy and for opening fresh vistas for that odd couple, rock and Broadway."[294] Peter Travers fromRolling Stone, in his review ofAmerican Idiot, wrote "ThoughAmerican Idiot carries echoes of such rock musicals asTommy,Hair,Rent andSpring Awakening, it cuts its own path to the heart. You won't know what hit you.American Idiot knows no limits—it's a global knockout."[295] The musical has been nominated for threeTony Awards, includingBest Musical andBest Scenic Design. It was also nominated for severalDrama Desk Awards andOuter Critics Circle Awards.
In October 2009, a Green Day art project was exhibited at StolenSpace Gallery in London. The exhibition showed artworks created for each of the songs on21st Century Breakdown, was supported by the band, and led by the group's manager Pat Magnarella.[296] He explained in an interview that "[Artists are] basically like rock bands. Most are creating their art, but don't know how to promote it."[297] For Billie Joe Armstrong, "Many of the artists... show their work on the street, and we feel a strong connection to that type of creative expression."[298]
On April 13, 2011, a film version ofAmerican Idiot was confirmed.[299] Michael Mayer, director of the Broadway musical, would have directed the film. It will be produced by Green Day, Pat Magnarella (Green Day's manager who also producedBullet in a Bible,Awesome as Fuck, andHeart Like a Hand Grenade), Playtone (Tom Hanks andGary Goetzman) andTom Hulce. However, in February 2020, Billie Joe Armstrong revealed toNME that plans for a film adaptation of the stage musical had been "pretty much scrapped", without providing anymore details as to the reason.[300]
On January 23, 2013, it was announced that a documentary showing Armstrong's journey from punk rock to Broadway was to be released.[301][non-primary source needed] CalledBroadway Idiot and showing a lot of behind-the-scenes of theAmerican Idiot musical production, the movie was directed by Doug Hamilton, veteran television journalist forCBS News'60 Minutes andPBS documentaries such asNova,Frontline andAmerican Masters. A trailer was released on January 30, 2013.[302] The documentary premiered at theSouth by Southwest Film Festival on March 15, 2013.[303]
Green Day served as executive producers ofTurn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk (2017), an extensive documentary film about the San Francisco Bay area punk scene from the late 1970s to the 1990s.[304]
On February 10, 2025,Live Nation Productions announced acomedy film titledNew Years Rev, which was described as a "coming-of-age tale", inspired by the true exploits of the band prior to their mainstream breakthrough in 1994. Production of the film was said to be underway in the US state ofOklahoma. Lee Kirk was announced as the film's writer and director. Live Nation Productions, the film and TV arm ofLive Nation Entertainment, was said to be producing the film. Green Day guitarist and vocalistBillie Joe Armstrong, bassistMike Dirnt, and drummerTré Cool were announced as the film's producers, in collaboration with Tim Perell. The band members were also confirmed to be making an appearance in the film themselves. Ryan Kroft,Michael Rapino, Jonathan Daniel were announced as the film's executive producers.Mason Thames, Kylr Coffman and Ryan Foust were announced as the film's stars.Jenna Fischer, who portrayed the characterPam Beesley in the American sitcomThe Office, was confirmed to have a role in the film.Angela Kinsey, who acted in the same series, was also confirmed to have a role in the film. The film's logline read, "Their roadtrip is a rowdy and mischievous jaunt across the country filled with adventures, based on the exploits of Green Day and their years of living in a tour van." According to Ryan Kroft of Live Nation Productions, the film "[tells] the story of three friends as they travel across the United States after mistakenly thinking they'll be opening for a Green Day New Years concert inLos Angeles." Billie Joe Armstrong said, "Van days rule. You will drive all night on no sleep then play a show for 10 kids in a basement of a friend of a friend's house 50 miles east of anywhere you've ever heard of. But you'll do it again the next day, and the one after that. Because you're doing it with your bandmates who become your family and it's unlike anything you've ever known. It's electric. Let the music and mischief ensue." Lee Kirk had previously worked with Billie Joe Armstrong on the 2016Ordinary World, which the latter had made an appearance in. Kirk had also previously directed an episode ofThe Office, and is also the spouse of Jenna Fischer.[305][306][307][308][309]
Green Day has generated controversy over whether their musical style andmajor-label status constitutes "truepunk".[311] In reaction to both the style of music and the background of the band,John Lydon, former frontman of the 1970s punk band theSex Pistols commented, "So there we are fending off all that and it pisses me off that years later a wank outfit like Green Day hop in and nick all that and attach it to themselves. They didn't earn their wings to do that and if they were true punk they wouldn't look anything like they do."[312] However, others in the punk rock scene would come to the defense of the band on their punk status.Bad Religion lead guitaristBrett Gurewitz and founder of the independent punk labelEpitaph Records would state, "They [Green Day] are a punk band, but you know, punk is the legacy ofrock and roll, and Green Day are the biggest band in the genre."[313]
