Green Day

Whenever a band breaks big and becomes a widespread musical phenomena, it's interesting to look at the group's rise to fame. Case in point: the pop punk band Green Day. The group started humbly enough, rockin' DIY punk venues in the San Francisco Bay Area, specifically Berkeley and other East Bay towns. However, as the band started playing more and more, it became evident that this group had the fortitude to become a mainstream success. Though the punk origins of Green Day conflicted with the ethos of signing with a major label and becoming a popular band, the trio disregarded the standard punk attitude and signed to Reprise Records. The ensuing first album, 1994's Dookie, became a landmark breakthrough and positioned the band to become one of the largest bands in the world.