History of Green Day in Timeline
Green Day, formed in 1987, is an influential American rock band consisting of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool. Their 1994 major-label debut, Dookie, achieved massive success, selling over 20 million copies in the US. Green Day is credited with revitalizing mainstream interest in punk rock, solidifying their place as a significant force in the music industry.
1983: Release of "Mommy's Little Monster" by Social Distortion
In 1983, Social Distortion released their debut album, "Mommy's Little Monster", which Green Day would later cover the song "Another State of Mind" from the album as a bonus track for 21st Century Breakdown.
October 17, 1987: First Live Performance
On October 17, 1987, Sweet Children had their first live performance at Rod's Hickory Pit in Vallejo, California.
1987: Armstrong gets into punk rock
Armstrong said he thinks he "really started getting into" punk rock "in 1987 with Turn It Around!, a double seven-inch compilation record put out by [punk fanzine] Maximumrocknroll."
1987: Green Day Formation
In 1987, Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt formed Green Day, a rock band, in Rodeo, California.
1987: Formation of Desecrated Youth
In 1987, Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt formed the band Desecrated Youth, with Sean Hughes and Raj Punjabi.
1988: Signed to Lookout! Records
In 1988, Green Day signed with Lookout! Records after Larry Livermore saw them play.
1988: John Kiffmeyer Joins
In 1988, John Kiffmeyer joined the band, replacing Raj Punjabi, and Sean Hughes left the band, prompting Mike Dirnt to switch to bass.
April 1989: 1,000 Hours EP Release and Name Change
In April 1989, Green Day released their debut EP 1,000 Hours and dropped the name Sweet Children, adopting Green Day.
1989: Name Change to Green Day
In 1989, Sweet Children changed their name to Green Day.
1990: Album and EP Recordings
In 1990, Green Day released their debut studio album 39/Smooth, and recorded the EPs Slappy and Sweet Children.
1990: 39/Smooth Album Release
In 1990, Green Day's first album, 39/Smooth, was released on Lookout! Records and Tré Cool replaced John Kiffmeyer.
1991: Kerplunk Album
In 1991, Green Day recorded their second studio album Kerplunk.
1991: 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours Release
In 1991, Lookout! Records re-released 39/Smooth as 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, adding songs from the band's first two EPs. Kiffmeyer left Green Day in late 1990.
1991: Band Members Branch Out
In 1991, members of Green Day began to explore other musical projects. Billie Joe Armstrong started Pinhead Gunpowder and the Longshot, Mike Dirnt formed the Frustrators, and Green Day collaborated with friends on the Network.
September 3, 1993: Last Show at 924 Gilman
On September 3, 1993, Green Day played their last show at 924 Gilman under the pseudonym Blair Hess before being banned for signing with a major label.
1993: Recipe for Hate Tour
In 1993, Green Day supported Bad Religion on their Recipe for Hate Tour.
February 1994: Dookie Album Release
In February 1994, Green Day released Dookie, which became a commercial success.
September 9, 1994: Riot at Hatch Memorial Shell
On September 9, 1994, chaos erupted at Green Day's performance at Hatch Memorial Shell in Boston, resulting in injuries and arrests.
1994: Dookie album released
In 1994, Dookie was cited by Fuse as the most important pop-punk album of all time, the best alternative album by Rolling Stone.
1994: New Years Rev inspired by band's exploits
The comedy film New Years Rev will be inspired by the true exploits of the band prior to their mainstream breakthrough in 1994.
1995: J.A.R. Single and Insomniac Album Release
In 1995, Green Day released the single "J.A.R." for the Angus soundtrack and their fourth album Insomniac.
1995: Insomniac Album Release
In 1995, Green Day released their fourth studio album Insomniac.
1995: Dookie Wins Grammy
In 1995, Green Day's album Dookie won the Grammy Award for Best Alternative Album.
August 1996: Armstrong discusses bands he listened to later
In August 1996, Armstrong said bands like the Ramones are bands he listened to later.
August 1996: Armstrong discusses his discovery of punk rock
In August 1996, Billie Joe Armstrong told Guitar World he "can remember a few different instances" of when he first discovered punk rock.
1996: American Music Awards Nomination
In 1996, Green Day earned award nominations for Favorite Artist, Favorite Hard Rock Artist, and Favorite Alternative Artist at the American Music Awards. They cancelled a European tour due to exhaustion.
October 1997: Nimrod Album Release
In October 1997, Green Day released Nimrod, an experimental deviation from their standard punk rock sound.
1997: Nimrod Album Release
In October 1997, Green Day released Nimrod, an experimental album.
1998: Nimrod Tour
In 1998, Green Day embarked on a tour in support of the album Nimrod.
