Green Day

  • los angeles, CA
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  • Punk
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  • 1987
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About Green Day

Official Site: http://greenday.com/ | @greenday


Out of all the post-Nirvana alternative bands to break into the pop mainstream, Green Day were second only to Pearl Jam in terms of influence. At their core, Green Day were simply punk revivalists who recharged the energy of speedy, catchy three-chord punk-pop songs. Though their music wasn't particularly innovative, they brought the sound of late-'70s punk to a new, younger generation with Dookie, their 1994 major-label debut. Dookie sold over ten million copies, paving the way for a string of multi-platinum releases that opened the doors for a flood of American neo-punk, punk metal, and third wave ska revivalists. More than a decade later, as many of their former contemporaries settled into retirement, Green Day remained at the forefront of popular music with albums like the Grammy-winning American Idiot.

Green Day arose from the Northern California underground punk scene. Childhood friends Billie Joe Armstrong (guitar, vocals) and Mike Dirnt (bass; born Mike Pritchard) formed their first band, Sweet Children, in Rodeo, California when they were 14 years old. By 1989, the group had added drummer Al Sobrante and changed its name to Green Day. That same year, the band independently released its first EP, 1000 Hours, which was well-received in the California hardcore punk scene. Soon, the group had signed a contract with the local independent label Lookout. Green Day's first full album, 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour, was released later that year. Shortly after its release, the band replaced Sobrante with Tre Cool (born Frank Edwin Wright III), who became the band's permanent drummer.

Throughout the early '90s, Green Day continued to cultivate a cult following, which only gained strength with the release of their second album, 1992's Kerplunk. The underground success of Kerplunk led to a wave of interest from major record labels, and the band eventually decided to sign with Reprise. Dookie, Green Day's major-label debut, was released in the spring of 1994. Thanks to MTV support for the initial single, "Longview," Dookie became a major hit. The album continued to gain momentum throughout the summer, with the second single, "Basket Case," spending five weeks on the top of the American modern rock charts. At the end of the summer, the band stole the show at Woodstock '94, which helped the sales of Dookie increase. By the time the fourth single, "When I Come Around," began its seven-week stay at number one on the modern rock charts in early 1995, Dookie had sold over five million copies in the U.S. alone; it would eventually top ten million in America, selling over 15 million copies internationally. Dookie also won the 1994 Grammy for Best Alternative Music Performance.

Green Day quickly followed Dookie with Insomniac in the fall of 1995; during the summer, they hit number one again on the modern rock charts with "J.A.R.," their contribution to the Angus soundtrack. Insomniac performed well initially, entering the U.S. charts at number two and selling over two million copies by the spring of 1996, yet none of its singles -- including the radio favorite "Brain Stew/Jaded" -- was as popular as those from Dookie. In the spring of 1996, Green Day abruptly canceled a European tour, claiming exhaustion. Following the cancellation, the band spent the rest of the year resting and writing new material before issuing Nimrod in late 1997. Three years later, their long-awaited follow-up, a refreshingly poppy record titled Warning, was released. Another long wait preceded 2004's American Idiot, an aggressive rock opera that became a surprise success -- a chart-topper around the world, a multi-platinum Grammy winner, and easily the best reviewed album of their career. Green Day reveled in the album's success, hitting numerous award shows and performing as part of Live 8 in July 2005. That fall brought the release of Bullet in a Bible, a concert album that documented the trio's expansive Idiot live show.

With their popularity and commercial viability restored, Green Day took on several small projects before returning to the studio. They contributed a cover of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" to the charity album Instant Karma, appeared in The Simpsons Movie, and recorded an entire album of '60s-styled rock & roll under the alias of Foxboro Hot Tubs. While presenting an award at the Grammys in early 2009, the band announced the impending release of Green Day's eighth album, 21st Century Breakdown, which had been recorded with veteran producer Butch Vig. In May of 2009, 21st Century Breakdown was released, picking up where American Idiot left off, as another ambitious punk rock opera. The album was a commercial success, selling over 215,000 copies in its first three days of sales. In 2009, American Idiot was adapted for the stage, and the following year, Green Day lent their talents to the original cast recording, combining a driving score with Broadway vocal arrangements. The band released the live Awesome as F**k in 2011.

