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Green Day decided to produce a [[rock opera]], inspired by the work of [[The Who]] and several musicals. The album follows the life of ''Jesus of Suburbia'', a character with "[[Antihero|anti-hero]]" image created by [[Billie Joe Armstrong]]. Following early recording at Studio 880 in [[Oakland, California]], the band finished the album at [[Ocean Way Recording]] in [[Hollywood]].
Green Day decided to produce a [[rock opera]], inspired by the work of [[The Who]] and several musicals. The album follows the life of ''Jesus of Suburbia'', a character with "[[Antihero|anti-hero]]" image created by [[Billie Joe Armstrong]]. Following early recording at Studio 880 in [[Oakland, California]], the band finished the album at [[Ocean Way Recording]] in [[Hollywood]].

The album achieved success worldwide, charting in 27 countries and peaking at number one in 19 of them, including the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom]]. Since its release, ''American Idiot'' has sold over 14 million copies worldwide,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://americanidiotonbroadway.com/about.php|title=Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT on Broadway – A New Musical – Official Site - Show|accessdate=August 28, 2010| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20100815005841/http://americanidiotonbroadway.com/about.php| archivedate= 15 August 2010 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref> over 6 million copies of which were in the United States alone,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart_watch/74248/week-ending-jan-23-2011-beginners-luck/;_ylt=Akfam86uyFfyIsqB8zLXezsPwiUv?page=2#comments |title=Week Ending Jan. 23, 2011: Beginner's Luck - Chart Watch |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com |date=2011-02-16 |accessdate=2011-07-28}}</ref> including 267,000 in its opening week.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gundersen |first=Edna |url=http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2004-09-29-green-day_x.htm |title=Green Day hits No. 1 |work=[[USA Today]] |date=September 29, 2004 |accessdate=July 28, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Winwood |first=Ian |title=Kerrang! Interview |journal=[[Kerrang!]] |page=32}}</ref> The album spawned five successful singles, including the international hits "[[American Idiot (song)|American Idiot]]", "[[Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Green Day song)|Boulevard of Broken Dreams]]", "[[Holiday (Green Day song)|Holiday]]", and "[[Wake Me Up When September Ends]]"; all of which received Platinum certification by the [[RIAA]].


==Background and recording==
==Background and recording==
Line 69: Line 67:
==Release and reception==
==Release and reception==


===Commercial performance===
Upon its release in September 2004, ''American Idiot'' peaked at number one on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] album chart. The album achieved five times platinum status in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.{{cn|date=December 2012}} Five singles were released from the album, all of which charted on the ''Billboard'' [[Alternative Songs|Modern Rock Tracks]] chart. "[[Boulevard of Broken Dreams (Green Day song)|Boulevard of Broken Dreams]]" topped both the Mainstream and the Modern Rock charts.{{cn|date=December 2012}}


