Ongoing History Daily: Green Day’s unexpected resurrection

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.