November 2000: Protest Performance at San Francisco City Hall
In November 2000, Green Day performed for free on the steps of San Francisco's City Hall to protest the eviction of artists.
2000: Warning Album Release
In 2000, Green Day released their sixth studio album Warning.
2001: California Music Awards
At the 2001 California Music Awards, Green Day won all eight awards for which they were nominated, including Outstanding Album for Warning.
2001: Independent Tour
In 2001, Green Day launched an independent tour to support their album Warning.
2002: Pop Disaster Tour
In Spring 2002, Green Day co-headlined the Pop Disaster Tour with Blink-182.
2002: Writing and Recording Cigarettes and Valentines
In the Summer and Fall of 2002, Green Day wrote and recorded material for an album tentatively titled Cigarettes and Valentines.
2004: American Idiot Album Release
In 2004, Green Day released their seventh album, a rock opera called American Idiot.
September 2006: Collaboration with U2 on "The Saints Are Coming"
In September 2006, Green Day collaborated with U2 and producer Rick Rubin to record a cover of "The Saints Are Coming" by the Skids to benefit Music Rising, an organization supporting musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina.
December 2006: Partnership with NRDC to raise awareness on oil dependency
In December 2006, Green Day partnered with the NRDC to launch a website aimed at raising awareness about America's dependence on oil.
2006: Noel Gallagher accuses Green Day of plagiarism
In 2006, English rock musician Noel Gallagher of Oasis semi-jokingly accused Green Day of ripping off his song "Wonderwall" with their song "Boulevard of Broken Dreams".
July 23, 2007: Release of The Simpsons Movie theme song
On July 23, 2007, Green Day released their rock version of The Simpsons theme song as a single, coinciding with their cameo appearance in The Simpsons Movie.
2007: Kerplunk listed in a ranking of greatest indie albums
Kerplunk was also listed in a 2007 ranking of the 100 greatest indie albums by Blender.
May 20, 2008: Release of Stop Drop and Roll!!! by Foxboro Hot Tubs
On May 20, 2008, Green Day released an album titled Stop Drop and Roll!!! under the name Foxboro Hot Tubs, a pseudonym used for booking secret shows.
2008: Grammy Nomination for "Working Class Hero"
In 2008, Green Day's cover of John Lennon's "Working Class Hero" was nominated for a Grammy Award but lost to The White Stripes' "Icky Thump".
September 15, 2009: Premiere of American Idiot musical at Berkeley Rep
On September 15, 2009, the stage adaptation of Green Day's rock opera American Idiot premiered at the Berkeley Rep theater, directed by Michael Mayer.
October 2009: Green Day Art Project Exhibition in London
In October 2009, an art exhibition featuring artwork inspired by the songs from Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown was held at StolenSpace Gallery in London, supported by the band and led by manager Pat Magnarella.
2009: 21st Century Breakdown Album Release
In 2009, Green Day released their album 21st Century Breakdown.
June 2010: Armstrong cites the Ramones as an influence
In June 2010, Armstrong cited the Ramones as an influence.
2010: American Idiot on Broadway
In 2010, a stage adaptation of American Idiot debuted on Broadway and was nominated for three Tony Awards.
April 13, 2011: Film version of American Idiot confirmed
On April 13, 2011, a film adaptation of the Broadway musical American Idiot was confirmed with Michael Mayer directing and Green Day, Pat Magnarella, Playtone, and Tom Hulce producing.
December 2011: Armstrong Forms the Boo
In December 2011, Billie Joe Armstrong formed a family band called the Boo which recorded a one-off Christmas record for their friends and family making a few copies available in a local store.
2011: Green Day voted best punk rock band of all time by Rolling Stone
In 2011, Green Day was voted the best punk rock band of all time by Rolling Stone.
September 21, 2012: Armstrong's Rant and Guitar Smashing at iHeartRadio Festival
On September 21, 2012, during the iHeartRadio music festival, Billie Joe Armstrong stopped the performance of "Basket Case" due to time constraints, ranted against the festival, smashed his guitar, and walked off stage. He expressed anger for shortening the band's time and declared that Green Day would be back. This incident led to an apology from the band and Armstrong entering rehab.
December 2012: Tré! Album Release
In December 2012, Green Day released ¡Tré!, the third album in their trilogy.
January 23, 2013: Announcement of Broadway Idiot documentary
On January 23, 2013, the documentary Broadway Idiot, showcasing Billie Joe Armstrong's journey from punk rock to Broadway and behind-the-scenes of the American Idiot musical, was announced.
