The full story of the rise and spectacular comeback of the band hailed as the saviors of punk rock. In early 2004 Green Day was considered over--the band was still together, but they were dismissed as a strictly '90s phenomenon, incapable of re-creating the success of their groundbreaking album Dookie. Then American Idiot debuted at #1, stayed on the charts for nearly 18 months, and went on to win Record of the Year. Combining unique access with a seasoned journalist's nose for a story, Spitz gives the complete account of the band, from their earliest days to their most recent explosion of popularity and critical acclaim.--From publisher description.