Green Day: The Story behind One of Alternative Rock’s Biggest Bands

Maybe some of you may have heard the songs from this band recently. With such catchy hits like ’21 Guns’ and ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends,’ it is hard to ignore that the past decade has been good to Green Day. However, many people do not know that this band from Cali started out at the streets, performing for small audiences and built a fanbase from there.

 It all began in 1987, when two aspiring musicians Billie Joe Armstrong (vocals, guitars) and Mike Dirnt (bass, backing vocals), together with then drummer John Kiffmeyer, joined the punk rock scene in the streets of Berkeley, California. Armstrong and Dirnt were teenagers back then and were very excited to play. Continuous gigs and performances helped them attract new fans and supporters.

Then in 1989, an independent recording label Lookout! Records gave them a shot by signing them in and gave them a record deal. They recorded ‘1,000 Hours,’ an EP that will turn out to be one of the most memorable albums for them. Initially, their band was called Sweet Children, but they have decided to replace it with Green Day to shun from the possibility of confusing supporters with Sweet Baby, another punk band from their town.  According to sources, the name Green Day was related to the band’s attachment to marijuana, but the band neither confirms nor denies the idea.

In 1990, the band released their first full length album ‘39/Smooth’ and two EPs. It was also the time that they would replace their drummer with Tre Cool, which would become their permanent drummer until today.

In the years 1994 to 1996, Green Day has solidified their status as the new breed of punk rock superstars; as their albums Kerplunk (sold 50,000 copies) and Dookie went on to sell millions of albums around the globe. Dookie also won the prestigious Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album in 1995. Singles from the said album became instant hits, as these songs bust their way to every song chart in the U.S.

After the success of Dookie, the band went on a slow descent in popularity and activity, as they decided to have a break in 1996. However, when the band returned from the hiatus, they gave their fans an idea of how the band sounds like through ‘Nimrod’ and ‘Warning,’ the band’s fifth and sixth albums respectively. Mixed criticisms about the band were made. Some think that the band is evolving while others are saying that they are sellouts.

At the start of the new millennium, Green Day has been plagued with criticisms and comments regarding their shift in gears. They lost supporters simply because they have evolved as musicians. However, the adjustments in the direction of their music were also fruitful, as they also acquire new followers. They supported the release of ‘Nimrod’ with numerous tours and concerts.

In 2004, the band was having a power struggle, as Tre Cool, Mike Dirnt, and Billie Joe Armstrong were amidst several differences. Green Day went through some long discussions about the state of their group and how to patch things up between them. Afterwards, the band has resolved all of their problems and the end result was a chart-busting album titled ‘American Idiot,’ which was released in the same year (2004). It was a huge commercial success, as it also took home eight MTV Music Awards and a Grammy for Best Rock Album in 2005. ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams,’ another single from American Idiot, won a Grammy in 2006 and stayed at the top position of Billboard’s Modern Rock charts for 16 consecutive weeks.

They supported ‘American Idiot’ with a tour around the world, which gave their fans around the world to watch them perform live. The reception of their performances was always positive, as thousands of people support and sing along to their favorite Green Day anthems. After their tour, the band worked on their follow up.

 In 2009, the group released ‘21st Century Breakdown,’ an album that would end up to be one of their most critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums to date. It became the number one album in many countries, achieving gold and platinum albums in a span of a month. In the same year, renowned stage play and theater director Michael Mayer had a meeting with Green Day to discuss a project that would make the band’s album American Idiot into a musical. After a year, the project became a reality, as American Idiot: The Musical debut on Broadway.

Recently, the band has announced that they are currently working on their ninth full-length album, although they did not disclose any information about the concept and release date. Bassist Mike Dirnt also said that the release of their next album might coincide with the release of a feature film about the band. Furthermore, American Idiot will also be made into a movie, as it was announced by director Michael Mayer.

Notable Songs by Green Day:

• Basketcase
• Walking Contradiction
• Nice Guys Finish Last
• Warning
• Minority
• Wake Me Up When September Ends
• 21 Guns
• American Idiot
• Longview
• Hitchin' a Ride