Ben Myers' Green Day: American Idiots & The New Punk Explosion

reviewed by anna battista

Love them or hate them, Green Day have, in the last few years, risen to fame and become the idols of teenagers all over the world. They sold over 50 million albums, their UK arena tour in January/February 2005 sold out in minutes, their latest American Idiot album has been considered as a sophisticated commentary on modern life. But who are Green Day? Music journalist and author Ben Myers investigates the ascension to fame of this band, telling their story from the early beginnings, when the three members were just teenagers with a passion for music and lived in small Californian towns. Myers then passes to remember how they formed in 1989, how they released their major label debut Dookie in 1994 and how, throughout the '90s, Green Day became an inspiration to new generations of bands such as Sum 41 and Blink-182.

This first full biography on Green Day also analyses the most recent years and the success of American Idiot and contains extensive interviews with the band by Myers himself who spoke to the band at different stages of their career. So, Green Day, are they punk rock gods or just chancers? For Myers they are definitely the saviours of punk music, but, if you want to decide yourself, you'll have to read the book.

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