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Childhood friends Billy Joe Armstrong (guitar,
vocals) and Mike Dirnt (bass; born Mike Pritchard) were the actual
founders of the band Sweet Children, in Rodeo, CA, at the age of 14 (1987)
with recruited drummer Al Sobrante (born John Kriftmayer). Major
influences for these budding musicians/songwriters were the old heavy
metal warhorses such as Ozzy Osbourne, Def Leppard, and Van Halen. Other
influences include the "thrash and drag" of the Bay Area's
alternative music culture percolating throughout the eighties. Clubs such
as Mabuhay Gardens and Berkeley's 924 Gilman Street regularly showcased
local groups like the Dead Kennedys and Buck Naked. They played their
first official gig at Rod's Hickory Pit in Vallejo, CA. and expanded to
clubs on the infamous Gilman Street in Berkeley, CA.
As Green Day, they recorded their first EP, 1,000
Hours, as seniors in high school at the age of 17, which was well
received by the California hardcore punk scene. They followed up the 1,000
Hours EP with numerous pressings of the Sweet Children EP, and
also the Slappy EP. Their official debut album came in 1990 after
signing with a local independent label, Lookout Records. This album was a
combination of all the previous EPs, and named 1039 Smoothed Out Slappy
Hours. Soon after, John Kriftmeyer left the band and was replaced by
Gilman Street veteran, Tre Cool (Born Frank Edwin Wright III). In 1991,
Tre debuted on Green Day's second album, Kerplunk!, which was again
a hit with the underground punk scene.
The
underground success of Kerplunk! led to a wave of interest from
major record labels; the band eventually decided to sign with Reprise. Green Day’s major record label debut, Dookie was
released in the Spring of 1994 to an ever expanding punk rock fan base.
Aided by the support of MTV for the singles “Longview” and
“Basketcase” and stellar performances such as the Woodstock ’94,
record sales increased and eventually topped 10 million in the US alone.
Also, Green Day was awarded a Grammy for Best Alternative Rock Performance
in 1994. Seeing the success of the Dookie album, Green Day released
Insomniac, a rushed follow-up effort in the fall of 1995.
The record sold well initially due to the band’s popularity but
began to fall as none of the singles were as popular as those from Dookie.
In the spring of 1996 Green Day cancelled their European tour and
spent the next year writing new material.
The effort paid off as their third album, Nimrod,
released in the fall of 1997, was a hit with loyal fans and new listeners
alike. The most popular single, “Good Riddance” was featured on an
episode of ER and the final installment of “Seinfeld.” After the
success of Nimrod and the added personal commitments of blossoming
families, the band mates took two years off from touring and recording. In
2000, Green Day hit the music scene once again with their much anticipated
album Warning. The album had a mellower puck sound and feel when
compared the fast, hard-hitting sound of past albums. Unfortunately, the
album wasn't accepted well by the critics or the loyal Green Day fans. In
similar fashion to the Insomniac flop, the band retreated from the
spotlight, participating in a minimal number of tours and producing no new
albums.
After four years, fans were hit with the September
2004 release of Green Day’s fifth album American Idiot. Going
back to their punk roots, the album lashes out against the American
government and the media. “American Idiot” was the first Green Day
single ever to debut at #1 on the Billboard Charts. The follow up single,
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" experienced even greater success
and the album was nominated for seven Grammy awards, taking one for Best
Rock Album. The success of American Idiot and the longevity of the
band, in general, solidifies Green Day’s place among the alternative
rock greats such as Pearl Jam and Nirvana.
For free Green Day downloads check out MPFree.com |
