Currently Playing American Idiot By Green Day Blvd. of broken DRIMS- <3 to my Shadow... see related

                               .:Green Day Bio:.

The begininngs of Green Day started when Billie Joe Armstrong(Guitar, Vocals) and Mike Dirnt (Bass guitar, Back-up vocals) met when they were just 10 years old. In 1987, they formed their first band, called The Sweet Children. This name didn't stick with them for too long - in 1989 it was changed to Green Day. They added a drummer to their band named John Kiffmeyer, a.k.a. Al Sobrante. Not long after, they had a record deal with Lookout! Records. They released their first EP, "1,000 Hours," later that same year.

In 1990, Green Day released their first album, "39/Smooth." However, not long after its release, John decided to leave the band to go to college and pursue other goals. It didn't take long to find a permanent drummer in Tre' Cool (real name Frank Edwin Wright III). The guys spent months on tour and when they finished, they released their second album in 1992, "Kerplunk."Green Day was getting a large fan base from all the touring they had been doing. They realized that they needed to find another label, so they left Lookout Records and soon after signed with Reprise in April of 1993. They went to work on their third album, which would prove to be one of the most popular rock albums ever -"Dookie." It was released in February of 1994 and sold over a million copies in just a few months. "Welcome to Paradise" and "Basketcase" got tons of radioplay and MTV video promotion, therefore boosting the band's popularity and record sales. That same year, Green Day played both Lollapalooza and Woodstock '94. If you don't know what happened with them at Woodstock, where have you been? Possibly one of the largest mudfights ever was started just by Billie Joe telling people to throw a little bit up on stage!

In the summer of 1995, the guys recorded "J.A.R. (Jason Andrew Relva)" for the major motion picture "Angus" soundtrack. Later in 1995, their fourth album, "Insomniac," was released. Although it didn't beat "Dookie's" record sales, it still did well. Billie Joe has said that the album is named "Insomniac" due to the fact that he had become a father that year and had many sleepless nights with his son!

The guys took a well deserved break soon after touring to promote "Insomniac." They relaxed by heading back to the studios to write and record for their next album, "Nimrod," released in October of 1997. "Nimrod" was a successful album with its singles "Nice Guys Finish Last" and "Hitchin' a Ride," but it also included possibly one of the best songs ever (in my opinion), "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)". It was used in many tv shows that year, such as the final episode of "Seinfeld" and a few particularly sad episodes of "E.R." where a young boy loved the song and when he passed away from cancer, it was played at his funeral.

Green Day toured to promote "Nimrod," but then practically disappeared from all media for a few years. The guys were hard at work in the studio working on their next album, "Warning:" The album was yet another success for the band. Singles released included, "Minority," "Warning," and "Waiting." The song, "Blood, Sex, and Booze" was also included in the "Freddy Got Fingered" movie starring Tom Green. Again, the guys took about a year's break before the next album was released.

They decided to do something they hadn't done before, but could do very well - release a greatest hits type album. They did just that in 2001. "International Superhits" included 19 of their best singles and 2 new songs, "Maria" and "Poprocks and Coke." A DVD was also released, "International Supervideos," which includes all their best music videos that is a must-have for any Green Day fan.

In the spring of 2002, it rumors started flying that Green Day would be touring with Blink-182. The rumors proved to be true when both bands called in on TRL one day to confirm that the tour was going down that very summer. I was lucky enough to have been there on July 2nd and it was the greatest! You can read more about my experience on the "My Story" page! Green Day played a great live show and Billie definitely took the stage. They are definitely a great band to see live if you ever have the chance, you will not be disappointed! 2002 also brought another new release for Green Day, something else they had never done before - an album of B-Sides, Covers, and other never before released songs. The album was entitled "Shenanigans," and was well received by Green Day fans. It included a song entitled, "Espionage," an instrumental number included on the "Austin Powers in : Goldmember" soundtrack.

On January 27th, 2004 Green Day re-issued 39/Smooth. It has over 20 minutes of live performances from 1991, along with a live radio performance and interview from 1991. Just like the original CD version, it features enhanced copies of 1000 Hours from 1989 and Slappy from 1990. Completely worth it for the true Green Day fan.

Green Day fans eagerly anticipated the next studio release, American Idiot, for almost 4 years. The wait proved to be well worth it. The first single (the title track) American Idiot, blasted the airwaves and made everyone anxious to hear the new material. Dubbed a "punk rock opera" by most magazines and critics, the new album takes fans on a journey with a recurring character named Jesus of Suburbia. I first heard it on "The Leak" on MTV.com and I was blown away. If for some crazy reason you've never heard any of Green Day's albums before, I am telling you you need to hear this one!!!

So the fall tour came around, and they were touring with another of my favorite bands, New Found Glory. I made sure I got there damn early and got my spot right up front...it was an amazing show. Pictures are up in the gallery, and you can read my review HERE.

The second single released off American Idiot was "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." The guys again recruited Sam Bayer to direct the video for it, and just like American idiot, it came out a true work of art.

