Green Day: A guide to the pop-punk legends
They're celebrating the 25th anniversary of 'Nimrod'
As one of the biggest bands on the planet, Green Day have not only picked up the baton passed down by the original collection of punk bands that included Ramones, Sex Pistols and The Clash - they’ve also handed it on to a whole new generation of artists only too keen to have their say with three chords, volume and a quest for the truth.
In the process, they’ve entered the pantheon of the greats with music that continues to inspire fans and annoy the neighbours - and with Green Day celebrating the 25th anniversary of Nimrod, let’s have a look at how they got to where they are today...
When did Green Day start?
Formed in Berkeley, California, in 1986 and playing a crucial role in the DIY punk scene centred around the 924 Gilman Street club, the Green Day that broke through to a wider audience really came together when singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt were joined by drummer Tré Cool just in time for the recording of their second studio album, ‘Kerplunk’.
What does Green Day’s name mean?
A bit naughty this one – a 'green day' was code for the band spending the day together getting baked on pot, lounging around and doing as little as possible. They were originally called Sweet Children but they decided to change their name to avoid confusion with another local band called Sweet Baby. Inspiration was just a toke away…
What are Green Day's defining moments?
Following the cult success of ‘Kerplunk’, Green Day was signed by Reprise and they made their major label debut with 1994’s ‘Dookie’. In stark contrast to the music that had emanated from the Pacific North West with bands such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Green Day boiled punk rock down to the elemental values of the first wave that had hit hard in the mid 70s.
And while they may not have broken down any musical barriers, they introduced to a whole new generation to the joys of three-chord ramalama. It has since gone on to sell over 20m copies worldwide.
Released 10 years later, ‘American Idiot’ is the Green Day album that came to define the band in the 21st century. Called a “punk rock opera” by the band and a concept album by the rest of us, the album came into being after the master tapes for record that the band was working on – ‘Cigarettes And Valentines’ – were stolen.
Rather than re-record the material, Green Day started from scratch to chronicle the story of Jesus of Suburbia, and the loss of innocence and the disillusion of an entire generation in the wake of the disastrous second Iraq war.
A heavy topic, for sure, but one that resonated deeply with Green Day’s fans. So much so, that ‘American Idiot’ became the band’s second best-selling album, having shifted some 16m copies to date. It also inspired a Broadway musical of the same name.
Such is the respect commanded by Green Day that the band was inducted into the Rock And Hall Of Fame in 2015 – a feat made all the more impressive as it came in the first year of their eligibility.
What are Green Day’s biggest UK hit singles?
Amazingly, Green Day have been troubling the UK singles charts for far longer than they have their domestic ones. While their first UK singles – ‘Longview’ and ‘Welcome To Paradise’ – cracked the Top 30 in 1994, ‘Basket Case’ gatecrashed the Top 10 in the same year.
Two years later, ‘Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)’ peaked at No. 11, which is certainly no disgrace.
Three of the singles from ‘American Idiot’ – that’ll be the title track, ‘Boulevard Of Broken Dreams’ and ‘Wake Me Up When Septembers Ends’ – went to the Top 10, while ‘Jesus Of Suburbia’ and ‘Holiday’ found a home in the Top 20.
Green Day just missed out on pole position when they teamed up with U2 for a cover of The Skids’ ‘The Saints Are Coming’ in 2006.
Which bands have been influenced by Green Day?
Where to start? Green Day has influenced countless bands that have jumped into vans to take their music to as many people as possible. Their most visible disciples are Fall Out Boy and the socially conscious punks Against Me.
It’s doubtful that Blink-182 would have enjoyed the same level of success were it not for Green Day. Similarly, My Chemical Romance owe a tip of the hat, too.
Green Day facts: Did you know that...
Drummer Tré Cool is rumoured to have only testicle? He’s alleged to have lost the other one in a bizarre unicycle accident. Sounds like balls to us…
Billie Joe Armstrong is the only member of the band to use his real surname?
Mike Dirnt had his teeth knocked out by over-zealous security when Green Day started a mud fight at Woodstock ’94?
When was Green Day’s latest album released?
Green Day’s 13th studio album, ‘Father Of All…’, was released on 7th February 2020.
Speaking on the new album, Billie Joe Armstrong, frontman of the band, said, “Rock has lost its balls. We’re gonna teabag all these motherf*s. The baddest rock band on the planet that gives a s**t.” They also describe it as “Dangerous songs for dangerous kids!”
'Father Of All...' contained single 'Meet Me On The Roof', the video for which starred Dustin from Stranger Things AKA Gaten Matarazzo. Album single 'Oh Yeah!' broke a chart record, dethroning Red Hot Chili Peppers in the process.
WATCH: Green Day - 'Meet Me On The Roof' (Official Music Video)
Have Green Day ever played Glastonbury?
No, they have not. But never say ‘never’…
Did Green Day tour in 2020?