===Critical response===
===Critical response===
{{Album ratings
{{Album ratings
| MC = 79/100<ref name="mc"/>
| MC = 2/100<ref name="mc"/>
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r702202/review|pure_url=yes}} |title=''American Idiot'': Overview |work=[[Allmusic]] |accessdate=July 23, 2008}}</ref>
| rev1Score = {{Rating|0|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|authorlink=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r702202/review|pure_url=yes}} |title=''American Idiot'': Overview |work=[[Allmusic]] |accessdate=July 23, 2008}}</ref>
| rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev2 = [[Robert Christgau]]
| rev2Score = C+<ref name="christgau"/>
| rev2Score = F<ref name="christgau"/>
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev3Score = B+<ref name="ew">{{cite news|authorlink=David Browne |last=Browne |first=David |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,697504,00.html |title=American Idiot |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=September 24, 2004 |accessdate=July 23, 2008| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080905114059/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,697504,00.html| archivedate= 5 September 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
| rev3Score = F<ref name="ew">{{cite news|authorlink=David Browne |last=Browne |first=David |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,697504,00.html |title=American Idiot |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=September 24, 2004 |accessdate=July 23, 2008| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20080905114059/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,697504,00.html| archivedate= 5 September 2008 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="guardian">{{cite news|last=Lynskey |first=Dorian |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2004/sep/17/popandrock.shopping2 |title=Green Day, American Idiot |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=September 17, 2004 |accessdate=July 23, 2008 |location=London}}</ref>
| rev4Score = {{Rating|0.5|5}}<ref name="guardian">{{cite news|last=Lynskey |first=Dorian |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2004/sep/17/popandrock.shopping2 |title=Green Day, American Idiot |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=September 17, 2004 |accessdate=July 23, 2008 |location=London}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5 = ''[[NME]]''
| rev5score = 8/10<ref name="NME"/>
| rev5score = 1/10<ref name="NME"/>
| rev6 = [[Pitchfork Media]]
| rev6 = [[Pitchfork Media]]
| rev6Score = 7.2/10<ref name="pitchforkmedia">{{cite web|last=Loftus |first=Johnny |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/reviews/albums/3568-american-idiot/ |title=American Idiot - Green Day |work=[[Pitchfork Media]] |date=September 24, 2004 |accessdate=July 23, 2008}}</ref>
| rev6Score = 0.2/10<ref name="pitchforkmedia">{{cite web|last=Loftus |first=Johnny |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/reviews/albums/3568-american-idiot/ |title=American Idiot - Green Day |work=[[Pitchfork Media]] |date=September 24, 2004 |accessdate=July 23, 2008}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7 = ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev7Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="Qmag"/>
| rev7Score = {{Rating|1|5}}<ref name="Qmag"/>
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref name="rs">[http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/american-idiot-20040930 American Idiot by Green Day | Rolling Stone Music | Music Reviews]</ref>
| rev8Score = {{Rating|1.5|5}}<ref name="rs">[http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/american-idiot-20040930 American Idiot by Green Day | Rolling Stone Music | Music Reviews]</ref>
| rev9 = [[Slant Magazine]]
| rev9 = [[Slant Magazine]]
| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>[http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/green-day-american-idiot/492 Green Day: American Idiot | Music Review | Slant Magazine]</ref>
| rev9Score = {{Rating|2|5}}<ref>[http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/green-day-american-idiot/492 Green Day: American Idiot | Music Review | Slant Magazine]</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev10 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]''
| rev10Score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="uncut">{{cite web|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/green_day/reviews/8453 |title=Green Day - American Idiot |work=''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' |accessdate=July 23, 2008}}</ref>
| rev10Score = {{rating|1|5}}<ref name="uncut">{{cite web|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/green_day/reviews/8453 |title=Green Day - American Idiot |work=''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' |accessdate=July 23, 2008}}</ref>
|publisher=''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' |date=May 15, 2009 |accessdate=December 13, 2009}}
|publisher=''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' |date=May 15, 2009 |accessdate=December 13, 2009}}
''American Idiot'' received generally positive reviews from [[music critics]].<ref name="mc"/> According to review aggregator website [[Metacritic]], the album has an average critic review score of 79/100, based on 26 reviews.<ref name="mc">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/american-idiot/critic-reviews|title=Critic Reviews for American Idiot|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|accessdate=November 4, 2011}}</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[Allmusic]] praised the album as either "a collection of great songs" or as a whole, writing that, "in its musical muscle and sweeping, politically charged narrative, it's something of a masterpiece".<ref name="allmusic"/> [[Pitchfork Media]] commended it as "ambitious" and successful in getting across its message, while "keep[ing] its mood and method deliberately, tenaciously, and angrily on point".<ref name="pitchforkmedia"/> ''[[NME]]'' characterized it as "an onslaught of varied and marvellously good tunes presented in an unexpectedly inventive way."<ref name="NME">{{cite journal|title=Review: American Idiot|journal=[[NME]]|location=London|date=September 18, 2004|page=65}}</ref> ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' called the album "A powerful work, noble in both intent and execution."<ref name="Qmag">{{cite journal|title=Review: American Idiot|journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|location=London|month=November|year=2004|page=110}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' commended Green Day for trumping "any pretension with melody and sheer fervor".<ref>{{cite news|last=Pareles |first=Jon |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902E0D81239F935A1575AC0A9629C8B63 |title=Putting Her Money Where Her Music Video Is |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 26, 2004}}</ref>
''American Idiot'' received Horrible reviews from [[music critics]].<ref name="mc"/> According to review aggregator website [[Metacritic]], the album has an average critic review score of 79/100, based on 26 reviews.<ref name="mc">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/american-idiot/critic-reviews|title=Critic Reviews for American Idiot|work=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|accessdate=November 4, 2011}}</ref> [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] of [[Allmusic]] praised the album as either "a collection of great songs" or as a whole, writing that, "in its musical muscle and sweeping, politically charged narrative, it's something of a masterpiece".<ref name="allmusic"/> [[Pitchfork Media]] commended it as "ambitious" and successful in getting across its message, while "keep[ing] its mood and method deliberately, tenaciously, and angrily on point".<ref name="pitchforkmedia"/> ''[[NME]]'' characterized it as "an onslaught of varied and marvellously good tunes presented in an unexpectedly inventive way."<ref name="NME">{{cite journal|title=Review: American Idiot|journal=[[NME]]|location=London|date=September 18, 2004|page=65}}</ref> ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' called the album "A powerful work, noble in both intent and execution."<ref name="Qmag">{{cite journal|title=Review: American Idiot|journal=[[Q (magazine)|Q]]|location=London|month=November|year=2004|page=110}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' commended Green Day for trumping "any pretension with melody and sheer fervor".<ref>{{cite news|last=Pareles |first=Jon |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902E0D81239F935A1575AC0A9629C8B63 |title=Putting Her Money Where Her Music Video Is |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=September 26, 2004}}</ref>


