«Green Day History
Green Day have been going 12 years. They formed in 1989, minus Tre Cool, who later became the drummer. Even though Mike and BIllie Joe had a band before, called Sweet Chilidren, in 1989, they gathered the services of Al Sobrantre (John Kiftmeyer) and recorded the band first album, 1,039 SMOOTHED OUT SLAPPY HOURS! This was a collection of the bands previous E.P.'s, called 1,000 HOURS, SWEET CHILIDREN and SLAPPY, and then though LookOut! Records, a local punk label, release 1,039 SMOOTHED OUT SLAPPY HOURS, and is received well. Shortly after it was release, Al Sobrantre left to go to college, and his drum teacher, Tre Cool(?!?!?) replaced him.
In 1992, the band released its second album, KERPLUNK, and it was even BETTER recieved than 1,039 SMOOTHED OUT SLAPPY HOURS. This is the album which has gained Green Days success today, with major bidding wars going on between major record labels, the band decide to sign with Warner under the Reprise label, for FIVE YEARS. With songs on Kerplunk like Chirstie Road, Welcome to Paradise, Who Wrote Holden Caulfield, and the excellant cover of the Who's My Generation, theres no wonder that these major labels wanted them. There however was a problem with this, people calling them "punk sell-outs", which, THEIR NOT!
Then, the most successful Green Day album to date came out, DOOKIE. The world went mad for this album, and it is quite easy to see why! One of the reasons for this is because of the inital support of MTV for Longview. Repeated veiwing of it made the world want DOOKIE more, then the next single took the world by storm. Basket Case is Green Days biggest success over here in the UK, reaching number 3 in the charts, nothing it seem to could stop Green Day. At the end of 94', Green Day stole the show at Woodstock 94', and that also helped the album sales. When the forth and final single from Dookie came out, When I Come Around, Dookie had sold 5 millions copies in the US alone. In total it sold 8 million copies in the US and 12 million world wide!!! Dookie also won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Alternative music.
Green Day followed up Dookie very quickly with the reviewers favourtive, however, INSOMNIAC was Green Days "flop" album. Even though it had great songs on it, it still was never as successful as Dookie. Even though it had the radio favourtive Brain Stew/Jaded, it jsut couldn't be as popular as Dookie. At the end of 1996, Green Day suddlendy called an end to their European Tour, claiming exhaustion.
This gave Billie Joe chance to write new material for, as many people see it, but others don't, Green Days best album, NIMROD. There is 18 songs on it and Billie Joe and co. seemed to be spoiled for choice, with over 50 SONGS TO SELECT FROM, i think that that was the hardest part of the album, selecting what goes on it. The songs on it were good. Nice Guys Finsh Last is a superb opener, and Hitchin a Ride is great. Theres the heavy and dark parts to Nimrod, ie Platypus (I Hate You) and Take Back, funny parts, ie King For A Day and the depressing parts, Good Riddance(Time of Your Life), this album has everything. However, it only sold two million copies, so it was the lowest selling album on the major release, but earned them the most respect, and they improved their live preformance so they won Best Live Band at the Kerrang awards.
After 3 long years of waiting for a new Green Day album, after 2 years and their had been nothing, Green Day came back with a killer album, titled WARNING. This was recorded in LA in August (At the time of the roits, i kow this cos Tre joined in!). This album basically, wasn't what anyone expected apart from Green Day themselves. Its not as fast paced, however, it still is great. With songs on its like Warning, Blood Sex and Booze, Church on Sunday, Castaway, Jackass, Waiting, Minority and Macy's Day Parade, Green Day have shown a side of them that we once didn't think will'll see, but it has happen, and basically, its great. I love the punkier albums, like Dookie and Kerplunk, but i think Warning is one of their best, and i think it is great.
The whole team went to see them in December, and frankly, they were amasing. One of the most amasing things i have seen and heard. If you get the chance to see them, GO AND SEE THEM, or else you will regret it.
Green Day's Equipment
