Green Day

Artist Image: Green Day
Attribution
Image Credit: ECarterSterling (https://www.flickr.com/photos/188354731@N05/51374461121/), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool. Cool replaced former drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990, prior to the recording of the band's second studio album, Kerplunk, and has been a member of the band since. Green Day was originally part of the punk scene at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, California. The band's early releases were from the independent record label Lookout! Records. In 1994, its major label debut Dookie released through Reprise Records became a breakout success and eventually sold over 10 million copies in the U.S. Green Day was widely credited, alongside fellow California punk bands Sublime, The Offspring and Rancid, with popularizing and reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the United States. Green Day's three follow-up albums, Insomniac, Nimrod, and Warning did not achieve the massive success of Dookie, though they were still successful, with Insomniac and Nimrod reaching double platinum and Warning reaching gold status. The band's rock opera, American Idiot (2004), reignited the band's popularity with a younger generation, selling five million copies in the United States. The band's eighth studio album, 21st Century Breakdown, was released in 2009 which achieved the band's best chart performance to date. The band will begin to release a trilogy of albums over the course of five months starting in September 2012. The three albums will be called ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!, and will be released September 25, 2012, November 13, 2012, and January 15, 2013 respectively. Green Day has sold over 65 million records worldwide with 25 million in the US alone. The group has won five Grammy Awards: Best Alternative Album for Dookie, Best Rock Album for American Idiot, Record of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", Best Rock Album for the second time for 21st Century Breakdown and Best Musical Show Album for American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording. In 2010, a stage adaptation of American Idiot debuted on Broadway. The musical was nominated for several Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Scenic Design.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1987
Number of Albums 53
Record Label Reprise Records
Website www.greenday.com
Wikipedia Green Day on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

When did Green Day release their first EP?

1989

... songs. The group independently released their first EP, 1,000 hours, in 1989 . It was well received in punk circles. Soon after, they signed with inde...
Who was added to the group later?

John Kiftmeyer

...ike Dirnt in Rodeo, California when they were 14 years old. Drummer John Kiftmeyer was added to the group later and their name was changed to Green Da...
Who ran Lookout! Records?

Larry Livermore

...after, they signed with independent label, Lookout! Records, run by Larry Livermore , and released their first album, 39 Smooth. Kiftmeyer announced th...
What was the name of the band's first album?

39 Smooth

...kout! Records, run by Larry Livermore, and released their first album, 39 Smooth . Kiftmeyer announced that he was going to leave the group to attend c...
What was the name of Green Day's second album?

Kerplunk

...ge and suggested the band replace him with his former tutor, Tre Cool. Kerplunk , Green Day's second album, was an underground success, and the group's...
When was Dookie released?

1994

...to grow. Dookie, their first release with a major label, was released in 1994 . Thanks to an extended promotional tour and MTV's hyping of the single L...
What song did MTV hype?

Longview

...a major label, was released in 1994. Thanks to an extended promotional tour and MTV's hyping of the single Longview the album became a mainstream hit....
How old was Mike Dirnt when he formed the band Sweet Children?

14

...can punk rock band Green Day story started out in Rodeo, California, when 14 yearold childhood friends and Mike Dirnt formed their first band Sweet Chi...
What was Green Day's first name?

Sweet Children

... 14yearold childhood friends and Mike Dirnt formed their first band Sweet Children . By 1989, the group recruited drummer John Kiftmeyer and changed th...
What was the name of the label that the band signed with in 1990?

Lookout! Records

...fterward in 1990 the band signed a contract with independent label Lookout! Records , which was run by Larry Livermore, and released their debut album ...
What was the name of the band's debut album?

1,039Smoothed Out Slappy Hour

...h was run by Larry Livermore, and released their debut album 1,039Smoothed Out Slappy Hour within that year. Shortly after the release of 1,039Smoothe...
Who replaced Kiftmeyer as drummer?

Tre Cool

...eyer announced he was going to college and suggested former drum tutor Tre Cool to replace his position as the band's drummer. Later in the early 90s,...
When was Green Day's 2nd album Kerplunk released?

January 1992

...l areas, writing and recording their 2nd album Kerplunk, released in January 1992 . And then Dookie, Green Day's major label debut was released in the ...
How many records were sold internationally?

eleven million

...ally, this success would definitely bring Dookie to top eight million records sold in America, and selling over eleven million copies internationally....
Green Day appealed to what generation of listeners?

