Would Green Day be where they are if American Idiot was their first and only album?

[The Doctor]

I'm not sure.. I don't think they would be so popular. A little popular, but not as big. I think it helps to have a good, big background before making a huge album. Also, wouldn't American Idiot be kinda crappy recording? I don't think that says number one.

nope

Just imagine having American Idiot overplayed all the time on the radio and no other Green Day albums to listen to. I would get really annoyed.

*shudder*

[vintagesuitandtie888]

noo wayy.

they wouldnt have any experience, therefore American Idiot wouldnt be good.

plus a buncha ppl got into them when they were doing their older stuff.

nope

Just imagine having American Idiot overplayed all the time on the radio and no other Green Day albums to listen to. I would get really annoyed.

[day1_9]

well......i wouldnt like 'em if it was there first

i mean i like finding out info. on them a few years back

i like watching their old vids. and stuff

[RageAndLove!]

maybe yes, maybe no. itz reeli hard to say which one? :/

[Clare Complety Crazy]

I don't think so because although American Idiot was the first Green day album I bough after buying all of their other i now think it is the worst. I think that Green day could of come out with just American Idiot and it being as good as it is. That may seem a bit hipictical but that is what i think.

[Coffee In My 409 Maker]

Others mentioned what was on my mind. The "great comeback" thing. Plus most bands won't exist today without a Green Day to influence them. And GDC won't exist either.

[Sham]

they would be considered more mainstream, and probably wouldn't have a lot of their really dedicated fans. Just those 12-year-olds that listen to listen to anything they play on the radio.

[Jewels!]

I don't think they would be in as big as they are today without the past albums. Even though some people actually think American Idiot really is the only CD then..maybe they might have gotten about half way with it.

[punkrockergirl83]

idk :/

[nicoleah]

No, in the last 17 years they have built up a really strong fan base of different generations of people.

[Mrs Armstrong-Dirnt-Cool]

Hey, I'm 12 and don't listen to anything they put on the radio! Sorry if this post turns out wrong, I only just joined gd community. i'd still like green day if they only had ai, but not as much. they'd be like one of those bands that's big for a few months, and then next thing you know are gone

[mayday01]

I doubt they would have had the experience that they did to make the album. It came from previous albums and age. The great thing about green day is their longevity as a band.

And in response to the over-done "new fans, who bought american idiot first wouldn't care, erm, they don't care". You guys are so close minded.

I can't speak for everyone, but than again, many of you do just that. But speaking from personal experience, a new fan can own, love and appreciate older albums. Thank god for music world.

ya... i agree... i only found out about gd a year and a half ago, cause i never really was exposed 2 them, and i fell in luv with a.i... and i lovethe old stuff.... i luv how everything is so different and i can relate to it all...

some ppl just nvr found out about gd... that doesnt mean they cant like the stuff that was made b4 they found out about them...

there r ppl who r shallow and like a.i. 4 like a month and move on, and those are the ppl who cant appreciate all of gd...

Yeah, I agree. I only found out about Green Day a year and a half ago, because I never really was exposed to them.. and I fell in love with american idiot. I love all the old stuff too though, I love how everything is so different yet I can relate to it all.

Some people just never found out about Green Day, that doesn't mean they can't like the material that was made before they found it. They're are people who are shallow and like American Idiot for a month and move and, and there are those who can appreicate all of green day.

[whatsername131]

They'd have different fans. They'd still have fans, but not as many. A lot of people claim to be fans when in reality only know of that one CD.

[Queen of Dookie]

No.

There wouldn't be any true fans because AI isn't what made me start liking them, acually.

[bob caluya]

back when Dookie came out, I doubt that AI would really affect anybody. but if they came out with AI in 2004 (if it was thier first Cd) they may still be where they are right now. Cuz nobody, 'cept for us cool GD fans, care about anythingy b4 AI, not even the media.

hope that made sence. Green day.

ya... i agree... i only found out about gd a year and a half ago, cause i nvr really was exposed 2 them, and i fell in luv with a.i... and i LUV the old stuff.... i luv how everything is so different and i can relate to it all...

some ppl just nvr found out about gd... that doesnt mean they cant like the stuff that was made b4 they found out about them...

there r ppl who r shallow and like a.i. 4 like a month and move on, and those are the ppl who cant appreciate all of gd...

i kinda agree with you.

[angie]

Oh My No

[St_Jimmy815]

The problem with everyone replying with 'Well, the media seems to only focus on American Idiot and some of their fans think it's their only album' is this:

If it wasn't for their earlier albums, the media would hardly give a shit. Some fans may think it was their only album, but the reason they love it is because they heard it on the radio/MTV/ect., and the reason /they/ played American Idiot so much is because Green Day had had a lot of success before with their earlier albums.

It's like when Micheal Jackson came out with that new song a few years ago. The song sucked, but it was played on the radio a lot and people said they loved it because it's /Micheal Jackson/. However, Micheal Jackson's new stuff sucked ass and people /eventually/ realized that. American Idiot is amazing, but it's the same concept. It was played on the radio so much and on TV so much because of the fanbase they already had and the faith the music industry had in them.

Plus, if it wasn't for Dookie, we wouldn't be listening to the music we're listening to today anyway. American Idiot wouldn't have had a chance (I'm basing this on what I think, though. I don't think there's any other band that could have come out and had that impact that they did because of their timing).

I hope that made sense... :/

[bob caluya]

The problem with everyone replying with 'Well, the media seems to only focus on American Idiot and some of their fans think it's their only album' is this:

If it wasn't for their earlier albums, the media would hardly give a shit. Some fans may think it was their only album, but the reason they love it is because they heard it on the radio/MTV/ect., and the reason /they/ played American Idiot so much is because Green Day had had a lot of success before with their earlier albums.

It's like when Micheal Jackson came out with that new song a few years ago. The song sucked, but it was played on the radio a lot and people said they loved it because it's /Micheal Jackson/. However, Micheal Jackson's new stuff sucked ass and people /eventually/ realized that. American Idiot is amazing, but it's the same concept. It was played on the radio so much and on TV so much because of the fanbase they already had and the faith the music industry had in them.

Plus, if it wasn't for Dookie, we wouldn't be listening to the music we're listening to today anyway. American Idiot wouldn't have had a chance (I'm basing this on what I think, though. I don't think there's any other band that could have come out and had that impact that they did because of their timing).

I hope that made sense... :/

That is what i was trying to say!

thank you!!!!!!!!

im very bad at putting my thoughts down on paper or screen or whatever you would call this.(yet im the writer in my band...make any sence?)

[Kelsye]

maybe

[St_Jimmy815]

That is what i was trying to say!

thank you!!!!!!!!

im very bad at putting my thoughts down on paper or screen or whatever you would call this.(yet im the writer in my band...make any sence?)

I'm glad it made sense.

[Oh no...it's the...BULLWINKLE!]

ummm...depends on who you ask....i would say no...but i know others who say yes...it depends on the person i guess

[Marc.]

who cares this shouldve been left to die a bit more

they would probally be back in the 1039 days you know local scene local gigs etc if american idiot was their first album

[whatshername07]

I dont think they would have made it. AI was such a political album and back in the time of Dookie there was nothing politcal to complain about. Also Dookie was a major album without it we would not have had longview or she or any other GD foundation songs!!! i dont think they would have made it !!!

[Billie Joe Mad]

They would still be the best band in the world!!! But I love there old stuff!

[Dearlybeloved666*]

eh.

AI is good, but like one of you said, they would probably only be liked for a few months or perhaps a year before nobody really cares about them...

they wouldn't be fully Green Day if they just had AI.