Green Day finally released the long-awaited follow-up to 2004’s two-time Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum selling punk-rock opera American Idiot on Friday, May 15^th, 2009.

The trio's eighth studio album, entitled 21^st Century Breakdown is divided into three acts: “Heroes and Cons,” “Charlatans and Saints,” and “Horseshoes and Handgrenades,” and follows a young couple, Christian and Gloria, through the mess and promise of the century so far. Singer-guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tré Cool commenced writing, arranging, and recording 21^st Century Breakdown in early 2006 with producer Butch Vig, who is known for his work with Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage, and many others. Since the album's release in May 2009, the album has spawned five singles: “Know Your Enemy”, “21 Guns”, “East Jesus Nowhere”, title track “21^st Century Breakdown”, and the upcoming “Last Of The American Girls.”

The band are currently embarking on their second European leg of the 21^st Century Breakdown World Tour followed by a second and final North American tour to conclude in September 2010.