Green Day

Green Day is an American punk rock band from Berkeley, United States, active since 1989. The group centres on Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt, with Tré Cool joining in 1990. John Kiffmeyer is also listed among the band’s members, along with Jason White. Green Day uses the labels Green Daze Music and Reprise Records, and its sound spans alternative rock, pop punk, power pop, punk, punk rock and rock.

Origins and early releases

The band begins in the Bay Area punk scene around 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley. Before taking the name Green Day in 1989, it performs as Sweet Children. Its early recordings come out on Lookout! Records, including the first album 39/Smooth in 1990. Tré Cool replaces John Kiffmeyer in 1990 before the second studio album, Kerplunk, appears in 1991. Green Day mainly works as a power trio.

Breakthrough and major albums

Green Day’s major-label debut, Dookie, is released in 1994 on Reprise Records and becomes a major commercial success, helping to renew mainstream interest in punk rock. Later albums include Insomniac (1995), Nimrod (1997) and Warning (2000), all of which achieve commercial success to different degrees in the United States. Insomniac and Nimrod reach double platinum, while Warning reaches gold.

American Idiot and later work

The rock opera American Idiot appears in 2004 and attracts widespread attention, selling six million copies in the US. It is followed by 21st Century Breakdown (2009), the trilogy ¡Uno!, ¡Dos! and ¡Tré! (2012), then Revolution Radio (2016), Father of All Motherfuckers (2020) and Saviors (2024).

Recognition and related projects

The stage adaptation of American Idiot premieres on Broadway in 2010 and receives three Tony Award nominations, winning Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design. Green Day is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, its first year of eligibility. The band receives 20 Grammy nominations and wins five, including awards for Dookie, American Idiot, 21st Century Breakdown, Boulevard of Broken Dreams and American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording. Band members also take part in side projects including Pinhead Gunpowder, the Network, Foxboro Hot Tubs, the Longshot and the Coverups, as well as solo work. The group has sold about 75 million records worldwide.