Who are Green Day’s fans?

For decades Green Day have defined generations of punk fans – from the snot-nosed Dookie to the grandiose American Idiot, they're a band who mean so much to so many. This week they're tearing across the UK with their monstrous tour that manages to celebrate both landmark albums in their entirety, plus choice cuts from new album Saviors and beyond.

But who are Green Day's fans? We headed to Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester to track them down find out for ourselves…

How long have you been a Green Day fan?
"For years! Probably 10 or 11 years – or maybe since I was 10 or 11. I think I got into them via Kerrang!, you know?!"

What was the first song you listened to?
"It was definitely something from American Idiot. I love that album."

Which is better: Dookie or American Idiot?
"American Idiot, definitely."

And what's your favourite song on it?
"I really like St. Jimmy. That or Holiday!"

What is it about their music you like, and what keeps you listening to them?
"It's just classic, isn't it? They're upbeat, good sound, easy to get into, easy to stay with them."

What other music are you listening to?
"I'm mostly into punk stuff – I really like The Clash. Some more hardcore stuff like Enzyme."

And what are you wearing?
"Some fucked-up tights, really old shorts I've had for years. A load of belts – far too many belts!"

How long have you been a Green Day fan?
"Oh god, as long as I can remember! Since the early 2000s, I reckon."

How did you discover them?
"I was into Kerrang!, to be honest, so like 2000s emo. I think Basket Case was the first song that hooked me, I absolutely loved that."

American Idiot or Dookie?
"Oh, still Dookie, definitely."

What's your favourite Green Day song?
"Probably Basket Case! It was the first song that got me into them and it brings back the memories."

What other bands do you listen to?
"Offspring, Limp Bizkit… anything that has a 2000s vibe. Whenever I get in the car I whack on 2000s Kerrang!. Boom, done."

What is it about Green Day that's kept you listening and brought you here today?
"They're just so upbeat and I think they still sound really current. I love them to this day even though I'm 50 years old. My daughter is like, 'Er, who are these?'"

Walk us through what you're wearing.
"So the jacket is by Reason, a New York City brand. I'm wearing a purple T-shirt from Hollister. And some ripped-up jeans."

How long have you been a Green Day fan?
"Since I was 11, so about 17 years now! My best friend at the time, their older brother was a skater boy, and he was obsessed with Green Day. I wanted to seem cool to him so I was like, 'Oh my god, I love Green Day too!' and then it kind of went from there."

What were the first songs you were listening to?
"Just all of them, really! Probably American Idiot, time-wise – that was the one that introduced me to them so it's got a special place in my heart."

So you'd pick American Idiot over Dookie?
"Yep!"

What other bands do you listen to?
"Beartooth, Tyler Childers, Parkway Drive… a bit of everybody, really!"

And what are you wearing?
"I'm wearing Kerrang!, of course! You've got to represent!"

How long have you been into Green Day?
Jo: "In 1997, around the time of Nimrod, I saw them at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall. I'd known them for maybe a year or so before this. The gig was alright, but they've got better as they've got older. I'm still coming, aren't I? So it can't be too bad!"

What's your favourite thing about Green Day?
Alison: "Billie Joe!"
Jo: "Yeah, Billie Joe!"

Have you all seen them before?
Tinkerbell: "It's my first time seeing them – I tried to see them a few times, but they keep cancelling it. I'm excited to be here now and they haven't cancelled yet!"

Who else do you listen to?
Tinkerbell: "Stiff Little Fingers. Foo Fighters – we were here last week for them!"
Alison: "I actually ditched Foo Fighters to see Mr. Bungle."

What are you most excited for tonight?
Niamh: "I was hoping they were going to play 21st Century Breakdown but I don't think that's on the cards."
Tinkerbell: "All of it. I'm so excited for all of it."

American Idiot or Dookie?
Jo: "Dookie."
Alison: "I'm sitting on the fence."
Niamh: "American Idiot."
Tinkerbell: "American Idiot. It's the only album where every song is class."