During the summer of 2012, Green Day unveiled their ambitious plans for the fall and winter: they would release not one but three new albums. The records -- ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, ¡Tré! -- would appear in September 2012, November 2012, and January 2013, respectively, with each individual bandmember gracing one of the album covers on his own. The first, appropriately called ¡Uno!, was preceded by the disco-rock single "Kill the DJ" and the anthemic arena rocker "Oh Love." ¡Uno! was set for a splashy release in September 2012, but the weekend prior to its release Billie Joe Armstrong had an onstage breakdown during a set Green Day played at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas. Days later, it was announced that Armstrong entered rehab for undisclosed substance abuse; not long afterward the band's touring plans for 2013 were canceled. ¡Dos! arrived as scheduled in November 2012 and ¡Tré! was moved up to a December release. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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Music

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  • Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Live)
    green-day
    Video
    Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Live)
  • American Idiot (Live)
    green-day
    Video
    American Idiot (Live)
  • Good Riddance (Live)
    green-day
    Video
    Good Riddance (Live)
  • The Forgotten
    green-day
    Video
    The Forgotten
  • Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance) (Pop Up Video)
    green-day
    Video
    Time Of Your Life (Good Riddance) (Pop Up Video)
  • Let Yourself Go (Live)
    green-day
    Video
    Let Yourself Go (Live)
  • Oh Love
    green-day
    Video
    Oh Love
  • Wake Me Up When September Ends (Pop Up Video)
    green-day
    Video
    Wake Me Up When September Ends (Pop Up Video)
  • 21 Guns (Pop Up Video)
    green-day
    Video
    21 Guns (Pop Up Video)
  • Cigarettes & Valentines (Live from Awesome as F**** DVD)
    green-day
    Video
    Cigarettes & Valentines (Live from Awesome as F**** DVD)

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • ¡Quatro!
    green-day
    playlist
    ¡Quatro!
  • VH1 News Interview 9.18.12
    green-day
    playlist
    VH1 News Interview 9.18.12
  • VMA 2012 Red Carpet
    green-day
    playlist
    VMA 2012 Red Carpet
  • Green Day Predict VMA Winners
    green-day
    playlist
    Green Day Predict VMA Winners
  • Green Day Gears Up for the 2012 VMAs
    green-day
    playlist
    Green Day Gears Up for the 2012 VMAs
  • Green Day And Kevin Hart Prep For The VMAs
    green-day
    video
    Green Day And Kevin Hart Prep For The VMAs
  • MTV First Interview
    green-day
    playlist
    MTV First Interview
  • Green Day Gets Ready To Drop Uno
    green-day
    playlist
    Green Day Gets Ready To Drop Uno
  • Making of Boulevard of Broken Dreams
    green-day
    playlist
    Making of Boulevard of Broken Dreams
  • All About Green Day On Rock Band
    green-day
    playlist
    All About Green Day On Rock Band

Photos

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  • Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day belts it out like the rock star he is.
    Green Day
    Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day belts it out like the rock star he is.
    Getty Images
  • Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs 'Let Yourself Go' on stage during the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Green Day
    Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs 'Let Yourself Go' on stage during the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Getty Images
  • Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs 'Let Yourself Go' on stage during the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Green Day
    Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs 'Let Yourself Go' on stage during the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Getty Images
  • Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day photographed on the red carpet at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Green Day
    Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day photographed on the red carpet at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Getty
  • Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs 'Let Yourself Go' on stage during the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Green Day
    Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day performs 'Let Yourself Go' on stage during the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Getty Images
  • Green Day photographed on the red carpet at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Green Day
    Green Day photographed on the red carpet at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    PictureGroup
  • Green Day rehearses on stage for the 2012 MTV VMAs.
    Green Day
    Green Day rehearses on stage for the 2012 MTV VMAs.
    John Shearer/Invision for MTV
  • Green Day rehearses on stage for the 2012 MTV VMAs.
    Green Day
    Green Day rehearses on stage for the 2012 MTV VMAs.
    John Shearer/Invision for MTV
  • Green Day rehearses on stage for the 2012 MTV VMAs.
    Green Day
    Green Day rehearses on stage for the 2012 MTV VMAs.
    John Shearer/Invision for MTV
  • Green Day rehearses on stage for the 2012 MTV VMAs.
    Green Day
    Green Day rehearses on stage for the 2012 MTV VMAs.
    John Shearer/Invision for MTV