Generation X

...instream music. Bratty and bored, Green Day appealed to the socalled Generation X crowdthe twentysomethings who were getting bored with the slowmoving...
How many of the MTV Video Music Awards nominations were for American Idiot?

seven

...won a Grammy for best rock album, American Idiot, and captured awards in seven of eight nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards, for American Idiot ...
Where did Green Day begin?

Rodeo, California

...single, Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Green Day began in the town of Rodeo, California , just 15 miles north of Berkeley. There, tenyearolds Billie Joe A...
How far north of Berkeley is Rodeo?

15 miles

... Broken Dreams. Green Day began in the town of Rodeo, California, just 15 miles north of Berkeley. There, tenyearolds Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael...
Who is the lead vocalist and guitarist of Mini Bio (1) Green Day?

Billie Joe Armstrong

...can punk rock band formed in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt. For much of the band's career, they have...
What is Mike Dirnt's profession?

bassist

... formed in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt. For much of the band's career, they have been a trio with ...
In what year was John Kiffmeyer replaced?

1990

...y have been a trio with drummer Tré Cool, who replaced John Kiffmeyer in 1990 prior to the recording of the band's second studio album, Kerplunk (1991...
How many records has Green Day sold worldwide?

85 million

...'s second studio album, Kerplunk (1991). Green Day has sold more than 85 million records worldwide. Trivia (21) Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong wrote th...
What is Green Day a band that defies category?

Equal parts pop phenomenon and defiant pioneering punk juggernaut

... Equal parts pop phenomenon and defiant pioneering punk juggernaut , Green Day is a band that defies category. But with millions of fans scattered acros...
How many fans does Green Day have?

millions

...ng punk juggernaut, Green Day is a band that defies category. But with millions of fans scattered across the world and an almost unbelievable career t...
How many albums have Green Day sold?

over 85 million

...ited for ushering punk music into the mainstream in the 1990s. With over 85 million albums sold and a spot in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Green Da...
When did Sweet Children form a band?

1986

...irnt were just 14 years old, they formed a band called Sweet Children in 1986 working with a drummer named John Kiffmeyer. The band inked a deal with ...
Who was the drummer for Sweet Children?

John Kiffmeyer

...d a band called Sweet Children in 1986 working with a drummer named John Kiffmeyer . The band inked a deal with Lookout! Records two years later, relea...
What was the name of the EP that Green Day released?

1,000 Hours

... a deal with Lookout! Records two years later, releasing an EP called 1,000 Hours and changing their name to Green Day, a nod to the musicians love fo...
How many copies did Kerplunk sell in the U.S.?

50,000

... The Lookouts. In 1991, Kerplunk was released, which sold an incredible 50,000 copies initially in the U.S. Now considered one of the bestselling inde...
When was Billie Joe Armstrong born?

February 17, 1972

...Billie Joe Armstrong was born on February 17, 1972 , the youngest of six children to Andy and Ollie Armstrong from Rodeo, California. The family was st...
How many children were there in the Armstrong family?

six

...Billie Joe Armstrong was born on February 17, 1972, the youngest of six children to Andy and Ollie Armstrong from Rodeo, California. The family was st...
What was Billie Joe's father's profession?

jazz drummer

.... A musical atmosphere surrounded Billie from birth his father was a jazz drummer , and his mother, whom Andy Armstrong met at a gig, shared his love o...
Who was always encouraged to learn to play instruments especially the drums?

Billie Joe and his siblings

...Armstrong met at a gig, shared his love of music and dancing. Billie Joe and his siblings were always encouraged to learn to play instruments especial...
How many copies did Look for Love press?

800

...illie was then brought in to record Look for Love, a 7 vinyl that pressed 800 copies and earned the budding star a 500word article in the local newspa...
How many words did Love get in a local newspaper?

500

...for Love, a 7 vinyl that pressed 800 copies and earned the budding star a 500 word article in the local newspaper. After he made the album, Andy put hi...
In what state did elderly women fawn over the boy with a great voice?

California

...st son's potential to good use and took him on a minitour of Northern California , where elderly women fawned over this cute boy with a great voice. At...
When did Andy pass away?

September 1982

...cess. Unfortunately, when Billie was ten his father Andy was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. Four months later, in September 1982 , Andy passed away....
Who was Al Sobrante?

a member of local group Isocracy

... the Dead Kennedys. Hughes was later replaced by Sobrante, a member of local group Isocracy . In 1989 the group recorded an album, 39Smooth, that was r...
Who replaced Hughes?

