Green Day is a punk rock band from California that formed in 1987. The band members are singer and lead guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tré Cool. The band became involved in the punk scene at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley.
They first started building their fan base with releases from their independent label Lookout! Records. Green Day is one of several bands, including Rancid, The Offspring, and NOFX, that is known for creating an interest and revival in punk rock music throughout the 90s and 2000s. They have sold over 65 million albums worldwide and a Broadway adaption of their album American Idiot premiered in 2010, which has received several Tony nominations.
Starting in 1990, Green Day released their debut album 39/Smooth, a couple of EPs, then their second album Kerplunk!. The second album was successful and several record labels became interested in the band. They signed to the major label Reprise records, a decision that prompted many fans to call them sellouts. Armstrongs response was that the band wouldnt return to the punk scene and wanted to move forward.
Green DayGreen DGGreen Day released their major-label debut album Dookie in 1994 with a sale of 10 million records. Their third albums Insomniac, Nimrod, and Warning received gold and platinum statuses. They released the rock opera American Idiot in 2004 and released 21st Century Breakdown in 2009.