When Dookie was released, music critics were eager to compare Green Day to all sorts of early punk bands. Billie Joe always said his inspiration were the bands in his local scene, plus some favorites like the Replacements and Husker Du. As Aaron Cometbus put it: “His influences were mostly the records of his depressed-poet older sister: Replacements and Husker Du, with The Who and a bit of East Bay stuff.” (From Gimme Something Better.) But the East Bay stuff was in turn influenced by earlier bands, so there’s a common thread that runs through them to Green Day.

Okay, so this is mostly just an excuse to post some songs that I like… All links are to videos. Arranged chronologically:

The Modern Lovers - Roadrunner (1976) (Recorded betw. 1970 - 1974)
The Modern Lovers don’t get enough credit for being one of the very earliest examples of what was later called punk, but in a more melodic vein. (If you’re interested there’s a big discussion about it on YouTube.) They weren’t an influence on Green Day, but their music helped lay the foundation for what came later.

Iggy Pop - The Passenger (1977)
Billie Joe is a fan and collaborated with Iggy Pop on two songs on Iggy’s 2003 album Skull Ring. Iggy didn’t write the music for “The Passenger,” so it’s probably not the most relevant choice, it’s just such a great song.

Buzzcocks - Ever Fallen in Love (1978)
The Buzzcocks “fused pop craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy.” [*] Kinda like you-know-who. After Dookie came out and Green Day were always getting compared to the Buzzcocks, Billie Joe asked Aaron Cometbus if he had any Buzzcocks records he could listen to. Aaron played them for him and Billie Joe’s reaction was: “Wow, these are great. What a compliment.” (From Gimme Something Better.)

Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster (1979)
A great Irish punk rock band. Probably my boyfriend’s favorite band ever. Jake Burns of SLF said: “Early reviewers would compare SLF to forgotten ’60s bands like Iggy and the Stooges. So then we’d check out what Iggy did. Now, Green Day and the like namecheck us.” [*]

The Clash - London Calling (1979)
I don’t think I need to say anything about the Clash. Just a fantastic band, and their influence on so much music that came after them is unarguable.

And I can’t leave out Husker Du and the Replacements:

The Replacements - Bastards Of Young (1985)

Hüsker Dü - Divide and Conquer (1985)
(Husker Du has some softer songs, but this is a favorite of mine.)

Billie Joe on Husker Du: “For me — sitting in my bedroom in Rodeo, California, with a little weed, hanging out with my friends — that was huge. There’s no place I can see myself going, except for the trip inside my head.” And the Replacements: “In The Replacements’ ‘Answering Machine’ Paul Westerberg is just screaming at an answering machine. It’s the complete lack of connection. That’s what you’re up against — walls and air.” From Rolling Stone’s 40th Anniversary issue, 2007.

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