Armstrong has discussed the group's status of being a punk band on a major record label, saying, "Sometimes I think we've become redundant because we're this big band now; we've made a lot of money—we're not punk rock anymore. But then I think about it and just say, 'You can take us out of a punk rock environment, but you can't take the punk rock out of us.'"[311] In 2021, Armstrong condemned the band's labeling as "pop-punk" by critics in aVulture magazine interview, stating, "I never really liked that term (pop punk), it turned into sort of a genre. I never thought of myself as a pop artist. I've always been left of center. To say you're a pop-punker ... it never sat well with me." Armstrong acknowledged the band's more melodic punk style compared to other bands from the Bay Area scene it emerged from, but also brought up the band's performance alongside East Bay hardcore bands likeNeurosis, Engage,Spitboy,Blatz, andFilth.[314]
On September 21, 2012, while Green Day was performing at the iHeartRadio music festival, Armstrong stopped while performing "Basket Case", because he believed the group's time was being shortened, possibly to extend R&B artistUsher's performance. Angered, Armstrong began ranting while a screen in the rear of the audience was labeled "1 Minutes [Left]", saying "You're gonna give me one fucking minute? You've gotta be fucking kidding me!" He also told the crowd he "was notJustin Bieber" and labeled the festival as a "joke". When the screen went blank, Armstrong smashed his guitar, while bassistMike Dirnt smashed his bass. Armstrong then gavethe finger, and declared that Green Day would be back before throwing his microphone down and walking off the stage.[316] Two days later, the band's representative apologized for the incident on the group's behalf stating that "Green Day would like everyone to know that their set was not cut short by Clear Channel and to apologize to those they offended at the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas", also adding that Armstrong would be headed torehab, for abuse of alcohol and prescription pills.[317][318] However, Dirnt would later say in an interview withRolling Stone that he agreed with what Armstrong meant by his rant.[319] The band later made amends with the company and played an album release party for their 2016 release,Revolution Radio.[320][321] They also returned to the festival in 2019 supporting the albumFather of All Motherfuckers.[321][322]
Mad Cool incident
On July 7, 2017, about 20 minutes before Green Day headlinedMad Cool, a festival inMadrid, an acrobat fell about 30 metres (98 ft) from a cage above the stage and died. Some fans were upset at the band and festival organizers for continuing the show, which was attended by about 35,000 people.[323] On their website, Armstrong said the band did not know about the accident before their set, and likely would not have played if they had.[324]
Oracle Park incident
On September 20, 2024, Green Day performed ashow inSan Francisco atOracle Park. During the concert, Billie Joe Armstrong expressed his anger over theAthleticsleaving Oakland, repeatedly cursingLas Vegas and called it "the worst shithole in America". He also criticized A's ownerJohn Fisher, saying "We don't take shit from people like fucking John Fisher… I hate Las Vegas." In protest of Armstrong's comments, two Las Vegas radio stations (KOMP 92.3 and X107.5) banned all Green Day music from their playlists.[325]
Elon Musk incidents
In January 2025, while on tour inSouth Africa, Green Day once again adapted the lyrics of their breakout hit "American Idiot" to criticizeElon Musk. At their Calabash Festival headliner performance atJohannesburg'sFNB Stadium on 19 January, lead singerBillie Joe Armstrong altered the line "I'm not a part of a redneck agenda" to "I'm not a part of the Elon agenda."[326][327][328]
Musk, who had previously mocked Green Day onX (formerlyTwitter) in early 2024, calling their commentary "milquetoastedly raging for it", had branded the band as hypocritical in their anti‑"machine" rhetoric.[326][327][329] In response, bassistMike Dirnt toldRolling Stone: "Elon Musk actually is the machine... He's not shy about saying stupid shit on the internet... The song's twenty years old, and we're Green Day. What did you expect?"[327][328][329]
Band members
Current
Billie Joe Armstrong – lead vocals, guitar (1987–present); harmonica (1997–present);[330] piano (2008–present)
Mike Dirnt – bass (1988–present); backing and occasional lead vocals (1987–present); guitar (1987–1988)
Tré Cool – drums, percussion, occasional backing and lead vocals and guitar (1990–present)
Current touring
Jason White – guitar, backing vocals (1999–present,session member 2012–2016)
Jason Freese – keyboards, accordion, saxophone, trombone, backing vocals, occasional acoustic guitar (2004–present; hiatus in 2024;[331]session member from 2003–2004, 2008–2009)
Kevin Preston – guitar, backing vocals (2019–present)
^Dookie 30th Anniversary Color Vinyl Box Set (liner notes). Green Day. Los Angeles, California:Reprise Records. 2023. 093624862789.Childhood friends Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt (née Pritchard) started what would become Green Day in 1987 in Rodeo, a small refinery town in Northern California's Contra Costa County.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Albert, Melissa (February 8, 2020)."Green Day – History, Songs, Albums & Facts".Encyclopædia Britannica.Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2020.In 1987 they and drummer Sean Hughes formed their first band, a punk outfit called Sweet Children.
