Claim: American Idiot is a thing that is an album.

American Idiot is the seventh studio album by American rock band Green Day . Produced by Rob Cavallo , the album was released in the UK on September 20 , 2004 and in the US on September 21 , 2004 by Reprise Records . Green Day first achieved popularity in the 1990s with a string of successful albums . Following disappointing sales of their sixth album , Warning -LRB- 2000 -RRB- , the band took a break before recording their next album , titled Cigarettes and Valentines . The recording process was cut short when the album 's master tapes were stolen . Rather than re-record that material , the group decided to start over .   A concept album and the world 's first `` punk rock opera , '' American Idiot follows the story of Jesus of Suburbia , an adolescent anti-hero who is divided between `` rage and love . '' Through its plot , the album expresses the disillusionment and dissent of a generation that came of age in a period shaped by many tumultuous events like the Iraq War . The album was inspired by several musicals and the work of The Who . Recording of American Idiot was split between two California studios between 2003 and 2004 . Its album art depicts a heart-shaped hand grenade .   American Idiot marked a career comeback for Green Day following a period of decreased success . It charted in 27 countries , peaking at number one in 19 , and eventually sold 16 million copies worldwide . The album spawned five successful singles : `` American Idiot '' , `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '' , `` Holiday '' , `` Wake Me Up When September Ends '' and `` Jesus of Suburbia '' . American Idiot was well received critically and won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album in 2005 . Its success inspired a Broadway musical and an incomplete feature film adaptation . It has been praised in the years following its release , appearing on several year-end and decade-end lists .