Green Day’s long-awaited eighth studio album – its first since 2004’s hugely successful American Idiot – will finally see the light of day sometime in May, and will be titled 21st Century Breakdown. A summer tour is also said to be in the works.
The Green Day trio – Billy Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool – made an appearance at last night’s 51st Grammy Awards to present the Grammy for album of the year. As they were introduced, the Staples Center announcer revealed the new album’s title would be 21st Century Breakdown. The band then went about its business, handing out the award to winners Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, but never made any mention of the new album.
Instead, a posting on the band’s website directs fans to a special, password-protected pre-order site which was not operational at press time. Click here to go to the posting. There’s also a link to an article in today’s USA Today where the band addresses the expectations of the new record.
A story in the November 2008 issue of Alternative Press magazine said the new album – being produced by Garbage’s Butch Vig (Nirvana’s Nevermind) – will consist of 16 songs divided into three acts: heroes and cons, charlatans and saints, and horseshoes and handgrenades. Among the song titles are “March of the Dogs,” “Know Your Enemy” and “Viva La Gloria.”
Several news outlets today are also reporting that newly reunited Blink-182 – they made it official at last night’s Grammy Awards – are rumored to be opening some shows for Green Day this summer. Blink-182 has already set up their reunion Web site, and have confirmed that all three original members – Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker – are currently in the studio for the first time since early 2005.
A statement on the band’s site reads, “To put it simply, we're back. We mean, really back. Picking up where we left off and then some. In the studio writing and recording a new album. Preparing to tour the world yet again. Friendships reformed. 17 years deep in our legacy.”