Sobrante

...uch as the Ramones and the Dead Kennedys. Hughes was later replaced by Sobrante , a member of local group Isocracy. In 1989 the group recorded an album...
What local group did Sobrante belong to?

Isocracy

...nnedys. Hughes was later replaced by Sobrante, a member of local group Isocracy . In 1989 the group recorded an album, 39Smooth, that was released by l...
What was the name of the 1989 album?

39Smooth

...a member of local group Isocracy. In 1989 the group recorded an album, 39Smooth , that was released by local label Lookout Records under the new band n...
Who released the album 39Smooth under the new name Green Day?

Lookout Records

...group recorded an album, 39Smooth, that was released by local label Lookout Records under the new band name Green Day (it was later repackaged as part...
How many Smooth Out Slappy Hours were released?

1,039

...me Green Day (it was later repackaged as part of the bands 1991 release, 1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours). Not long afterward, Sobrante was replaced by...
Who replaced Sobrante?

Tré Cool

...oothed Out Slappy Hours). Not long afterward, Sobrante was replaced by Tré Cool , a drummer from the mountains around Mendocino, California, who had be...
How many copies of Green Day's Dookie were sold worldwide?

15 million

...my Award for best alternative music performance and selling more than 15 million copies worldwide. After a fouryear break from recording, Green Day re...
How long did Green Day take from recording?

fouryear

...performance and selling more than 15 million copies worldwide. After a fouryear break from recording, Green Day released the stylistic gamble American...
What was the name of Green Day's 2004 album?

American Idiot

...After a fouryear break from recording, Green Day released the stylistic gamble American Idiot (2004), a politically charged album with operatic scope....
When did Green Day form?

1987

...Green Day (formed 1987 ) Green Day is an American punk rock band that has had huge global success since it's debut major label release, Dookie in 1994....
What was the name of the band's first show in 1987?

Rod's Hickory Pit

...e band's first show was in October 1987 in Vallejo, California, at Rod's Hickory Pit , where Mike's mother worked at the time. The next year, the band ...
Where was the first show for Sweet Children held?

Vallejo, California

...amed Sweet Children. The band's first show was in October 1987 in Vallejo, California , at Rod's Hickory Pit, where Mike's mother worked at the time. T...
How many more EPs did Green Day release?

two

...kout! Records also released Green Day's debut album, 39Smooth, as well as two more EPs, 'Slappy' and 'Sweet Children'. The next year, they released 1,...
In what year was Insomniac released?

1995

...added to the Lollapalooza and Woodstock bills. Insomniac was released in 1995 and spawned the singles 'Geek Stink Breath', 'Brain StewJaded', 'Walking...
Who is Mike Dirnt?

bassist and backing vocalist

...d vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, together with bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt. For much of the band's career, they have been a ...
When did Jason White become a full time member?

2012

...rplunk (1991). Touring guitarist Jason White became a fulltime member in 2012 , but returned to his touring role in 2016. Before taking its current nam...
In what year did White return to his touring role?

2016

...te became a fulltime member in 2012, but returned to his touring role in 2016 . Before taking its current name in 1989, Green Day was called Sweet Chil...
In what year was Nimrod released?

1997

...lub in Berkeley, California. Though the albums Insomniac (1995), Nimrod ( 1997 ), and Warning (2000) did not match the success of Dookie, they were stil...
What was the name of the band's twelfth album?

Revolution Radio

...romotion and Armstrong entering rehab. Their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio , was released in October 2016 and became their third to debut at N...
When was the band's thirteenth album released?

February 7, 2020

...October 2016 and became their third to debut at No. The band's thirteenth studio album, Father of All Motherfuckers, was released on February 7, 2020 ....
What was Green Day's 1994 major label debut called?

Dookie

... of poppunk. This winning combination made their 1994 major label debut Dookie an enormous breakthrough hit, serving as an entry point to punk for man...
What was the name of Green Day's first fulllength?

39Smooth and the Slappy EP

...eived in the California hardcore punk scene. Debut fulllength 39Smooth and the Slappy EP arrived soon after in 1990. By 1991, the group had signed a c...
What label did Green Day sign a contract with in 1991?

Lookout

.... By 1991, the group had signed a contract with local independent label Lookout . Combining their first three efforts into one compilation, Green Day i...