News

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  • Green Day
    It’s Really Over (College, That Is): The Best Commencement Speeches of 2013
    MTV Act
    June 18, 2013
    You’ve passed your classes. You put on the cap and gown. All you need to do is walk across the stage, and you will have officially graduated from coll...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    7 Reasons Why The NFL Is Insane For Banning Purses
    clutch.mtv.com
    June 18, 2013
    Credit: Chris Graythen / Getty Images In an effort to tighten security at stadiums, the NFL is no longer allowing handbags . Female football fans ...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    Justice League Save The Day In New Target Spot
    Splash Page
    June 18, 2013
    by Brett White Fans eagerly awaiting a " Justice League " adaptation will be pleased to know that they don't have to wait anymore! That is, if your ...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    'Sin City: A Dame To Kill For' Pushed Back A Year To August 2014
    Splash Page
    June 18, 2013
    The " Sin City " sequel might be a movie to kill for — but you won't be killing for it until next year. Dimension Films have announced that "Sin City...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    Hey Kanye West, You Should Totally Get This Stuff Made For Your Baby Girl!
    MTV Style
    June 15, 2013
    DISCLAIMER: None of these products actually exist IRL. We're just excellent at Photoshop. Photo: Givenchy/ BabyBib /Nike/Pyrex Vision/ Green Daisies /...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    'Man Of Steel' Supersuits: Actors Get Deep About Their Spandex
    MTV News
    June 15, 2013
    Outfits empowered Henry Cavill, while Michael Shannon sulked in a unitard.
    Read More
  • Green Day
    Op-Ed: They Kill Supervillains, Don't They? In Movies, At Least, Heroes Use Lethal Force
    MTV Geek
    June 14, 2013
    WARNING: THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR IRON MAN 3, STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS, MAN OF STEEL, AND A TON MORE. PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK, SPOILER-PHOB...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    'Man Of Steel': How Mighty Will Its Box-Office Debut Be?
    MTV News
    June 14, 2013
    Superman will undoubtedly win the weekend, and some experts are predicting returns of more than $130 million.
    Read More
  • Green Day
    4 Indie Bands Giving Back on Tour This Summer + When To Catch Them
    MTV Act
    June 12, 2013
    WTF does "indie" even mean, and what's a band gotta do to be it? Broke? Obscure? Independent-minded? While hipsters debate over the true definition of...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    15 Years Later, Ethan Embry Still Not Sure What Can't Hardly Wait Is About
    VH1 Celebrity
    June 12, 2013
    On June 12, 1998, Can't Hardly Wait premiered in theaters. Though it was hardly a runaway hit at the box office, it helped launch the careers of m...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    Green Day and Björk do, Weezer don't: studio update
    www.drownedinsound.com
    in November, guitarist Brian Bell has since told spinner.com that "someone jumped the gun". "We're still going to focus on promoting the Red Album and...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    ‘Glee’ Stars And Green Day Rock The Tonys With Some Theatricality
    idolator.com
    a California punk rock band would be the catalyst for an award-winning Broadway musical? Well, okay—if you can suspend your disbelief enough to follow...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    Green Day: Uno!
    American Songwriter
    Green Day Uno! (Warner Bros.) Rating: 3 out of 5 stars On "Angel Blue," a typically breathless pop-punk offering from Green Day's latest album Uno!, l...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    Green Day's Armstrong upbeat in lively SXSW show
    music.yahoo.com
    Related ContentView Photo FILE - This Sept. 21, 2012 file photo shows Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day on ... AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Green Day isn't t...
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  • Green Day
    SXSW 2013: Green Day Launch 'Broadway Idiot' and 'Cuatro' Documentaries
    www.rollingstone.com
    Green Day speak on stage before the World Premiere of "Broadway Idiot" at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas on March 15th, 2013. Michael Buckner/...
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  • Green Day