^"Green Day – Official Page". Green Day. February 8, 2020.Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2020 – via Facebook.Founded in 1987
^abSusan Dynner (director) (July 27, 2007).Punk's Not Dead (Documentary Movie). United States: Vision Films. Event occurs at 93 Minutes.Archived from the original on February 11, 2018. RetrievedFebruary 10, 2018."Opartion Ivy was such a huge band. I was 15 years old when I got into that band, I just remember thinking 'This is the greatest band in the world'.
^abSpitz, Marc (November 7, 2006)."4: Op Ivy".Nobody Likes You: Inside the Turbulent Life, Times, and Music of Green Day. Hachette Books.ISBN978-1-4013-8579-8.Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. RetrievedFebruary 10, 2018.[Operation Ivy] became Billie Joe Armstrong's favorite band and biggest influence
^ab"Green Day". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. November 23, 2020.Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 19, 2021.
^"Green Day Reading".NME. August 23, 2013.Archived from the original on October 23, 2013. RetrievedMarch 22, 2014.
^Green Day's Demolicious (February 24, 2014)."Green Day's Demolicious".Rolling Stone.Archived from the original on March 2, 2014. RetrievedMarch 22, 2014.
^Pattison, Louis (September 12, 2005)."Green Day : Shenanigans".NME.Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. RetrievedMay 28, 2022.There is a little filler here: 'Espionage', a spoof on spy movie scores, plucked from the 'Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me' soundtrack where it should have remained, and an unspectacular cover of The Ramones' 'Outsider' that reveals Green Day to be at their best touting the proficient three-chord West Coast skate-punk design, not its smacky two-chord New York equivalent.
^Luke, Ashie."Every Influential 90s Artist That Helped Shape Music Culture Today".Urban List.Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. RetrievedMay 21, 2022.Skate punk music broke into the mainstream in the 90s with obvious help from Green Day. In 1994, their album Dookie which reeked of rebellious, skater-punk vibes sold 10 million records in the United States after its release. Green Day changed the face of punk rock in a big way and charged an appetite for more upbeat punk-rock.
^Deusner, Stephen (July 17, 2012)."Green Day: Rock's saddest joke".Salon.Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. RetrievedMay 21, 2022.hen Green Day formed in the late 1980s, they were brash suburban teenage skate punks who made their first recordings before they were old enough to vote.
^"Insomniac by Green Day".Apple Music.Apple.Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. RetrievedFebruary 12, 2023.Green Day were a melodic punk band who saw their role as writing fast, strong songs that fans could dance and pogo to without thinking.
^Ian Winwood (February 1, 2006). "Blink-182 vs. Green Day".Kerrang! (1090). London:44–45.ISSN0262-6624.
^Carter, Emily (July 22, 2020)."Green Day: Every album ranked from worst to best".Kerrang!.Archived from the original on May 6, 2022. RetrievedJuly 31, 2022.as Billie Joe noted to Kerrang! at the time: "We didn't want to do another Dookie, we wanted to stretch out. We're punks, obviously, but we're also songwriters, and we'll be writing for the rest of our lives."
^Di Perna, Alan. "Far From The Maddening Crowd".Guitar World. December 2000.
^"Green Day MTV Raw 1995". January 23, 2017. Event occurs at 19:52.Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. RetrievedDecember 4, 2020 – via YouTube.
^Robb, John (2006).Punk Rock: An Oral History. PM Press, Ebury Press. p. 537.ISBN978-1-60486-005-4.I saw Green Day, Rancid and the Offspring, taking punk to the mall rats and the stadiums with multi-million-selling albums.
^Kelly, Tyler."Nine Songs: Avril Lavigne".The Line of Best Fit.Archived from the original on May 3, 2022. RetrievedMarch 30, 2022.I was really connecting with punk rock, aggression and rock and roll when I got into writing riffs. That was the style that I gravitated towards when I was picking up the guitar – I was listening to those distorted sounds as well as bands like The Offspring, Green Day and blink-182 who were so influential.
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