''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' said that despite being based on a musical theater concept "that periodically makes no sense", Green Day "make the journey entertaining enough". It described some of the songs as forgettable, though, arguing the album focuses more on lyrics than music.<ref name="ew"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' said the album could have been, and was, a mess, but that the "individual tunes are tough and punchy enough to work on their own".<ref name="rs"/> ''[[The Guardian]]'' called ''American Idiot'' a mess—"but a vivid, splashy, even courageous mess".<ref name="guardian"/> ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' wrote that although the album was heavily politically focused, "slam-dancing is still possible", in a mixed review.<ref name="uncut"/> In a negative review, [[Robert Christgau]] of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' called the album a "dud" and asserted that Armstrong's lyrics eschew "sociopolitical content" for "the emotional travails of two clueless punks—one passive, one aggressive, both projections of the auteur", adding that "there's no economics, no race, hardly any compassion."<ref name="christgau">{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|date=January 25, 2005|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-01-25/music/harmonies-and-abysses/http/|title=Harmonies and Abysses|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|location=New York|accessdate=September 27, 2012}}</ref>
''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' said that despite being based on a musical theater concept "that periodically makes no sense", Green Day "make the journey entertaining enough". It described some of the songs as forgettable, though, arguing the album focuses more on lyrics than music.<ref name="ew"/> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' said the album could have been, and was, a mess, but that the "individual tunes are tough and punchy enough to work on their own".<ref name="rs"/> ''[[The Guardian]]'' called ''American Idiot'' a mess—"but a vivid, splashy, even courageous mess".<ref name="guardian"/> ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' wrote that although the album was heavily politically focused, "slam-dancing is still possible", in a mixed review.<ref name="uncut"/> In a negative review, [[Robert Christgau]] of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' called the album a "dud" and asserted that Armstrong's lyrics eschew "sociopolitical content" for "the emotional travails of two clueless punks—one passive, one aggressive, both projections of the auteur", adding that "there's no economics, no race, hardly any compassion."<ref name="christgau">{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|authorlink=Robert Christgau|date=January 25, 2005|url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-01-25/music/harmonies-and-abysses/http/|title=Harmonies and Abysses|newspaper=[[The Village Voice]]|location=New York|accessdate=September 27, 2012}}</ref>

Revision as of 21:49, 7 December 2012

This article is about the album. For the song, see American Idiot (song). For the musical, see American Idiot (musical).
Untitled

American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the American punk rock band Green Day. It was released on September 21, 2004 through Reprise Records and was produced by longtime collaborator Rob Cavallo. In mid-2003, the band began recording songs for an album titled Cigarettes and Valentines. But, the master tracks were stolen and the band decided to start recording a new album rather than re-record Cigarettes and Valentines.[1]

Green Day decided to produce a rock opera, inspired by the work of The Who and several musicals. The album follows the life of Jesus of Suburbia, a character with "anti-hero" image created by Billie Joe Armstrong. Following early recording at Studio 880 in Oakland, California, the band finished the album at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood.

