History of Green Day in Timeline
Green Day is an American rock band formed in 1987 by Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt, with Tré Cool joining in 1990. The band's major-label debut album, Dookie, was released in 1994 and became a commercial success. Green Day is credited with reigniting mainstream interest in punk rock.
1953: Walmart Censors Music
In 1953 Green Day responded to Walmart stating "There's nothing dirty about our record ... They want artists to censor their records in order to be carried in there. We just said no. We've never done it before. You feel like you're in 1953 or something."
1991: Green Day members branch out to other projects
Since 1991, the members of Green Day started branching out to side projects with different musicians. These side projects include Pinhead Gunpowder, The Frustrators and The Network.
1994: Inspiration for New Years Rev
The film "New Years Rev" which was announced on February 10, 2024, is a coming-of-age comedy film inspired by Green Day's exploits prior to their 1994 mainstream breakthrough.
2002: Writing and Recording Cigarettes and Valentines
In 2002, Green Day spent the Summer and Fall writing and recording material for an album tentatively titled 'Cigarettes and Valentines'.
August 2003: Cigarettes and Valentines Scheduled Release
In August 2003, Green Day's album, tentatively titled 'Cigarettes and Valentines' was scheduled to be released, but was later scrapped.
September 2003: Money Money 2020 Release and Network Rumors
In September 2003, the album 'Money Money 2020' by The Network was released, sparking rumors that The Network was a Green Day side project due to similarities in sound.
November 2003: Collaboration with Iggy Pop
In November 2003, Green Day collaborated with Iggy Pop on two tracks for his album Skull Ring.
February 1, 2004: "I Fought the Law" Debut on iTunes Commercial
On February 1, 2004, Green Day's cover of "I Fought the Law" debuted on a commercial for iTunes during NFL Super Bowl XXXVIII.
September 2004: American Idiot Album Release
In September 2004, Green Day released the album 'American Idiot', which debuted at number one on the Billboard charts.
August 1, 2005: Rescinding Master Rights from Lookout Records
On August 1, 2005, Green Day announced it had rescinded the master rights to its pre-Dookie material from Lookout Records, citing a continuing breach of contract regarding unpaid royalties.
November 15, 2005: Bullet in a Bible Released
On November 15, 2005, Green Day released the live CD and DVD set 'Bullet in a Bible', which featured recordings from concerts at the Milton Keynes National Bowl in England.
2005: American Idiot Wins Grammy and Multiple MTV Awards
In 2005, Green Day's album 'American Idiot' won the Grammy for Best Rock Album and the band won seven of eight awards at the MTV Video Music Awards.
January 10, 2006: People's Choice Award Win
On January 10, 2006, Green Day was awarded the People's Choice Award for favorite musical group or band.
January 2006: Working on New Material
Since January 2006, Green Day had been working on new material for their next album.
September 2006: Green Day Collaborates with U2 for Music Rising
In September 2006, Green Day collaborated with U2 and producer Rick Rubin to record a cover of "The Saints Are Coming" to benefit Music Rising, an organization aiding musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina.
December 2006: Green Day and NRDC Partner to Raise Awareness on Oil Dependency
In December 2006, Green Day and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) launched a website to raise awareness about America's dependency on oil.
2006: Noel Gallagher Accuses Green Day of Ripping Off "Wonderwall"
In 2006, Noel Gallagher of Oasis jokingly complained that Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" ripped off his song "Wonderwall".
July 23, 2007: Green Day's Simpsons Theme Released as Single
On July 23, 2007, Green Day's rock version of The Simpsons theme song, which they performed in a cameo role in The Simpsons Movie, was released as a single.
October 2007: Armstrong Had 45 Songs Written
By October 2007, Billie Joe Armstrong had 45 songs written for the new album.
May 20, 2008: Green Day releases 'Stop Drop and Roll!!!' as Foxboro Hot Tubs
On May 20, 2008, Green Day released the album 'Stop Drop and Roll!!!' under the alias Foxboro Hot Tubs, which the band uses for booking secret shows.
October 2008: Recording with Butch Vig
In October 2008, videos showing Green Day recording with producer Butch Vig were posted on YouTube.
2008: Foxboro Hot Tubs Album and Mini Tour
In 2008, Green Day released a garage rock-inspired album under the name Foxboro Hot Tubs, titled Stop Drop and Roll!!!, and went on a mini tour to promote it.
2008: Green Day nominated for Grammy Award
In 2008, Green Day's cover of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" was nominated for a Grammy Award but did not win. Green Day also made a cameo appearance in 'The Simpsons Movie'.
