Green Day

Green Day, the punk revivalists known for their mix of style, substance, and irresistible hooks, have evolved through two distinct phases. They burst onto MTV in 1994 as mischievous twenty-somethings, with green-haired frontman Billie Joe Armstrong singing about teenage rebellion and chaos on their major-label debut, "Dookie," which went triple-platinum. By the 2000s, the band had matured into elder statesmen of punk rock with the politically charged rock operas "American Idiot" and "21st Century Breakdown," chronicling the complexities of life in the new millennium.

Green Day has received numerous awards, including four Grammy Awards for albums like "Dookie" and "American Idiot," and a Grammy for Record of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". They won seven out of eight nominations at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015. The band also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2025 and multiple awards from the Billboard Music Awards and California Music Awards throughout their career.

Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt, friends since age 10, formed their first band, Sweet Children, at 14. Recording as Green Day by age 17, they released their debut EP 1,000 Hours on the punk label Lookout! with drummer John Kiffmeyer. Tre Cool replaced Kiffmeyer for 1992’s Kerplunk, and the trio soon signed with Reprise Records. Dookie hit Number Four on the charts, earned a Grammy, and sold 10 million copies worldwide, while follow-ups like Insomniac, Nimrod, and Warning allowed the band to explore new sounds and solidify their fanbase.

"American Idiot" (2004) marked a reinvention, a rock opera that fused pop-punk energy with ambitious storytelling. Tracks like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends” became anthems, while the album’s narrative critiqued post-9/11 America. Five years later, "21st Century Breakdown" continued this ambition, telling the story of punk lovers Christian and Gloria against a backdrop of societal upheaval, blending sharp political commentary with Green Day’s trademark melodic drive.

In the years since, Green Day has remained prolific, releasing albums such as "¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, ¡Tré!" (2012), "Revolution Radio" (2016), and "Father of All…" (2020), while continuing to tour globally. The band has embraced activism and cultural commentary without losing its irreverent edge, proving its enduring relevance in punk and rock alike. Green Day’s journey from scrappy teenagers to seasoned icons stands as one of the most remarkable transformations in modern rock history.