Background and recording

In 2000, Green Day released the folk-influenced album Warning. The record was considered to be a commercial disappointment, and the band decided to take a break from music after co-headlining the Pop Disaster Tour with Blink-182.[2] Hoping to clear his head and develop new ideas for songs, vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong traveled to New York City alone for a few weeks, renting a small apartment in the East Village of Manhattan.[3] He spent much of this time taking long walks and participating in jam sessions in the basement of Hi-Fi, a bar in Manhattan.[4]

In mid-2003, Green Day convened at Studio 880 in Oakland, California, and recorded about 20 songs for an album titled Cigarettes and Valentines.[5][6] However, the master tracks were stolen.[1] The band consulted producer Rob Cavallo about what to do next. Cavallo told the members to ask themselves if the missing tracks represented the group's best work.[7] Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said that the band members "couldn't honestly look at ourselves and say, 'That was the best thing we've ever done.' So we decided to move on and do something completely new."[8] The band members agreed to spend the next three months writing new material.[9]

One day, bassist Mike Dirnt was in the studio recording a 30-second song by himself. Armstrong decided he wanted to do the same, and drummer Tré Cool followed suit. Armstrong recalled, "It started getting more serious as we tried to outdo one another. We kept connecting these little half-minute bits until we had something." This musical suite became "Homecoming", and the group subsequently wrote another suite, "Jesus of Suburbia". The band followed concept records by The Who, as well as musicals such as West Side Story and Jesus Christ Superstar.[5] During the group's sessions at Studio 880, the members of Green Day spent their days writing material and would stay up late, drinking and discussing music. The band set up a pirate radio station from which it would broadcast jam sessions, along with occasional prank calls.[8]

With demos completed, Green Day relocated to Los Angeles to continue work on the album.[10] The group first recorded at Ocean Way Recording, then moved to Capitol Studios to complete the album.[5] Armstrong said, "As a songwriter, I get so deep into what I'm writing about, it's almost like I have to stir up shit to write about it." The band admitted to partying during the L.A. sessions; Armstrong had to schedule vocal recording sessions around his hangovers. Armstrong described the environment, "For the first time, we separated from our pasts, from how we were supposed to behave as Green Day. For the first time, we fully accepted the fact that we're rock stars."[8]

Music

"American Idiot"
"American Idiot" was the lead single from the album
Problems playing this file? See media help.
"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams"
"Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 2005
Problems playing this file? See media help.

American Idiot is a concept album that describes the story of a central character named Jesus of Suburbia. Frontman Armstrong said, "As soon as you abandon the verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge song structure ... it opens up your mind to this different way of writing, where there really are no rules." He also added that "the band aimed to be ambitious, which he felt many contemporary rock bands were not."[5]

The band used more loud guitar sounds for the record. Armstrong said "we were like, 'Let's just go balls-out on the guitar sound—plug in the Les Pauls and Marshalls and let it rip'". Armstrong added tracks of acoustic guitar-playing throughout the record to augment his electric guitar rhythms and Cool's drumming.[5]

Story

The album follows the life of Jesus of Suburbia, a character with anti-hero image created by Billie Joe Armstrong. Jesus of Suburbia hates his town and those close to him, so he leaves for the city.[11] As the album progresses the characters St. Jimmy and Whatsername are introduced. St. Jimmy is a punk rock freedom fighter. Whatsername, inspired by the Bikini Kill song "Rebel Girl", is a "Mother Revolution" figure that Armstrong described as "kind of St. Jimmy's nemesis in a lot of ways". Both characters illustrate the "rage vs. love" theme of the album, in that "you can go with the blind rebellion of self-destruction, where Saint Jimmy is. But there's a more love-driven side to that, which is following your beliefs and ethics. And that's where Jesus of Suburbia really wants to go", according to Armstrong. Near the end of the story, St. Jimmy commits suicide. While the singer did not want to give away the details of the story's resolution, he said the intention is for the listener to ultimately realize that Jesus of Suburbia is really St. Jimmy, and Jimmy is "part of the main character that pretty much dies". In the album's final song, "Whatsername", Jesus of Suburbia loses his connection with Whatsername as well.[5]

Artwork

After finishing the music for the album, the band decided that the artwork needed to reflect the themes on the record, likening the change of image to a political campaign.[12] Armstrong recalled: "We wanted to be firing on all cylinders. Everything from the aesthetic to the music to the look. Just everything."[12] Green Day drew inspiration from Chinese communist propaganda art the band saw in art galleries on Melrose Avenue, and recruited artist Chris Bilheimer, who had designed the art for the previous records Nimrod and International Superhits! to create the cover.[12] The band aimed for the cover to be "at once uniform and powerful".[12] After listening to the new music on his computer, Bilheimer took note of the lyric "And she's holding on my heart like a hand grenade" from "She's a Rebel". Influenced by artist Saul Bass's poster for the 1955 drama film The Man with the Golden Arm, Bilheimer created an upstretched arm holding a red heart-shaped grenade.[12] Although he felt that red is the "most overused color in graphic design", he felt that the "immediate" qualities of the color deemed it appropriate for use on the cover, explaining: "I'm sure there's psychological theories of it being the same color of blood and therefore has the powers of life and death...And as a designer I always feel it's kind of a cop-out, so I never used it before. But there was no way you couldn't use it on this cover."[12]

