Green Day Lands First Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 in 7 Years With ‘Bang Bang’
The lead single from 'Revolution Radio' also marks the band's quickest rise to the top.
Green Day returns to the top of the heap on Billboard‘s Mainstream Rock Songs chart with a, well, bang, as “Bang Bang” — the lead single from the group’s upcoming 12th studio album Revolution Radio — leaps 5-1 on the tally dated Sept. 10.
The song becomes Green Day’s fourth No. 1 on the chart as the band completes its fastest rise to the top; “Bang Bang” reigns in just its third week, topping the trio’s previous best, a five-week ascent for 2009’s “Know Your Enemy.” The new coronation is the fastest (from a chart debut) since Foo Fighters’ “Something to Nothing” needed only two weeks in November 2014. Prior to the Foos, no song had taken three weeks or fewer since Metallica’s “The Day That Never Comes” in 2008, meaning that Green Day’s speedy sprint to the top is a rare achievement.
The 5-1 jump of “Bang Bang” is also substantial; the last song to leapfrog that many tracks to reach No. 1 was, again, Foo Fighters’ “Something,” which catapulted 16-1.
Despite first appearing on the chart with 1994’s “Longview,” Green Day has logged all of its chart-toppers in the last 11 years, beginning with the 14-week No. 1 “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (beginning Jan. 1, 2005). In addition to “Enemy” and now “Bang Bang,” Green Day led with “Boulevard” follow-up “Holiday” (three weeks, starting June 4, 2005).
The new song continues to surge at alternative radio as well, rising 8-7 on the Alternative Songs chart. It bumps 6-5 on the overall Rock Airplay chart, up by 5 percent to 11 million audience impressions, according to Nielsen Music.
Revolution Radio is due Oct. 7 on Reprise/Warner Bros.