January

Kerplunk

Green Day returned to the Art Of Ears Studio in May and September 1991 to lay down tracks for their second LP Kerplunk. Produced by Andy Ernst and the band themselves for $1,500, the 12 tracks were brash, confident and compulsive. As a songwriter, Billie Joe showed a maturity far beyond his tender years on relationship songs such as ‘One For The Razorbacks’, ‘Words I May Have Ate’ and ‘2,000 Light Years Away’, whilst the chemistry and interplay of the trio was rock solid on ‘Welcome To Paradise’ and ‘Christie Road’. Tre Cool’s countrified ‘Dominated Love Slave’ showed a wicked sense of humour.

‘2,000 Light Years Away’

Phone calls, letters and the physical distance that separated them was to eventually draw Billie Joe and Adrienne together as a couple. His feelings and emotions were pertly expressed on the track ‘2,000 Light Years Away’ which was a sweet love song armoured in guitar chords. ‘I hold my breath and close my eyes and dream about her,’ sang Billie Joe, revealing a sensitive side that, as well as appealing to Adrienne, attracted a growing number of female fans who had begun to attend Green Day gigs. Green Day began to sell out small clubs due to fanzine coverage and word of mouth.

Winter

Outgrowing The Label

Kerplunk sold 10,000 copies on its first day of release, a phenomenal amount for a band on a small independent label in the Bay Area. Green Day’s work ethic and compelling live performances began to ram small American venues although, due to Lookouts’ limited nationwide distribution, some fans could not get their hands on the album. The band also funded a trip to Europe where they ended up playing 64 dates in three months from clubs to squats, even staging an impromptu pre-launch party for Kerplunk in Southampton, England on 17 December 1991 when they received finished copies via courier.

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