April 2009: Writing and Recording Process Completed
In April 2009, Green Day completed the writing and recording process for their new album, which spanned three years and four recording studios.
May 15, 2009: 21st Century Breakdown Album Release
On May 15, 2009, Green Day released '21st Century Breakdown', which reached number one in fourteen countries.
July 2009: 21st Century Breakdown World Tour Begins
In July 2009, Green Day started the '21st Century Breakdown' world tour in North America.
September 15, 2009: American Idiot Stage Musical Premieres at Berkeley Rep
On September 15, 2009, the stage musical adaptation of Green Day's rock opera American Idiot, directed by Michael Mayer, premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre.
October 2009: Green Day Art Project Exhibited in London
In October 2009, an art project featuring artworks inspired by the songs from Green Day's '21st Century Breakdown' album was exhibited at StolenSpace Gallery in London, with the band's support.
2009: Green Day: Rock Band Announced
During the Spike TV Video Game Awards 2009, Green Day: Rock Band was announced as a follow-up to The Beatles: Rock Band.
2009: American Idiot Stage Version Creation
In 2009, Green Day met with director Michael Mayer to create a stage version of the album 'American Idiot'.
2009: American Idiot Ranked Best Album of the Decade by Kerrang!
In 2009, Kerrang! named the album 'American Idiot' the best album of the decade, while NME and Rolling Stone also ranked it highly.
January 31, 2010: 21st Century Breakdown Wins Grammy
On January 31, 2010, '21st Century Breakdown' won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards.
April 20, 2010: American Idiot Opens on Broadway
On April 20, 2010, the stage version of 'American Idiot' opened on Broadway, and Green Day released the musical's soundtrack featuring the song "When It's Time".
June 2010: "When It's Time" Released as a Single
In June 2010, iTunes released "When It's Time" as a single.
October 2010: Writing Process of Ninth Studio Album Completed
In October 2010, Mike Dirnt mentioned that Green Day had completed the writing process for their ninth studio album and would most likely release a new live album.
December 2010: 21st Century Breakdown Sales
As of December 2010, Green Day's album 21st Century Breakdown had sold 1,005,000 copies in the US.
2010: Green Day: Rock Band Launch
In 2010 the Rock band video game Green Day: Rock Band was released.
March 22, 2011: Awesome as Fuck Live Album Release
On March 22, 2011, Green Day released the live CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray titled 'Awesome as Fuck'.
April 13, 2011: Film Version of American Idiot Confirmed
On April 13, 2011, a film adaptation of Green Day's 'American Idiot' was confirmed, with Michael Mayer directing and Green Day producing.
December 2011: Billie Joe Armstrong forms family band The Boo
In December 2011, Billie Joe Armstrong formed a family band called The Boo which recorded a one-off Christmas record for friends and family, with a few copies made available in a local store.
2011: Secret Shows Under the Name Foxboro Hot Tubs
During the end of 2011, Green Day played several secret shows under the name Foxboro Hot Tubs, performing mostly unheard songs.
February 2012: Recording New Material and Announcing Album Trilogy
In February 2012, Green Day entered the studio to record new material, announcing a trilogy of albums titled ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!.
September 21, 2012: Armstrong's Outburst at iHeartRadio Festival
On September 21, 2012, during Green Day's performance at the iHeartRadio music festival, Billie Joe Armstrong ranted about their set being cut short, smashed his guitar, and walked off stage. Armstrong later went to rehab for substance abuse.
December 7, 2012: ¡Tré! Release
On December 7, 2012, Green Day's album, ¡Tré! was released.
2012: American Idiot Ranked on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums
In 2012, the album 'American Idiot' was ranked number 225 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
January 22, 2013: ¡Cuatro! Documentary Premiere
On January 22, 2013, the documentary ¡Cuatro! about the making of the album trilogy, premiered at the X Games FILM showcase in Aspen, Colorado.
January 23, 2013: Broadway Idiot Documentary Announced
On January 23, 2013, a documentary titled 'Broadway Idiot' about Billie Joe Armstrong's journey to Broadway and the making of the 'American Idiot' musical was announced.
January 30, 2013: Broadway Idiot Trailer Released
On January 30, 2013, the official trailer for the 'Broadway Idiot' documentary, which shows the behind-the-scenes of the 'American Idiot' musical production, was released.
March 10, 2013: 99 Revolutions Tour Begins
On March 10, 2013, Green Day began its 99 Revolutions Tour to support the album trilogy.
March 15, 2013: Broadway Idiot Documentary Premiered at SXSW
On March 15, 2013, the documentary 'Broadway Idiot', which chronicles Billie Joe Armstrong's journey to Broadway and the creation of the 'American Idiot' musical, premiered at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival.
