Claim: John Kiffmeyer used to be in a punk rock band.

Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1986 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist Mike Dirnt . For much of the group 's career , the band has been a trio with drummer Tré Cool , who replaced former drummer John Kiffmeyer in 1990 prior to the recording of the band 's second studio album , Kerplunk -LRB- 1991 -RRB- . Guitarist Jason White , who has worked with the band as a touring member since 1999 , was an official member from 2012 to 2016 .   Green Day was originally part of the punk scene at the DIY 924 Gilman Street club in Berkeley , California . The band 's early releases were with the independent record label Lookout ! Records . In 1994 , its major label debut Dookie -LRB- released through Reprise Records -RRB- became a breakout success and eventually shipped over 10 million copies in the U.S. Green Day was widely credited , alongside fellow California punk bands Sublime , Bad Religion , The Offspring , and Rancid , with popularizing and reviving mainstream interest in punk rock in the United States .   Green Day 's three follow-up albums , Insomniac -LRB- 1995 -RRB- , Nimrod -LRB- 1997 -RRB- , and Warning -LRB- 2000 -RRB- did not achieve the massive success of Dookie , though they were still successful , with Insomniac and Nimrod reaching double platinum and Warning achieving platinum status . The band 's rock opera , American Idiot -LRB- 2004 -RRB- , reignited the band 's popularity with a younger generation , selling six million copies in the U.S. . The band 's eighth studio album , 21st Century Breakdown , was released in 2009 and achieved the band 's best chart performance to date . 21st Century Breakdown was followed up by a trilogy of albums called ¡ Uno ! , ¡ Dos ! , and ¡ Tré ! , which were released in September , November and December 2012 respectively . The band 's twelfth studio album , Revolution Radio was released on October 7 , 2016 and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 , their third album to do so .   Green Day has sold more than 85 million records worldwide . The group has won five Grammy Awards : Best Alternative Album for Dookie , Best Rock Album for American Idiot , Record of the Year for `` Boulevard of Broken Dreams '' , Best Rock Album for the second time for 21st Century Breakdown and Best Musical Show Album for American Idiot : The Original Broadway Cast Recording . In 2010 , a stage adaptation of American Idiot debuted on Broadway . The musical was nominated for three Tony Awards : Best Musical , Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design , losing only the first . Also in 2010 , Green Day was ranked no. 91 in the VH1 list of the `` 100 Greatest Artists of All Time '' . On April 18 , 2015 , the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of the 2015 class in their first year of eligibility .