Okay, Green Day might have gone a bit rubbish of late (you know that you’ve got too big for your boots when you agree to a duet with U2) but back in the day they were well known for their punky, attitude filled tracks which would fill the dancefloor of any rock club.
Green Day (apparently named for the band’s love of weed) were formed in 1987 and consists of Billie Joe Armstrong (Guitar, Vocals), Mike Dirnt (Bass) and Tre Cool (Drums). Their first album 39/Smooth was released in 1990 and their second album Kerplunk in 1992, but the band didn’t hit the big time until 1994 when Dookie was released. The album sold over ten million records in America and helped bring Punk rock back into the mainstream through songs such as Basketcase and When I Come Around. Insomniac was released in 1995 and although it didn’t sell as many copies, the critics still loved it.
In 1997 after a bit of a break, Nimrod was released – with acoustic ballad Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) being the biggest hit from it. 2000 saw the release of Warning. It showed the band had matured, however it didn’t fare very well with the critics, who missed the band’s frantic tunes and felt that the band had lost its edge. Afterwards the band released a greatest hits (International Superhits!) and a B-sides compilation (Shenanigans)
In 2003 the band started work on an album which was to be called Cigarettes and Valentines, however the master tracks were stolen. Rather than recreate the album, the band decided to record a new one. In 2004, American Idiot was released – a concept album which documented the trials and tribulations of the self-proclaimed “Jesus of Suburbia”. The album also had a very distinct anti-Bush theme behind it.
2008 will see the release of Green Day’s newest studio album. Fingers crossed it will be a return to form!
Green Day have released seven studio albums – 39/Smooth (1990), Kerplunk (1992), Dookie (1994), Insomniac (1995), Nimrod (1997), Warning (2000) and American Idiot (2004).
