We've been talking about music acts that go back to the '60s and '70s for the most part (alright,more like the whole part), so now I think we can look at a band that's a bit more current. After all, like it says at the top, "all things rockin' from then to now". So for a little bit of now, I submit for your consideration a band called Green Day.
I will confess that I am one of those old farts who thought the only good music was the music I grew up with. No more. Thanks to my awesome grandson, Jai, himself a musician and a young man with quite good taste, I now realize that there actually was quality music created after the year 1987. Green Day was the first band Jai had introduced me to,and I am a happier man for it.
They are a band who play what is best described as intelligent punk rock, and were formed waaay back in 1988 by Billy Joe Armstrong on guitar and vocals, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer John Kiffmeyer.
Prior to the release of the band's second album, Kerplunk, Kiffmeyer was replaced by Tre Cool, who is with them to this day. They are credited along with bands like Offspring,NOFX and Rancid with popularizing and reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the United States. To that end, Their major label debut album Dookie became a major success and sold over 10 million units worldwide.
Green Day's three follow-up releases, Insomniac,Nimrod and Warning did not achieve the same figures as Dookie, but still each attained platinum and double platinum status. The 2004 rock opera (yes,we're talking about a punk rock band) American Idiot re-ignited the band's popularity among a wider audience, selling 5 million copies in the U.S. The group's eighth release, 21st Century Breakdown, released in 2009 has gone platinum and they have just put out a live release, Awesome as F*ck, with sales heading in a likewise direction.
Personally, the song that sealed the deal for me was their song "Good Riddance (The Time Of Your Life). This is a perfectly crafted, country-tinged ballad featuring only Armstrong's vocals supported by acoustic guitar that tugs at the emotions, placing Armstrong solidy among some of rock's finest songwriters. But don't just take my word for it, just ask none other than Glen Campbell who recorded his own version of the song on his new album.
Green Day has sold over 65 million units worldwide and have won four Grammy Awards. A stage adaptation of American Idiot debuted on Broadway in 2010 to favorable reviews and has been nominated for several Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Scenic Design.
All they need is to get their 25 years in and it's The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for these gentlemen.
No comments:
Post a Comment