"We wanted to do "Working Class Hero" because its themes of alienation, class, and social status really resonated with us. It's such a raw, aggressive song, just that line: "you're still ****ing peasants as far as I can see", we felt we could really sink our teeth into it. I hope we've done him justice."

Green Day is a rock trio from East Bay, California.
Childhood friends Billie Joe Armstrong (guitar, vocals) and Mike Dirnt (bass) formed their first band, Sweet Children, when they were 14 years old. In 1989 they independently released their first EP, "1000 Hours", and quickly got noticed by local independent label Lookout, with whom they released several EPs compiled in the album “1,039/Smoothed Out /Slappy Hour”. In 1990, Tre Cool joined as permanent drummer. The band developed a cult following which spilt beyond the underground punk scene with the release of their second album, 1992's "Kerplunk". The success of "Kerplunk" led to a wave of interest from major record labels and the band eventually decided to sign with Reprise. Their major label debut "Dookie" became a breakout success in 1994 and eventually sold over 10 million copies worldwide with hit singles such as "Longview", "Basket Case" and "When I Come Around". Between 1995 and 2000, Green Day released another three albums but it is their 2004 rock opera "American Idiot" which became a surprise chart-topper worldwide and reignited the band's popularity with a younger generation.

The band has sold over 85 million records worldwide, their success having influenced prominent pop punk bands such as Sum 41 and Good Charlotte. Green Day currently have three Grammy Awards under their belt for Best Alternative Album for “Dookie”, Best Rock Album for “American Idiot”, and Record of the Year for "Boulevard of Broken Dreams."