What are you wearing?
Jo: "Well, this hat was bought for me by the pink-haired lady."
Tinkerbell: "If the cap fits!"

When did you first get into Green Day?
"2007 maybe? My mate downloaded Dookie onto my iPod and that was pretty it from there. Obviously also Kerrang! and Scuzz were huge influences – the American Idiot era was great, for sure!"

What keeps you listening to them?
"I dunno! I just kept listening to them, y'know, same with everything else."

What else do you listen to?
"Tyler Childers – a lot of country. And Killswitch Engage – a lot of metalcore."

Is this your first time seeing Green Day?
"No, I saw them at the Hella Mega Tour, which was great."

And what are you wearing today?
"A Malevolence hoodie and I've got my legs out!"

You guys are married, right? How important have Green Day been in your relationship?
Robert: "It's our 10-year anniversary this year!"
Amel: "Green Day is our entire friggin' lives! I'm a bit obsessed."

Do you remember when you first got into them?
Amel: "I do! I was about 13 years old and I heard Boulevard Of Broken Dreams for the first time. It just absolutely blew my mind. I actually sung it in my high school talent show that year. My music teacher learned how to play it on the piano and I had a ballet dancer going around me – 13 years old and I was singing my heart out. The more I listened to them the more I felt the addiction grow."
Robert: "I was about the same age. I'd had pretty much zero interest in any music before that. Then boom, they opened the door."

What bands did Green Day lead you into?
Robert: "Everything. You're putting me on the spot now, I can't think! Fall Out Boy, Paramore."
Amel: "The Ramones! I was a big 2000s emo. Big hair and everything."

Can you walk us through what you're wearing?
Amel: "He's wearing a shirt the same as this one, I had it designed by Angels Of Anarchy. I'm wearing Converse. We're matchy-matchy and very cute. I also made these earrings – we went to the listening party for Saviors and made these earrings out of some things I got from it! You can see my tattoo, too, it's going to be a full sleeve eventually, the hand grenade is down here and Billie Joe is up here because he's the main man in my life. Sorry, Robert! He was there first."

How long have you all been into Green Day?
Kate: "About 25 years – a stupid amount of time! I'll have been about 10 or 12 when Dookie came out."
Charlene: "I remember being told, 'You can't listen to that music, it's not very wholesome,' and I was like, 'Fuck you, mum and dad! I'm gonna listen to that all I fucking want.'"
Kate: "The first time I saw them was 2002, here at Old Trafford. Twenty-two years ago with No Doubt. Gwen Stefani climbed up the railings at the side of the stage because she's a badass bitch. I fucking love her."
Emily: "I feel like I was with you when I first heard them."

What's your favourite Green Day song?
Kate: "Mine's Hitchin' A Ride."
Charlene: "Mine has changed – it's now Dilemma because I can relate to it."

Who are your other favourite bands?
Charlene: "I'm always gonna go for Metallica or Slipknot, something heavier. But I do love how political Green Day are and they're a lot of fun. They can go from one extreme to the other – from wanking in my room to negging George Bush. I love that about them."

Kate: "I love Bring Me's new record, it's so good. And Boston Manor, Don Broco."
Emily: "Stop stealing everything I'm about to say! Don Broco are the best."

What do Green Day mean to you?
Charlene: "It's rebellion for me – standing up for what you believe in."
Emily: "It's just memories for me."
Kate: "Green Day is my youth and my happiness and my childhood. My teenage years!"

Walk us through what you're wearing.
Kate: "Hellflower! Hellflower is the best! It's a really cool British brand, they're really small and I love them. It says, 'Going to hell'."
Emily: "Dickies and Vans. That's all I wear pretty much all the time."
Charlene: "Dr. Martens and Henry Holland, which I don't think exists anymore."
Emily: "The flamingo jacket is cool."
Charlene: "I just keep searching Vinted for Henry Holland."

Read this next:

• Billie Joe Armstrong’s 14 best non-Green Day songs
• Green Day: “We’re not going anywhere… and we’re just getting better!”
• “Sometimes I feel that it’s the most honest record I ever made…” The story of Green Day’s Insomniac