January 30, 2013: Trailer released for Broadway Idiot documentary
On January 30, 2013, the trailer for the documentary Broadway Idiot was released, offering a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes production of the American Idiot musical.
March 15, 2013: Premiere of Broadway Idiot at South by Southwest Film Festival
On March 15, 2013, the documentary Broadway Idiot premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival.
April 2015: Green Day inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In April 2015, Green Day was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, their first year of eligibility.
2015: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction
In 2015, Green Day was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2016: Armstrong criticizes members of the Trump Administration
In 2016, Armstrong began altering lyrics during live performances to criticize members of the Trump Administration.
2016: Green Day makes amends with Clear Channel
In 2016, Green Day made amends with Clear Channel (now iHeartMedia) after Billie Joe Armstrong's 2012 outburst at the iHeartRadio Music Festival by playing an album release party for Revolution Radio.
2016: Revolution Radio Album Release
In 2016, Green Day released Revolution Radio, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
2016: Lee Kirk and Billie Joe Armstrong worked together on Ordinary World
In 2016, Lee Kirk had previously worked with Billie Joe Armstrong on the film Ordinary World, in which Armstrong had made an appearance.
2016: Study reveals Green Day uses profanity the most among rock bands
In 2016, a study found that Green Day used profanity the most among the rock music artists included in the study.
July 7, 2017: Accident at Mad Cool Festival
On July 7, 2017, about 20 minutes before Green Day headlined the Mad Cool festival in Madrid, an acrobat died after falling from a cage above the stage. The band proceeded with their set, unaware of the accident.
2017: Green Day Executive Producers of Turn It Around Documentary
In 2017, Green Day served as executive producers of the documentary film Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk, focusing on the San Francisco Bay area punk scene from the late 1970s to the 1990s.
January 2018: Armstrong, Dirnt, and White form The Coverups
Since January 2018, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Jason White have played in the band the Coverups, along with Green Day audio engineer Chris Dugan and tour manager Bill Schneider. They perform covers of classic rock and alternative rock bands.
2019: Green Day returns to the iHeartRadio Festival
In 2019, Green Day returned to the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas, supporting the album Father of All Motherfuckers.
February 2020: Film version of American Idiot scrapped
In February 2020, Billie Joe Armstrong revealed that plans for a film adaptation of the stage musical American Idiot had been "pretty much scrapped".
April 6, 2020: Armstrong reveals writing six songs
On April 6, 2020, Billie Joe Armstrong revealed he had written six songs and intended to record new music with Green Day once the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.
May 21, 2020: Release of "Dreaming" cover
On May 21, 2020, Green Day released a cover of Blondie's song "Dreaming".
October 30, 2020: The Network teases upcoming activity
On October 30, 2020, The Network, Green Day's secret side project, teased upcoming activity with a video titled "The Prophecy" and mentioned their upcoming sequel album.
November 2, 2020: The Network releases "Ivankkka Is a Nazi"
On November 2, 2020, The Network released a music video for their first song in 17 years, named "Ivankkka Is a Nazi".
November 20, 2020: The Network releases 'Trans Am' EP
On November 20, 2020, The Network released an EP titled 'Trans Am'.
December 4, 2020: The Network releases 'Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So!'
On December 4, 2020, The Network released their second album, Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So!
2020: Father of All Motherfuckers Album Release
In 2020, Green Day released Father of All Motherfuckers.
February 2021: Announcement of "Here Comes the Shock"
In February 2021, Green Day announced a single, titled "Here Comes the Shock".
February 21, 2021: Release of "Here Comes the Shock"
On February 21, 2021, Green Day released the single "Here Comes the Shock".
May 17, 2021: Release of "Pollyanna"
On May 17, 2021, Green Day released the single "Pollyanna".
September 2021: Hella Mega Tour in the United States
The reshuffled Hella Mega Tour took place in the United States from July to September 2021.
November 5, 2021: Release of "Holy Toledo!"
On November 5, 2021, Green Day released the single "Holy Toledo!", which was also in the soundtrack of the 2021 film Mark, Mary & Some Other People.
December 10, 2021: Release of BBC Sessions
On December 10, 2021, Green Day's fourth live album, BBC Sessions, was released.
2021: Armstrong Discusses Band's Status as a Punk Band
In 2021, Billie Joe Armstrong discussed the band's identity in a Vulture magazine interview. Armstrong stated that the term "pop-punk" never sat well with him, emphasizing the band's left-of-center style and historical performances with hardcore bands in the East Bay scene.
October 26, 2022: Green Day to headline Innings Festival
On October 26, 2022, Green Day was announced as a headliner for the fifth annual Innings Festival in Arizona.
