Carter Scott ‘26, Entertainment Editor
Amidst the early 1990s, a California punk band known as Green Day had been stirring up an album that would change the history of music forever. Relatively unknown before the release of their hit album Dookie, Green Day was formed by two best friends with an insatiable appetite for music, with their strong authenticity and originality contributing to their passions and talents.
With the release of Dookie on Feb. 1, 1994, Green Day had become an international sensation. The genius and success behind the album can only be credited to Billie Joe Armstrong’s songwriting and ability to incorporate personal and relatable experiences through his music. While talking about arguably their most famous song, “Basket Case,” Armstrong said, “I’ve had panic attacks since I was a kid. Writing about it was a way of coping, expressing that feeling of going crazy but ultimately pulling through.” “Basket Case” was only one of many relatable and influential songs on Dookie that ultimately captured an entire generation’s spirit.
Green Day had been creating a steady stream of music for their captivated audience to which to listen. With the addition of an extremely talented drummer, Tré Cool, the rockstar trio produced albums such as Insomniac, Warning, and Nimrod, which were released only a couple of years after the debut of Dookie; and on Sept. 21, 2004, Green Day released what some consider their magnum opus, American Idiot, an album that could only be described as a “rock opera” and allowed for Green Day to become larger than ever. Hit singles such as “American Idiot” and “Holiday” would eventually become national anthems for rebellion and individuality throughout the early 2000s.
Now, 20 years later, Green Day performed their Saviors Tour, based around their newest album Saviors. At these concerts, Green Day performed the entirety of their more classic albums Dookie and American Idiot, as well as a few songs from the Saviors album itself.
“The concert was amazing, and seeing the band on stage was an extraordinary experience. When they played my favorite song, “Holiday,” I was jumping around and screaming the lyrics as loud as I could,” junior Allen McCallie said. “The guitar, bass, and drums were all so incredibly loud, and the energy and excitement put onto the stage matched that loudness.”.
Green Day has come a long way since its first hit album Dookie—from performing in houses and backyards to selling out stadiums for multiple generations of people to come together and listen to music created decades ago. They show no signs of stopping anytime soon and even plan on creating more music as well as touring around the world in the future.
Lyon Life 