American Idiot: Sunderland Empire Theatre

MULTI-award winning Green Day first achieved success in the 1990s and are often credited with reviving a mainstream interest in punk rock. But it was their 2004 Grammy-winning concept album American Idiot that raised the band's popularity with a younger generation some ten years later.

American Idiot, the musical, is a modern take on the 1980s rock opera; think Quadrophenia, The Who’s Tommy and even earlier, Jesus Christ Superstar. Not that Green Day could imagine then that their album would be transformed into a Broadway hit musical. Their world was full of disillusionment, and as war raged in Iraq the American dream became a nightmare as the twin towers fell.

The story follows Johnny and his two mates who are suffocating in suburbia as they follow different journeys to try and find themselves. Double Platinum selling artist Newton Faulkner’s guitar work and vocals are faultless, but he underplays bad-boy heroine addict Johnny. X-Factor finalist, 21-year-old Amelia Lilly did Middlesbrough proud as Johnny’s love interest Whatsername. Her acting skills are surprisingly good but that voice is a treat, especially singing 21 Guns.

I loved Wake Me Up When September Ends and the incredible Boulevard of Broken Dreams. American Idiot is not for everyone, it really is the noisiest rock show I’ve ever seen. To borrow the words from Green Day’s lyrics: It’s something unpredictable, but you might just have the time of your life.

* Runs until Saturday, May 28. Box Office: 0844-871-3022 or ATGtickets.com/Sunderland

Helen Brown