New Green Day On May 15

Green Day have finally confirmed May 15 as the release date for 21st Century Breakdown.

The pop-punk band's first studio album under the Green Day name since 2004's American Idiot was produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins). It's centred around a young couple and divided into three acts: Heroes And Cons, Charlatans And Saints, and Horseshoes And Handgrenades. You can pre-order the album here.

Lead single "Know Your Enemy" will go on sale digitally in April. The title track, which features an introduction with a gently tinkling piano not unlike Hagood Hardy's "The Homecoming," leaked on the internet earlier this month.

A Green Day box set will be released on July 21, and the band's entire catalogue will also be released chronologically on vinyl prior to and after 21st Century Breakdown's release.

Green Day are expected to launch a North American arena tour in July and will head to Europe after that. More shows in North America — as well as South America, Japan and southeast Asia — are planned for next year.