January

American Idiot Celebrates 300th Show

Billie Joe joined the cast of American Idiot on New Year’s Day 2011 for 50 performances spread between January and February and so was on hand to celebrate its 300th performance on 8 January. He appeared with the cast in a photo call with a cake to mark the event. Plans were being hatched and auditions held for a touring version of the play and rumours that American Idiot would translate soon onto the big screen were confirmed in April 2011, with Tom Hanks signing on as producer of the project.

February

American Idiot Grammy Win

Although American Idiot was to close on Broadway after some 421 performances on 24 April 2011, it spawned an original Broadway cast soundtrack album that was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Musical Show Album category. When the awards took place at the Staples Centre, Los Angeles, on 13 February, the soundtrack won the award. Although Green Day fans may have found it strange listening to other artists performing the band’s songs, many bought the album that featured great performances from John Gallagher Jr, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Tony Vincent and Michael Esper.

March

Awesome As F**k

On 21 March the live album and DVD Awesome As F**k was released internationally. It documented 17 songs performed on the 21st Century Breakdown world tour of 2009/10 selected by the band at shows ranging from London (‘21st Century Breakdown’) via Berlin (‘When I Come Around’) to Australia (‘She’). The accompanying DVD captured a show performed by the band in Saitama, Japan; in the wake of the terrible devastation wrought in Japan by the tsunami in March 2011, one Green Day website was quick to auction a signed Green Day Rock Band promotional photo to raise money for victims.

Personalities | Introducing Green Day