The stadium lights dim; cheers emerge from the crowd. My heart beats faster with anticipation. I hold my breath waiting for three familiar silhouettes to appear on stage. The opening notes of the intro theme rings out. Billie, Mike, and Tre (and Kevin) finally appear on stage soaking it all in before launching into “The American Dream is Killing Me.” The air wooshed out of my body as I screamed and shouted with 40,000 other fans at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. It was the beginning of an unforgettable night.

I’ve seen Green Day three times before in arenas and theaters but seeing them in a stadium was different. Explosions punctuated songs, fireworks made the crowd cheer harder, confetti cannons captured the celebratory mood, and inflatable planes circled the stands. It was overwhelming. At times I wasn’t sure where to look, the stage, the crowd, or the screens. Yet, I loved every minute of it. Not only was it my fourth time seeing the band in four years, it marked my first time hearing two of my favorite albums, Dookie and American Idiot, live.

Hearing deep cuts like “F.O.D.,” “Pulling Teeth,” “Emenius Sleepus,” and my favorite “Sassafras Roots” was such a rush. Songs I never thought I’d hear live were performed right in front of me. Throughout the set, I closed my eyes and sang my heart out as if I were back in my bedroom listening to the album. Even songs I’ve already heard – “She,” “Longview,” “Basketcase” – sounded amazing. The Saviors songs that followed – “Dilemma,” “Look Ma No Brains,” and “Bobby Sox” – also sounded incredible live. Plus, it was fun shouting “Do you wanna be my girlfriend/boyfriend” with thousands of other people. It was already a great night, but the next album is what made it special.



Hearing American Idiot in full was surreal. It was an amazing experience I never thought I would be a part of. I missed the American Idiot tour and gave up on ever hearing songs like “She’s a Rebel” and “Whatsername” live. Other songs I’ve heard live before like “Holiday” and “St. Jimmy” still got my blood pumping and are always a treat to watch. In the middle of the set, I was hit with a shocking revelation: I’ve been a Green Day fan for 20 years. This is the album that started my love of the band and has stayed with me for the past two decades.

Watching the album live brought me back to my sophomore year of high school. Every day before history class my friend, Eric, and I traded our iPods to see what the other was listening to. I was in my awkward phase. Slowly moving away from my teeny bopper days and moving toward the world of punk and metal. Bullet For My Valentine, HIM, Mindless Self Indulgence, and Panic! At the Disco were on repeat. I was still listening to NSYNC and Backstreet Boys in secret too.

My biggest obsession at the time was blink-182, which annoyed Eric. Anytime I mentioned them he’d scoffed. “blink-182 is lame. Green Day is so much better. Why aren’t you listening to them?” Green Day? Those weird guys I saw once in an ad for something called International Superhits? blink-182 were funny and cute. Their songs were super catchy. Green Day seemed…strange. For whatever reason, they weren’t on my radar at the time. From then on, Eric made it his goal to convert me into a Green Day fan. After school, he’d show me their videos, play me their songs on his iPod, and teach me Green Day 101.

When I got to class one morning, I found American Idiot on my desk. I looked behind me and saw Eric smiling and nodding his head. I gave in and took the CD home. The artwork looked cool anyway. The following day I gave Eric his CD back. I smiled and nodded. I finally understood what he was talking about. I was hooked on Green Day.

Those weird guys were now my obsession. I scoured the internet for TV appearances, videos, and any interviews I could find. After catching one of their performances on Fuse I went to Circuit City to buy a copy of American Idiot with my allowance. I listened to it every day learning the lyrics, flipping through the booklet, watching the videos on repeat. I played it so much that my mom became a fan. It also didn’t hurt she thought Billie Joe was cute.



My blink-182 and NSYNC posters were replaced with Green Day and Billie Joe Armstrong posters. I begged my mom to drive me to Hot Topic because I desperately needed my own Green Day shirt and patch. I spent hours in my room learning how to play “Jesus of Suburbia” on guitar. I cried when an unexpected move prevented me from seeing the band the following year. To make me feel better Eric gave me a green guitar pick he took to the show. I wore it as a necklace for the rest of the year.

I went back through their discography listening to Dookie, Kerplunk, and Nimrod until I was well-versed in their catalog. Before and after class, Eric and I discussed all things Green Day: quizzing each other on their songs, ranking their albums, studying their videos. We fawned over Billie Joe and bought our own red ties and black shirts to match his look. Eric even started wearing eyeliner. I practiced drawing their logos all over my notebooks. I bored my other friends with Green Day factoids. I was in full Idiot mode. 20 years later I’m still that dorky kid who thinks way too much about Green Day.

American Idiot is special to me for many reasons. It’s not only the album that made me a fan, but it also came at a pivotal moment in my life. I was 15, finding my own identity and becoming more aware of the injustices in our world. I was forming my own beliefs, and questioning what I saw around me. This album echoed what I was feeling: restlessness, anger, sadness, angst. It encouraged me to forge my own path, fight for my beliefs, and speak out against society’s ills. It pushed me to keep moving forward when it felt like the world was trying to stop me. Whether it was following my passion for writing or standing up for myself, Green Day was there cheering me on.

Listening to the album now I think about when I discovered it and smile. There are so many good memories tied to the record; remembering that feeling I had when hearing it for the first time. Happy memories of discovering music that resonated with me on such a deep level I didn’t realize at the time. It’s the feeling you get when you find an artist, band, or song that hits you in your core. You’re not sure what it is, but you know it when you feel it. And I still feel that with American Idiot today.

I remember the thrill of immersing myself in all things Green Day. Getting excited for all they were doing. Cheering them on as they racked up awards. Moshing in my room during televised performances. The joy I felt when I heard one of their songs on the radio or in the grocery store. I still feel that giddiness. Whenever the band announces new music, releases a new video, or shares a new interview, it sends me over the moon. It’s the highlight of my week to the point where I won’t stop talking about it for days much to the dismay of my partner (sorry, love).



My music tastes are always changing. Albums I once touted as my all-time favorite, I don’t even listen to anymore. But American Idiot has remained one of my favorite records since its release. Though 20 years have passed since it came out it remains timeless. Its themes and messages continue to resonate today, especially with the upcoming U.S. election. These songs are just as striking and hard-hitting as they were in 2004. They still stir up those feelings of rebellion, fighting for what’s right, and not backing down. It still encourages me to push forward even when it feels impossible.

Although Green Day have a lot of great albums, American Idiot is the one I always return to. Whether it’s been a few days or a few months since listening to it in full my thought is always the same: this is so fucking good. Green Day is so damn good. That’s exactly how I felt singing “Good Riddance” with thousands of other fans at Wrigley Field. They are so fucking good.

Seeing American Idiot live 20 years later was such a special experience. It didn’t feel real. The closest I got to hearing these songs live was watching Bullet in a Bible. Now, here I was experiencing it with other fans, many of which discovered the band when I did. As Billie said during his “Letterbomb” speech that night, we banded together for a night of joy, love, and celebration. As he preached, I thought about how much Green Day meant to me. They’ve been there for so many pivotal moments in my life, good and bad. Listening to their music never fails to make me smile, sometimes even laugh. I’ve found friends because of this band. I’ve found a community I love because of them. And it’s all thanks to American Idiot. I never could’ve guessed sitting in that history class 20 years ago I would be introduced to a band that would stay with me for the rest of my life.