The Observatory

Green Day is an American rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt. Drummer Tré Cool joined the band in 1990. The band was originally named Sweet Children before adopting the name Green Day in 1989. They were part of the late 1980s and early 1990s Bay Area punk scene centered around 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, California. Their early releases were with Lookout! Records, including the album 39/Smooth (1990). In 1994, Green Day released their major-label debut, Dookie, through Reprise Records, which shipped over 20 million copies in the United States. The band has been credited with reigniting mainstream interest in punk rock. Their albums Insomniac (1995), Nimrod (1997), and Warning (2000) achieved commercial success, with Insomniac and Nimrod reaching double platinum status and Warning earning gold certification. Throughout their career, Green Day has maintained a lineup consisting of a power trio format.