Personalities | Green Day | Hitting The Big Time (1993–97) | An Overview

The success of Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and Nevermind (1991) steamrolling around the world in 1992 alerted major labels to the potential of independent rock music. With two albums and a growing armada of fans, Green Day were seen as an act with similar potential. Their major label debut, Dookie (1994), fulfilled this potential, racking up phenomenal international sales of an estimated 16 million copies. Laced with hit singles, including ‘Longview’ and ‘Basket Case’, Dookie propelled the band from small venues to arena tours.

Green Day also experienced a backlash from the punk scene that had nurtured them, with accusations that they were selling out and abandoning the DIY and co-operative principles of the movement. Although this wounded a band trying to come to terms with commercial and financial success, their live reputation and a visually memorable Woodstock appearance delivered them an international army of fans.

Personalities | Introducing Green Day
Personalities | Green Day | Hitting The Big Time (1993) | Key Events

Source: Green Day Revealed, by Ian Shirley

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