Green Day (part II)

Future Plans

The video of Jesus of Suburbia is stated to be a prequel to their upcoming film, American Idiot: The Motion Picture. In an interview with Billboard magazine, Billie Joe Armstrong revealed that the group are still considering turning their punk rock opera into a film, in much the same spirit as the Beatles' Yellow Submarine, Marillion's Brave, Pink Floyd's The Wall and the Who's Tommy and Quadrophenia. The band has stated they have no intentions to act in the movie, although they may make an appearance. Lou Taylor Pucci and Kelli Garner from the "Jesus of Suburbia" music video could make an appearance if the motion picture does go into production. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has said "It's definitely unfolding. Every single week there's more ideas about doing a film for American Idiot, and it's definitely going to happen."[27]

The band's official website stated on September 1st that the band was back from their "summer vacation" and was back in the studio working on new material. On, Friday, September 8th, 2006, Green Day's web site announced that Green Day is teaming up with U2 and with producer Rick Rubin to record a cover of the song "The Saints Are Coming", originally recorded by The Skids. The song is to benefit Music Rising (musicrising.org), to raise money for musicians' instruments lost during Hurricane Katrina and to bring awareness on the eve of the one year anniversary of the disaster. This collaboration would likely be released separately by both bands, as both are planning new albums by the end of 2006 or in the autumn of 2007.


Musical style and influences

Green Day's sound is often compared to first wave punk rock bands such as the Ramones, The Clash, and the Buzzcocks.[28][19] The majority of their song catalogue is composed of distorted guitar, fast, manic drums, and low, heavy bass. Most of their songs are fast-paced and under the average song length of four minutes (4:00). Billie Joe Armstrong has however said his biggest influences are seminal alternative rock bands Hüsker Dü and The Replacements, and that their influence is particularly noted in the band's chord changes in songs.[19] In fact, Green Day has covered Hüsker Dü's "Don't Want to Know If You Are Lonely" as a b-side for the song "Warning", and the character "Mr. Whirly" in the song "Misery" is a reference to the Replacements song of the same name.[29] Armstrong's lyrics describe alientation, anger, angst ("Jesus of Suburbia"), insomnia, hysteria, and hallucinations ("Brain Stew/Jaded"), boredom, doing drugs and/or smoking ("Longview"), and purely having fun ("King For a Day"); The Ramones had similar lyrical themes, like drugs ("I Wanna Be Sedated") alienation ("Outsider"), and having fun ("Rockaway Beach", "Bop 'Till You Drop"). Green Day covered their song Outsider on the tribute album We're a Happy Family and they have also covered the Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop.".

Criticism and Controversy

Beginning with the release of Dookie, and the subsequent explosion of MTV Airplay it received, Green Day has received considerable criticism from those who prefer to see the punk genre as a social movement independent of corporate sponsorship. With the release of American Idiot and the subsequent draw of many new fans, much of this criticism has been revived.

One of the more contentious issues is genre labeling. In reaction to both the style of music and the background of the band, some fans and musicians have taken heavy objection to the usage of the term "punk" when applied to Green Day. This is evidenced by the following comments issued by John Lydon, former front man of both the 70s punk band the Sex Pistols and 80s post-punk act, Public Image Ltd.. [30]:

"Don't try and tell me Green Day are punk. They're not, they're plonk and they're bandwagoning on something they didn't come up with themselves. I think they are phony."

"So there we are fending off all that and it [really annoys me] that years later a [terrible] outfit like Green Day hop in and nick all that and attach it to themselves. They didn't earn their wings to do that and if they were true punk they wouldn't look anything like they do."

Steve Diggle of the Buzzcocks commented on the band after meeting them:

"I didn't have a clue who they were. And they're not punks."

Paul McPike, a grocery store clerk, recently filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against Green Day claiming that he wrote the song "American Idiot" almost 15 years ago. He alleges that he performed the song at a high school and a recording of the song made it into the hands of Green Day. McPike is currently seeking a share of the album's profits. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Cooney attempted to dismiss the case last week, but it is expected that McPike will file an amended lawsuit, with additional evidence.


Related projects


Main article: Green Day related projects

Members

* Billie Joe Armstrong: Guitar, Lead Vocals (1989-present)
* Mike Dirnt: Bass, Backup Vocals (1989-present)
* Tré Cool: Drums, Backup Vocals (1990-present)

–

* Jason White: Guitar, Backup Vocals (1999-present)

Since 1999, Jason White has been a backing "4th" member of Green Day, providing backing vocals and guitar for the Warning: and American Idiot tours. Jason also was featured in Bullet in a Bible and is expected to join the band for their next tour.

Touring and session members

* Jason Freese: Piano, Keyboard, Trombone, Saxophone, Accordion, Acoustic Guitar, Backup Vocals (2004-present)
* Ronnie Blake: Trumpet, Timpani/Percussions, Backup Vocals (2004-present)
* Mike Pelino: Third Guitar, Backup Vocals (2004-present)[citation needed]
* Rob Cavallo: Piano (For the American Idiot recording sessions)
* Petra Haden Violin (For the nimrod. recording sessions)

Former members

* John Kiffmeyer, also known as Al Sobrante: Drums (1989-1990)


Discography

Main article: Green Day discography

Date of release Title Record label

April 1990 39/Smooth Lookout! Records
January 7, 1992 Kerplunk! Lookout! Records
February 1, 1994 Dookie Reprise Records
October 10, 1995 Insomniac Reprise Records
October 14, 1997 Nimrod. Reprise Records
October 3, 2000 Warning: Reprise Records
September 21, 2004 American Idiot Reprise Records

See also

* The Lookouts
* Punk rock
* Pop punk
* Alternative rock
* Best selling music artists