Punk rock isn't supposed to age well. The Sex Pistols burned out before they had the time to get crusty, and though Joe Strummer evolved into a musical elder statesman, anybody who has heard the Clash's Cut the Crap knows that even they got stale. But since their formation in 1988 and especially since their big breakout in 1994, Green Day have remained an incredibly vital group, producing at least two seminal rock records and evolving into one of the best live acts on the planet.
Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt first started playing music together as Sweet Children when they were both only 15 years old. Drummer Tré Cool joined the fray in 1992, just in time to record Kerplunk for Lookout! Records. With a bit of word of mouth and a whole lot of heavy touring, the band became known in the punk community for their excellent tunes and their workmanlike attitude towards the road.
The hard work paid off, as they scored a major label deal and released Dookie, an album that not only elevated them as one of the biggest bands on the planet but also ushered in a new wave of punk that redefined rock music in the 1990s. More hits, videos and tours followed, including the now-iconic graduation tune "Time of Your Life (Good Riddance)" and a turn into political rabble-rousing with American Idiot. The latter album (as well as last year's 21st Century Breakdown) has cemented the group as thoughtful world-beaters. But they had to start somewhere, so check out some key moments from their long career.