Unfortunately, Green Day were forced to postpone parts of their tour, Hella Mega, due to concerns over the Coronavirus pandemic. Releasing a statement on their Instagram in February 2020, the band wrote, 'We have unfortunately made the difficult decision to postpone our upcoming shows in Asia due to health + travel concerns with coronavirus.
'We know it sucks, as we were looking forward to seeing you all, but hold on to your tickets we'll be announcing the new dates very soon.' (sic).
Are Green Day going on tour?
After the goings-on of 2020, Green Day rescheduled their tour dates to 2021, taking to their Instagram once more to put fans' minds at ease. Phew! Fans in the US attended the 'Hella Mega Tour' in summer 2021.
Scroll through to see our complete guide to Green Day's albums...
Green Day - '39/Smooth' (1990)
Green Day's debut album '39/Smooth' was released on 13th April 1990 via Lookout Records. The only album to feature original drummer John Kiffmeyer, the album sold 3,000 copies in its first year, however, with the success of 'Dookie' in 1994 sales quickly skyrocketed to 55,000. No official singles were released from the album and the ominous artwork was created by Jesse Michaels of short-lived Berkeley ska punks Operation Ivy.
Green Day - 'Kerplunk' (1991)
Unleashed on 17th December 1991 via Lookout Records, testament to Green Day's growing word-of-mouth popularity the album sold 10,000 units on its first day. Featuring an early version of 'Welcome To Paradise', 'Kerplunk' has continued to grow in popularity over the decades and has sold more than 4,000,000 copies worldwide making it one of the best-selling independently released albums of all time. The cartoon artwork of a young woman with a gun and a boy with a gunshot wound on the back was banned by some. 'Kerplunk' is the first record to boast Tré Cool on drums.
Green Day - 'Dookie' (1994)
Green Day's first major label release on Reprise Records helped propel them into the mainstream psyche and has sold more than 20 million units globally, including 10 million in the band's native US. Spawning the colossal singles 'Longview', 'Basket Case', 'Welcome to Paradise', 'When I Come Around' and 'She', the Rob Cavallo opus was also met with blanket critical acclaim and is now regarded as one of the finest punk albums of all time. Just like 'Kerplunk', the seminal artwork created by East Bay punk Richie Bucher was critiqued by some for featuring bombs being dropped on buildings.
Green Day - 'Insomniac' (1995)
Exploring much darker thematic realms and embracing heavier sounds, 'Insomniac' was warmly received by critics but failed to reach the commercial heights of 'Dookie'. Four songs were released from the record - 'Geek Stink Breath', 'Brain Stew / Jaded', 'Stuck with Me', and 'Walking Contradiction' – and, to date, it has sold more than 2 million copies in the US and 300,000 in the UK. The striking artwork is a piece called God Told Me to Skin You Alive (a reference to the Dead Kennedys song 'I Kill Children') by collage artist Winston Smith.
Green Day - 'Nimrod' (1997)
Released on 14th October 1997, 'Nimrod' was easily Green Day's most eclectic record to date featuring elements of folk, surf rock and ska alongside Green Day's trademark punk sound. Poignant acoustic song 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)' has become one of Green Day's defining songs from their three-decade career. 'Hitchin' A Ride', 'Redundant' and 'Nice Guys Finish Last' were also released as singles. 'Nimrod' has sold 2.1 million copies Stateside and has achieved Platinum status here.
In October 2022, the trio began teasing the 25th anniversary of the record, before releasing unheard song 'You Irritate Me' to mark the special occasion. They're also re-releasing the album with 14 previously unreleased demos and a 20-track live album 'Live at the Electric Factory'.
Green Day - 'Warning' (2000)
Green Day's first album since 'Kerplunk' not to be produced by Rob Cavallo (who instead served as executive producer), 'Warning' took its lead from its predecessor 'Nimrod' and fused folk and acoustic elements with Green Day's trademark pop-punk sound. Featuring the solid singles 'Minority', 'Warning' and 'Waiting', Billie Joe, Mike and Tré's first album of the new millennium was met by a reasonably positive response from music critics yet it was a relative flop commercially; it was their first album on a major imprint Stateside not to hit Platinum status. However, this could be due to the fact it was leaked on (the now defunct) Napster weeks ahead of its release.
Green Day - 'American Idiot' (2004)
Not just one of Green Day's landmark career moments but arguably one of the greatest rock albums of the noughties, the punk rock opera is an ambitious concept album following the exploits of Jesus of Suburbia, a lower-middle-class American adolescent anti-hero. Reflecting the turbulent post-9/11 times, the album explores themes of disillusionment and dissent and nowhere is this more evident than on the rip-roaring and thematically weighty lead single and album title track 'American Idiot'. Rightfully lavished with praise by critics and scooping multiple awards (including the coveted Grammy Award for Best Rock Album), the album has to date sold more than 16 million units globally.