Release and reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic2/100[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[14]
Robert ChristgauF[15]
Entertainment WeeklyF[16]
The Guardian[17]
NME1/10[18]
Pitchfork Media0.2/10[19]
Q[20]
Rolling Stone[21]
Slant Magazine[22]
Uncut[23]

American Idiot received Horrible reviews from music critics.[13] According to review aggregator website Metacritic, the album has an average critic review score of 79/100, based on 26 reviews.[13] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Allmusic praised the album as either "a collection of great songs" or as a whole, writing that, "in its musical muscle and sweeping, politically charged narrative, it's something of a masterpiece".[14] Pitchfork Media commended it as "ambitious" and successful in getting across its message, while "keep[ing] its mood and method deliberately, tenaciously, and angrily on point".[19] NME characterized it as "an onslaught of varied and marvellously good tunes presented in an unexpectedly inventive way."[18] Q called the album "A powerful work, noble in both intent and execution."[20] The New York Times commended Green Day for trumping "any pretension with melody and sheer fervor".[24]

Entertainment Weekly said that despite being based on a musical theater concept "that periodically makes no sense", Green Day "make the journey entertaining enough". It described some of the songs as forgettable, though, arguing the album focuses more on lyrics than music.[16] Rolling Stone said the album could have been, and was, a mess, but that the "individual tunes are tough and punchy enough to work on their own".[21] The Guardian called American Idiot a mess—"but a vivid, splashy, even courageous mess".[17] Uncut wrote that although the album was heavily politically focused, "slam-dancing is still possible", in a mixed review.[23] In a negative review, Robert Christgau of The Village Voice called the album a "dud" and asserted that Armstrong's lyrics eschew "sociopolitical content" for "the emotional travails of two clueless punks—one passive, one aggressive, both projections of the auteur", adding that "there's no economics, no race, hardly any compassion."[15]

Accolades

In 2005, American Idiot won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album and was nominated in four other categories including Album of the Year.[citation needed] The album helped Green Day win seven of the eight awards it was nominated for at the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards; the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" video won six of those awards. A year later, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year.[citation needed] In 2009, Kerrang! named American Idiot the best album of the decade,[25] NME ranked it number 60 in a similar list,[26] and Rolling Stone ranked it 22nd.[27] Rolling Stone also listed "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "American Idiot" among the 100 best songs of the 2000s, at number 65 and 47 respectively.[28][29]

Adaptations

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong performing at the Cardiff International Arena for the Cardiff leg of the UK American Idiot tour, 2005.

In late 2005, Dean Gray released a mash-up version of the album—called American Edit—and became a cause célèbre when the artist was served with a cease and desist order by Green Day's record label. Tracks include "American Edit, "Dr. Who on Holiday", "Novocaine Rhapsody", and "Boulevard of Broken Songs." Billie Joe Armstrong later stated that he heard one of the songs on the radio and "enjoyed it."[40]

The American Idiot stage musical adaptation premiered at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009. It was initially intended to run through October 11, but before the premiere, the theatre announced a three week extension. The musical is a collaboration between Green Day and director Michael Mayer.[41] Green Day does not appear in the production, but the show features an onstage band.[42] According to Susan Medak, managing director of the Berkeley Repertory, the theater was part of the producing team and had been looking for work that crosses generational lines.

The production transferred to Broadway at the St. James Theatre, began previews on March 24, 2010 and officially opened on April 20, 2010. The show received mixed to positive reviews from critics, but got an all-important rave review from The New York Times.[43] American Idiot won two 2010 Tony Awards: Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Christine Jones, and Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Kevin Adams. It also received a nomination for Best Musical.[44]

Replacement performers included Van Hughes as Johnny, American Idol runner-up Justin Guarini as Will, David Larsen as Tunny, Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong as St Jimmy, Rebecca Naomi Jones as Whatsername, Jeanna de Waal as Heather, and Libby Winters as Extraordinary Girl.[45] The show features all of the songs from the album American Idiot, including b-sides, and songs from Green Day's follow-up album, 21st Century Breakdown.[46]

