“21st Century Breakdown” Will Earn Green Day Number One
Despite the fact that Green Day‘s 21st Century Breakdown will only have three days of sales rather than a full seven when retail figures are compiled next week, the album is projected to debut at Number One, Billboard reports. Even with its unorthodox release date (albums traditionally hit stores on Tuesdays; Breakdown is due on Friday, May 15th), the LP is still expected to come close to the band’s career-best 267,000 copies American Idiot sold in its debut week in 2004. With a handful of weak-selling chart returnees and no other major debuts out this week, Green Day are all but guaranteed Number One for the second time in their career. According to Billboard, more than 650,000 copies of Breakdown have been shipped to retailers already.
Before the Bay Area punk trio’s new four-and-a-half star 21st Century Breakdown hits stores, hear the album and read our review. And grab our latest issue for David Fricke’s cover story, Green Day Fights On. Plus, in an exclusive Q&A, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong talks about the band’s dark period following their 2000 album Warning and sounds off about the bands that changed his life, from Hüsker Dü to Operation Ivy. Plus, we have behind-the-scenes video and photos from the band’s Rolling Stone cover shoot, as well as a look back at the band’s career:
• Green Day’s Buildup to the Breakdown
• Green Day: The Rolling Stone Cover Shoot