Flashback to 1987: Hair-metal has matured to the point of saturation. Formulaic songs, sounds, and make-up laden fashion had further alienated punk and alternative bands, musicians, and fans, forcing them deeper underground. But most things buried eventually resurface – sometimes with a vengeance.
Entrenched in the ’87 California punk scene, Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt formed a band called Sweet Children, performing their first show in Vallejo, California. In early 1988, the band was joined by drummer, John Kiffmeyer (also known as Al Sobrante), who acted as the band’s manager. Later that year, the band was signed by Lookout Records, and released an EP titled, “1,000 Hours,” for which they changed the band name to Green Day.
In 1990, Green Day released an LP, “39/Smooth,” and two additional EPs, “Slappy”, and “Sweet Children”. A compilation of all three releases, called “1,039/Smoothed Out Happy Hours” was offered in 1991. Shortly before the relase, Kiffmeyer left the band, and was replaced by Tre Cool. Green Day toured the U.S. extensively in ’92 and ’93, supporting the relase of of their second LP, “Kerplunk”, which sold a respectable 50,000 copies.
Respectable indeed: the success of “Kerplunk” attracted the interest of Reprise Records, to which the band signed, releasing “Dookie” in 1994. By that time, hair-bands were ancient history, and music fans embraced Green Day, and a host of other former underground punk and alternative rock bands, with a fervor unknown since the 1960s. “Dookie” hit the Billboard 200 at number two, won a Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album in 1995, and produced some of the band’s best known early singles: “Longview”, “Basket Case”, and “When I Come Around”.
Green Day – When I Come Around – Live
1995 brought the release of another critically acclaimed album, “Insomniac.” The record showcased the band’s versatility as songwriters and musicians, without departing from their punk roots, and produced four singles: “Geek Stink Breath”, “Brain Stew/Jaded”, “Walking Contradiction”, and “Stuck With Me”.
1997’s “Nimrod” further showcased Green Day’s versatility with punk, ska, pop, and the acoustic sensibilties of the mega-hit “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)”, and would be prove a harbinger of things to come for the band. 2000 saw the release of “Warning,” with the singles “Minority” and “Warning”. Although the album went gold, it did not achive the multi-platinum status of earlier releases.
The millenium also brought a shift in popular musical tastes, with heavier, darker overtunes favored over clever pop and punk sentiments, and Green Day’s popularity waned. Despite “Warning”’s somewhat disappointing sales at the time, Green Day won all eight nominations at the the 2001 California Music Awards for the album: Outstanding Album (Warning), Outstanding Punk Rock/Ska Album (Warning), Outstanding Group, Outstanding Male Vocalist, Outstanding Bassist, Outstanding Drummer, Outstanding Songwriter and Outstanding Artist.
The next few years seemed quiet for the band, despite releases of compliation and B-side albums, “International Superhits” and “Shenanagans”, and the ill-fated “Cigarettes and Valentines,” from which all recorded tracks were stolen. But the band was not ready to give up. In 2004, “American Idiot” debuted at Number One on the U.S. Billboard Charts, a first for the band. A “rock opera” documenting the laments and observations of “Jesus of Suburbia”, “American Idiot” won the 2005 Grammy for Best Rock Album, received six other awards, and enjoyed extensive radio airplay and renewed the band’s commercial success.
In 2005, the band embarked on a support tour for “American Idiot”, which included 150 dates in Japan, Australia, South America and the United Kingdom. A live CD and DVD, called “Bullet in a Bible”, was released in November of the same year. The tour was a smashing success, with two UK dates drawing over 130,000 fans.
After a five year recording haitus, but still flushed with the success of “American Idiot”, Green Day released “21st Century Breakdown” in 2009. Once again, critics raved and fans agreed, and the album hit #1 in fourteen charting countries. This album’s success ensures that Green Day will continue to be a modern rock force to be reckoned with: not a bad legacy for three former teenaged Cali-punks.
By Scotty Smith
Guitarist Rock ©2008-2009
