Green Day - Basket Case

The episode delves into the making of Green Day's hit song "Basket Case" from their album Dookie, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Billie Joe Armstrong recounts the song's evolution, from its initial creation fueled by crystal meth and dismissed as "embarrassingly bad," to its transformation into an anthem about panic attacks. Armstrong details demoing the song and working with Rob Cavallo. Cavallo recalls his initial reluctance to listen to Green Day's demo, his eventual enthusiasm, and his role in helping the band achieve a bigger sound in the studio. The band members' individual musical personalities and contributions to the song's unique sound are highlighted. Armstrong also discusses the decision to switch the gender in a key lyric and the unexpected success and impact of the song.