November 2022: Band states they are recording a new studio album
In November 2022, Green Day stated they were recording for a new studio album, produced by Rob Cavallo, his first album with the band since ¡Tré! (2012).
July 16, 2023: Green Day plays "1981" live
Prior to the album's release, the band played a new song titled "1981" during their live performance at Festival d'été de Québec on July 16, 2023.
September 30, 2023: Green Day to perform at Grey Cup Halftime Show
On September 30, 2023, Green Day was announced as the halftime show performer at the 110th Grey Cup.
October 22, 2023: Green Day plays "Look Ma, No Brains!" live
On October 22, 2023, Green Day played another song, titled "Look Ma, No Brains!", from the upcoming album during the When We Were Young Festival.
October 24, 2023: Saviors album announced; "The American Dream Is Killing Me" released
On October 24, 2023, Green Day announced their new album's title as Saviors, and released the album's first single, "The American Dream Is Killing Me".
October 24, 2023: Website launch teases new album
On October 24, 2023, Green Day launched a new website with the name "The American Dream Is Killing Me", including a video teasing new music.
November 2, 2023: "Look Ma, No Brains!" released
On November 2, 2023, Green Day released the second single, "Look Ma, No Brains!", from their upcoming album, Saviors.
December 4, 2023: "Dilemma" announced
On December 4, 2023, Green Day announced their third single "Dilemma", which would be released three days later.
December 7, 2023: "Dilemma" released
On December 7, 2023, Green Day released the single "Dilemma".
January 5, 2024: "One Eyed Bastard" released
On January 5, 2024, Green Day released the fourth single "One Eyed Bastard" from the upcoming album, Saviors.
January 16, 2024: Surprise performance in New York subway
On the evening of January 16, 2024, Green Day appeared in a surprise performance in the 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center station of the New York subway system, with Jimmy Fallon joining them on tambourine to help draw attention to the upcoming album and tour.
January 19, 2024: Release of Saviors album
On January 19, 2024, Green Day released their album, Saviors, and a music video for "Bobby Sox".
July 23, 2024: Music video for "Corvette Summer" released
On July 23, 2024, a music video for Green Day's song "Corvette Summer" was released.
September 20, 2024: Armstrong Criticizes Las Vegas and A's Owner at Oracle Park Concert
On September 20, 2024, during a show at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Billie Joe Armstrong expressed his anger over the Athletics leaving Oakland and criticized Las Vegas and A's owner John Fisher. Consequently, two Las Vegas radio stations banned Green Day's music.
2024: Sales and Grammy Awards
As of 2024, Green Day has sold roughly 75 million records worldwide and has won five Grammy Awards.
2024: Green Day records sales reach 75 million
As of 2024, Green Day has sold roughly 75 million records worldwide, making them one of the highest-selling artists of all time.
2024: Musk Mocks Green Day on X
In early 2024, Elon Musk, who had previously mocked Green Day on X (formerly Twitter), calling their commentary "milquetoastedly raging for it", had branded the band as hypocritical in their anti‑"machine" rhetoric.
January 2025: Armstrong Criticizes Elon Musk During Concert
In January 2025, while on tour in South Africa, Billie Joe Armstrong altered the lyrics of "American Idiot" to criticize Elon Musk during their headliner performance at Johannesburg's FNB Stadium.
January 30, 2025: Green Day opens for FireAid benefit concert
On January 30, 2025, Green Day opened for the FireAid benefit concert, hosted by both Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum, opening with a duet of "Last Night on Earth" with Billie Eilish.
February 10, 2025: Announcement of New Years Rev comedy film
On February 10, 2025, Live Nation Productions announced a comedy film titled New Years Rev, a "coming-of-age tale" inspired by Green Day's experiences before their mainstream breakthrough. The band members will also appear in the film.
April 9, 2025: Saviors deluxe edition announced
On April 9, 2025, Green Day announced the deluxe edition of Saviors, with "Smash It Like Belushi" released as the first single.
May 1, 2025: Green Day receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
On May 1, 2025, Green Day received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
May 2, 2025: "Ballyhoo" released as second single of Saviors deluxe
On May 2, 2025, "Ballyhoo" was released as the second single of Saviors deluxe.
May 23, 2025: Release of Saviors deluxe edition
On May 23, 2025, Green Day released the deluxe edition of Saviors, and an official music video for "One Eyed Bastard".
September 12, 2025: Premiere of New Years Rev at Toronto International Film Festival
On September 12, 2025, the film New Years Rev premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
February 8, 2026: Green Day performs at Super Bowl LX
On February 8, 2026, Green Day performed at the opening ceremony of Super Bowl LX, consisting of an instrumental of "Good Riddance", and the band playing "Holiday", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "American Idiot".
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