    Green Day and the Creative Process: Story of Two Films, 'Broadway Idiot' and '¡Cuatro!'
    www.billboard.com
    The two films featuring Green Day that premiered at SXSW are rooted in the same concept: Chronicle the creative process. "¡Cuatro!," a 70-minute film ...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    SXSW 2013: Green Day Launch 'Broadway Idiot' and 'Cuatro!' Documentaries
    music.yahoo.com
    Related ContentView Photo SXSW 2013: Green Day Launch 'Broadway Idiot' and 'Cuatro!' Documentaries "Welcome to our nightmare." That sardonic introduct...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    Green Day's Arena Return in Chicago: 'This Is How You Party!'
    music.yahoo.com
    Related ContentView Photo Green Day's Arena Return in Chicago: 'This Is How You Party!' "It's been a slightly unpredictable path," Billie Joe Armstron...
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  • Green Day
    Green Day's Arena Return in Chicago: 'This Is How You Party'
    www.rollingstone.com
    "It's been a slightly unpredictable path," Billie Joe Armstrong told a Chicago crowd already on the verge of hysteria after two hours of punk mayhem. ...
    Read More
  • Green Day
    PSY Thinks It’s Cool That Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong Called Him The “Herpes Of Music”: Morning Mix
    idolator.com
    Did You Hear? :: Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong referred to PSY as the "herpes of music" on Instagram the other day, and now the Korean pop star has...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • Jun 21 Friday
    Moscow, Russian Federation Olimpiyskiy Stadium
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 23 Sunday
    St. Petersburg, Russian Federation SKK Arena
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 25 Tuesday
    Tallin, Estonia Song Festival Ground
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 26 Wednesday
    Helsinki, Finland Hietaniemi Beach
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 26 Wednesday
    Helsinki, Finland Hietaniemi Beach
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 27 Thursday
    Norrköping, Sweden Festivalområdet Bråvalla
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 30 Sunday
    Oslo, Norway Ullevaal Stadion
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 2 Tuesday
    Copenhagen, Denmark Refshaleøen
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 4 Thursday
    Werchter, Belgium Unknown venue
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 5 Friday
    Arras, France Unknown venue
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 5 Friday
    Montreux, Switzerland Montreux Jazz Festival
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 7 Sunday
    Montreux, Switzerland Montreux Jazz Lab
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 8 Monday
    Locarno, Switzerland Piazza Grande Di Locarno
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 10 Wednesday
    Nîmes, France Arènes de Nîmes
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 10 Wednesday
    Nîmes, France Arènes de Nîmes
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 11 Thursday
    Bilbao, Spain Kobetamendi
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 12 Friday
    Lisbon, Portugal Passeio Marítimo De Algés
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 12 Friday
    Lisbon, Portugal Passeio Marítimo De Algés
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 23 Friday
    Leeds, UK Live at Leeds Festival
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 23 Friday
    Reading, UK Richfield Avenue
    Buy Ticket
  • Aug 23 Friday
    Wetherby, UK Bramham Park
    Buy Ticket
  • Mar 29 Saturday
    Moline, IL, US i Wireless Center
    Buy Ticket

Discography

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  • ¡Tré! (2012)
    Green Day
    ¡Tré! (2012)
    Reprise
  • ¡Dos! (2012)
    Green Day
    ¡Dos! (2012)
    Reprise
  • ¡Uno! (2012)
    Green Day
    ¡Uno! (2012)
    Warner Music
  • Awesome as F**k (2011)
    Green Day
    Awesome as F**k (2011)
  • American Idiot [The Original Broadway Cast Recording] (2010)
    Green Day
    American Idiot [The Original Broadway Cast Recording] (2010)
    Warner Bros.
  • 21st Century Breakdown (2009)
    Green Day
    21st Century Breakdown (2009)
    Reprise
  • Bullet in a Bible (2005)
    Green Day
    Bullet in a Bible (2005)
    Reprise
  • American Idiot (2004)
    Green Day
    American Idiot (2004)
    Warner Brothers
  • Warning (2000)
    Green Day
    Warning (2000)
    Reprise
  • Nimrod (1997)
    Green Day
    Nimrod (1997)
    Reprise
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