On September 26, it was announced that Green Day lead vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong would be appearing in the Broadway production for a limited time (September 27 – October 3, 2010) as St. Jimmy while Tony Vincent attends to a family matter.[47] Armstrong returned to the production in 2011 for a 50 performance run from January 1 through February 27.[48] In addition, singer Melissa Etheridge assumed the role of St. Jimmy the first week of February 2011.[49] After Etheridge left, the role of St. Jimmy was rotated through several cast members, before Billie Joe Armstrong retook the role on April 5, 2011, for the final weeks of the show. The Broadway production closed on April 24, 2011, after 27 previews and 421 regular performances. The first national tour started in late 2011.[50]

Shortly after the album was released, there was speculation that American Idiot might be made into a film. VH1 quoted Armstrong as saying "We've definitely been talking about someone writing a script for it, and there's been a few different names that have been thrown at us. It sounds really exciting, but for right now it's just talk."[51] Armstrong later stated that filming would begin for American Idiot: The Motion Picture in 2006, stressing, "We want to see how it turns out first so that it doesn't suck."[52] On June 1, 2006, Armstrong announced in an interview with MTV.com that "it's definitely unfolding" and that "every single week there's more ideas about doing a film for American Idiot, and it's definitely going to happen",[53] but the band later said, "It is gonna take a little while." In the summer of 2010, talk about creating a film adaption was brought up again, after actor Tom Hanks was interested in producing it. In an interview with Virgin Radio, when asked if the film was "true, a lie, or a mystery?" Tré Cool responded by saying that it was "a true mystery".[54]

On April 13, 2011, the film American Idiot was confirmed.[55] Michael Mayer, director of the Broadway musical, will be the director of the film. The film will be written by Dustin Lance Black and produced by Green Day, Pat Magnarella (Green Day's manager and producer of Bullet in a Bible and Awesome as Fuck), Playtone (Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman) and Tom Hulce.

Track listing

All lyrics are written by Billie Joe Armstrong except where noted; all music is composed by Green Day

No.TitleLength
1."American Idiot"2:54
2."Jesus of Suburbia"
I. "Jesus of Suburbia"
II. "City of the Damned"
III. "I Don't Care"
IV. "Dearly Beloved"
V. "Tales of Another Broken Home"		9:08
3."Holiday"3:52
4."Boulevard of Broken Dreams"4:20
5."Are We the Waiting"2:42
6."St. Jimmy"2:56
7."Give Me Novacaine"3:25
8."She's a Rebel"2:00
9."Extraordinary Girl"3:33
10."Letterbomb"4:05
11."Wake Me Up When September Ends"4:45
12."Homecoming"
I. "The Death of St. Jimmy"
II. "East 12th St."
III. "Nobody Likes You" (lyrics written by Mike Dirnt)
IV. "Rock and Roll Girlfriend" (lyrics written by Tré Cool)
V. "We're Coming Home Again"		9:18
13."Whatsername"4:14
Total length:57:12
iTunes deluxe edition bonus tracks[56]
No.TitleLength
14."Too Much Too Soon"3:30
15."Shoplifter"1:50
16."Governator"2:31
Total length:65:03
Bonus track on Japanese release[57]
No.TitleLength
14."Favorite Son"2:06
Total length:59:18
Japanese bonus disc (live in Tokyo)[57]
No.TitleLength
1."American Idiot"4:17
2."Jesus of Suburbia"
I. "Jesus of Suburbia"
II. "City of the Damned"
III. "I Don't Care"
IV. "Dearly Beloved"
V. "Tales of Another Broken Home"		9:22
3."Holiday"4:33
4."Are We the Waiting"3:18
5."St. Jimmy"2:57
6."Boulevard of Broken Dreams"4:41

Personnel

Band

Additional musicians

Production

Chart positions

Heart Like a Hand Grenade

Heart Like a Hand Grenade
Directed byJohn Roecker
Produced byNazeli Kodjoian
StarringGreen Day
Edited byDean Gonzalez, Sunset Edit
Music byGreen Day
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
March 25, 2009
Running time
120 min.
LanguageEnglish

Heart Like a Hand Grenade is a 2008 film featuring Green Day during the recording of its seventh studio album, American Idiot. It was directed by John Roecker and filmed over the process of 15 months between 2003 and 2004.[89]

Release history

The film had a limited, one night release in Hollywood at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre on March 25, 2009 to a crowd of more than 400 people.[90]

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Bibliography

  • Spitz, Marc. Nobody Likes You: Inside the Turbulent Life, Times, and Music of Green Day. New York: Hyperion, 2006. ISBN 1-4013-0274-2

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