April 9, 2013: ¡Cuatro! Documentary DVD Release
On April 9, 2013, the ¡Cuatro! documentary about the making of the album trilogy was released on DVD.
2013: Green Day Side Project Confirmed
In 2013, journalists openly referred to the group known as The Network as a Green Day side project.
April 19, 2014: Demolicious Compilation Album Release
On April 19, 2014, Green Day released 'Demolicious', a compilation album with alternate versions and demos from the ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré! sessions, for Record Store Day.
April 16, 2015: First Concert in a Year
On April 16, 2015, Green Day performed their first concert in a year, first playing a set as Sweet Children with John Kiffmeyer, followed by a set as Green Day.
April 18, 2015: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On April 18, 2015, Green Day were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Fall Out Boy.
April 24, 2015: Recording a New Album
On April 24, 2015, Rob Cavallo revealed that Green Day was recording a twelfth studio album.
December 24, 2015: "Xmas Time of the Year" Release
On December 24, 2015, Green Day released a Christmas song, "Xmas Time of the Year".
August 11, 2016: "Bang Bang" Single Release
On August 11, 2016, Green Day released the first single, "Bang Bang", from the group's twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio.
October 7, 2016: Revolution Radio Album Release
On October 7, 2016, Green Day released the album Revolution Radio and went on a world tour supporting the album.
November 2016: Political Statement at American Music Awards
In November 2016, Green Day performed at the American Music Awards in Los Angeles and made a political statement about the US election of Donald Trump, chanting "No Trump, No KKK, No Fascist USA" during their rendition of "Bang Bang".
2016: Green Day makes amends with Clear Channel
In 2016, Green Day made amends with Clear Channel and played an album release party for their album Revolution Radio.
2016: Lee Kirk and Billie Joe Armstrong work together on Ordinary World
Lee Kirk, who is the writer and director of New Years Rev, previously worked with Billie Joe Armstrong in the 2016 film Ordinary World, which the latter made an appearance in.
July 7, 2017: Green Day Headlined Mad Cool After Acrobat's Death
On July 7, 2017, Green Day headlined Mad Cool festival in Madrid shortly after an acrobat fell to his death. The band was unaware of the accident before their set and expressed they likely would not have played if they had known.
November 17, 2017: God's Favorite Band Greatest Hits Compilation Release
On November 17, 2017, Green Day released their second greatest hits compilation, God's Favorite Band, which contained 20 hits and two new tracks.
2017: Green Day Serves as Executive Producers for East Bay Punk Documentary
In 2017, Green Day served as executive producers for 'Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk', a documentary film about the San Francisco Bay area punk scene from the late 1970s to the 1990s.
January 2018: Armstrong, Dirnt and White form The Coverups
In January 2018, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Jason White formed the band The Coverups with Green Day's audio engineer Chris Dugan and tour manager Bill Schneider, performing one-off shows covering classic and alternative rock songs.
2019: Green Day returns to iHeartRadio festival
In 2019, Green Day returned to the iHeartRadio festival supporting their album Father of All Motherfuckers after the 2012 incident.
February 2020: Plans for American Idiot film adaptation scrapped
In February 2020, Billie Joe Armstrong revealed that plans for a film adaptation of the 'American Idiot' stage musical were scrapped.
2021: Armstrong Condemns Pop-Punk Label
In 2021, Billie Joe Armstrong criticized the labeling of Green Day as "pop-punk" in a Vulture magazine interview, saying it never sat well with him.
February 10, 2024: Comedy Film 'New Years Rev' Announced
On February 10, 2024, Live Nation Productions announced 'New Years Rev', a coming-of-age comedy film inspired by Green Day's exploits prior to their 1994 breakthrough, with Green Day members producing and appearing in the film.
September 20, 2024: Armstrong Criticizes Las Vegas and A's Owner During Concert
On September 20, 2024, during a Green Day concert in San Francisco, Billie Joe Armstrong criticized Las Vegas and Oakland A's owner John Fisher over the team leaving Oakland, which led to two Las Vegas radio stations banning Green Day's music.
2024: Musk and Dirnt exchange insults
In 2024, after Green Day criticized Elon Musk in January, Musk called Green Day's commentary "milquetoastedly raging for it". In response, bassist Mike Dirnt defended the group calling Musk "the machine" and saying he's "not shy about saying stupid s‑ on the internet".
January 2025: Green Day criticizes Elon Musk During Tour in South Africa
In January 2025, Green Day adapted the lyrics of their song "American Idiot" to criticize Elon Musk during a performance at the Calabash Festival in Johannesburg.
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