Green Day - '21st Century Breakdown' (2009)
Joining forces with Nirvana 'Nevermind' producer Butch Vig, just like 'American Idiot' Green Day's eighth studio album '21st Century Breakdown' was a rock opera that Billie Joe Armstrong describes as being a "snapshot of the era in which we live as we question and try to make sense of the selfish manipulation going on around us, whether it be the government, religion, media or frankly any form of authority". The band won their second Best Rock Album gong at The Grammys for the record and it boasted the singles 'Know Your Enemy', '21 Guns', 'East Jesus Nowhere', '21st Century Breakdown' and 'Last of the American 'Girls'. The artwork has drawn parallels to Banksy stencil that adorned Blur's 'Think Tank' six years earlier.
Green Day - '¡Uno!' (2012)
The first of a trio of albums unleashed in a three-month period, '¡Uno!' was the inaugural release to feature guitar from Green Day's fourth member Jason White before his departure in 2016. Recorded from February to June 2012 at Jingletown Studios in Oakland, California and released in September of that year, the album was preceded by the singles 'Oh Love', 'Kill The DJ' and 'Let Yourself Go'. Explaining why they released three albums, Billie Joe Armstrong enthused: "We are at the most prolific and creative time in our lives... This is the best music we've ever written, and the songs just keep coming. Instead of making one album, we are making a three-album trilogy. Every song has the power and energy that represents Green Day on all emotional levels." The album was emblazoned with Billie Joe Armstrong's face with neon pink crosses over his eyes.
Green Day - '¡Dos!' (2012)
Released two months after '¡Uno!' in November 2012, '¡Dos!' explored a more garage rock sound (more akin to their side project Foxboro Hot Tubs) in contrast to its power punk pop predecessor. Featuring the solitary single 'Stray Heart', the 13-track received generally warm reviews but failed to match the commercial success of '¡Uno!' entering the UK chart at Number 10 and becoming the first release since 'Dookie' not to sell 100,000 copies in its first week in America. Mike Dirnt graced the cover.
Green Day - '¡Tré!' (2012)
Released to the world in December 2012, in keeping with the divergent sounds of '¡Uno!' and '¡Dos!', '¡Tré!' explored different musical realms. Embracing epic stadium rock and featuring occasional orchestral flourishes, Billie Joe Armstrong claims '¡Tré!' is the most ambitious album of the trilogy. The least commercially successful album of the three, '¡Tré!' dented the charts at a lowly 31 in the UK. Featuring the titular drummer Tré Cool on the cover, it's Green Day's last album as a quartet before Jason White returned to his touring member role four years later.
Green Day - 'Revolution Radio' (2016)
Produced by Green Day themselves and recorded in Oakland, 'Revolution Radio' is a blitz of angst-ridden anthems with lyrical themes that address the complexities and uncertainties of modern-day existence. Billie Joe Armstrong said at the time of its release: "Of course the world has lost its collective mind... and me, Mike and Tré are lost souls too. Revolution Radio is a movement for lost souls to come together... dance together... sing together... and most of all, find each other. That's what the spirit of Green Day has been about since day one." The eye-catching artwork features a burning 80s boombox stereo. Green Day's most successful album in seven years, 'Revolution Radio' peaked at Number 1 in the UK.
Green Day - 'Father Of All...' (2020)
Green Day released their 13th studio album 'Father of All...' in February 2020. Produced by the band's long-time collaborator Chris Dugan, the album featured singles 'Father of All...' and 'Oh Yeah!', hitting the top spot in the UK album charts. Billie Joe described it as, "The New! soul, Motown, glam and manic anthemic. Punks, freaks and punishers!" adding that the lyrics are all about "the life AND death of the party" as well as the "lifestyle of not giving a f---."
Green Day - 'Saviors' (2024)
Released on Friday 19th January 2024 via Reprise/Warner Records, 'Saviors' was co-produced by Rob Cavallo who also worked on Green Day's blockbuster 'Dookie' and 'American Idiot' albums. Alongside Green Day's name and the album title in punk pink, the striking 'Saviors' artwork centres on a black-and-white photo of a smiling young boy holding a stone during a riot. The original photo of the youth was taken by acclaimed English photographer Chris Steele-Perkins during a riot at the top of Leeson Street, Belfast in 1978. For Green Day's sleeve, the boy's face has been photoshopped slightly so he is looking up and has wider eyes.
Green Day said of their new record: 'Saviors is an invitation into Green Day's brain, their collective spirit as a band, and an understanding of friendship, culture and legacy of the last 30 plus years. It's raw and emotional. Funny and disturbing. It's a laugh at the pain, weep in the happiness kind of record. Honesty and vulnerability. What is Saviors about, you ask? Power pop, punk, rock, indie triumph. disease, war, inequality, influencers, yoga retreats, alt right, dating apps, masks, MENTAL HEALTH, climate change, oligarchs, social media division, free weed, fentanyl, fragility,,.."
WATCH: Green Day: Revolution Radio, Trump & 'Ordinary World'
You can hear Green Day's biggest hits on the Absolute Radio playlist!
Now read:
Green Day's 'Dookie': A celebration of the masterpiece