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  Billie Joe Armstrong  is his real name, despite the fact that some may believe it is William Joseph. He was born on February 17, 1972 and is the youngest of 6 children. It is said that Billie's Mother misspelled his name on his birth certificate because she was high at the time! He had a love of music at a very young age - when he was just 5 years old, he performed in hospitals to cheer patients up. His mother was a waitress at Rod's Hickory Pit and enjoyed country music. When Billie was just 10 years old, his Father, a truck driver and jazz musician, passed away from cancer. Before he passed away, he gave Billie Joe his first electric guitar, which he calls "Blue" and still plays even today. Billie started getting into punk rock when a few kids in town let him listen to tapes they had. He met Mike Dirnt at school when he was 10 years old and they became fast friends. They shared a love for music and decided to start a band. The rest is history! At age 12, Billie wrote his first song, "Why Do You Want Him?" which is included on "1,039 Smoothed Out, Slappy Hours." In 1990, Billie met his soon-to-be girlfriend, Adrienne Nesser at a concert they were playing. In the summer of 1994, they were married in a ceremony that lasted only 5 minutes! In March of 1995, they had their fist son, Joseph Marcicano Armstrong. Green Day's 4th album, "Insomniac," was released later that year, and named so because Billie said he has many sleepless nights with his son! On September 12th, 1998, Billie and Adrienne had their second son, Jacob Danger Armstrong.

In addition to playing guitar and singing lead vocals, Billie can also play the piano, harmonica, drums, and mandolin. He is also the co-founder and part-owner of the record label "Adeline Records.

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Mike Dirnt, born Michael Pritchard, was born on May 4th, 1972. His mother was a heroin addict who put him up for adoption. When he was just 7 years old, his adoptive parents got divorced and moved him a lot between homes. As a teenager, he decided to make it on his own and eventually ended up working at Rod's Hickory Pit with Billie Joe's Mother. Mike rented a room on the side of Billie's house and stayed there while they were in high school.

In August of 1996, Mike married his girlfriend, Anastasia. In April of 1997, their daughter, Estelle-Desiree was born. Their marriage started to fail and they were later divorced, but still keep in touch. Mike loves his daughter very much and spends as much time with her as possible when he's not on the road.

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Tre Cool, real name Frank Edwin Wright III, was born on December 9th, 1972. He grew up in the Mendocino mountains with his father and 2 siblings. Tre's nearest neighbor was the founder of Green Day's first record label, Lookout! Records. When he was 12, Tre joined his first band, The Lookouts. They recorded and album and played regularly in the area. When John Kiffmeyer left Green Day, Tre' replaced him as their permanent drummer and has been with Mike and Billie Joe ever since.

In March 1995, Tre' and his girlfriend, Lisea Lyons, got married and had a daughter, Ramona, on January 12th, 1995. They have since then divorced but still keep in touch. Tre remarried his new wife Claudia in 1999 and they have a son and daughter together. Yet like the other time he was married it didn't last.

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.:Green Day Quotes:.

Billie Joe -

"This is a big fuck you to George W. Bush" :: "This isn't anti-american it's anti-war!"

"You stupid security guards!    
Always in the way!" - Billie Joe 7.19.00 La Salle Park Buffalo

"Theres nothing wrong with being a loser, it just depends on how good you are at it."

"Alot of people, when they talk to me, I can't wait for them to shut up. Like, just shut up. You're a moron. I have nothing to say, you know?"

"We're just a sily little band from the Berkeley-Bay area."

"I never thought being obnoxious would get me where I am now."

"Throw mud at eachother... see how many stupid things you can do to each other all at one time." (At Woodstock)

"I sound like and Englishman impersonating an American impersonating an Englishman."

"I'm a big fan of rock and roll. I grew up knowing a lot about the guys in all the top hard rock bands. So I know what their attitude and style is all about. That's not for me. I'm just the same idiot from Rodeo, California that I was before Dookie came out. So if you see me in the street, come by and say "hi." I guarantee you I'll say "hi" back". - Billie Joe, Tribute to Green Day Magazine

"This band's an institution for me. Anybody's leaving this band, it's going to be in a f*ckin' coffin, you know?" - Billie Joe, Alternative Press June 2002

"They have bad taste. I am NOT a good looking guy." (on obsessed fans)

"The beauty of the punk thing is that everyone has thier own interpretation- like the Bible"

"Alternative? Alternative to what? This is as mainstream as it gets!"

"It's sexy to be an angry young man, not a bitter old bastard."

"I couldnt care les if people think I'm insignificant because Im 22 years old. Thats great. We caused a generation gap. Great. Most of the bands around now, I've been playing music longer than they have, and I'm also way younger than they are."

"What? You can heckle me if you want it's ok I won't understand" (at a foreign concert)

"That's a big guy, much bigger then me. But I'm working on it."

"We're just a silly band called Green Day, and we;re from no place special, just like no one else on this ----ing planet."

"School is practice for the future and practice makes perfect and nobodies perfect, so why practice?"

"Im a ---ing idiot."

"I wouldn't be caught dead being a patriot - I've got weird beliefs anyway."

"I'm an idiot anyway but sometimes you feel like an idiot times 10 when you're stoned."

"It's fun until someone gets hurt. Then it's hilarious!"

"I may be immature, but I am responsible."

"The older I get the more I try to make my anger have direction instead of just wallowing in it."

"We've made a lot of people feel good about the fact that they're lonely loser geeks."

 "I believe in individuality, being yourself, and to hell with what anybody else thinks about you."

"Nothing beats a good riot."

"I can't think of anything less punk than establishing a set of rules."

"You can go to hell in a hand basket for all I care!"

"No one's really happy anyway. It’s not human."

"Punk was the best education I've ever had."

"That’s what punk rock is, practicing your beliefs, sticking to what you believe in, no matter what."

"I write better when I'm stoned."

"Punk is not just the sound, the music, Punk is a lifestyle... It's a lifestyle I choose for myself. It's not about popularity and all that crap."

"Well, you know, I look at myself in the morning and think 'Yes. Yeah, I am a god.'"