Ongoing History Daily: Green Day’s unexpected resurrection

March 25, 2022 Alan Cross 0 Comments

Green Day was one of the big punk-pop successes of the 1990s but by the time the 21st century arrived, they were in big trouble. Album sales had fallen off drastically and it seemed that everyone had lost interest in what they had to offer. They apparently came close to calling it a day.

What saved them was a tour opening for Blink 182.

This roadtrip cemented their reputation as elder statesmen of punk rock. A greatest hits CD was released at the same time, which increased this new momentum. Energized by the new love they were getting from fans, they went back into the studio to create what they knew had to be a career-defining album.

The result was American Idiot–and I think we all know how that turned out.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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