The City of Pinole presented legendary punk rock band Green Day with the Key to the City on Sunday, Sept. 22.
The ceremony attended by fans and city officials occurred outside the 7-Eleven on Pinole Valley Road, described as a nostalgic spot for the band during their high school years.
Band members Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt attended Pinole Valley High School, which is across the street from the 7-Eleven. The band first formed in Rodeo.
Sunday’s event also marked the 30th anniversary of the album Dookie, and also the release of their Punk Bunny Anniversary Blend Coffee collab with 7-Eleven.
“While Green Day may have traveled the world, their roots remain deeply planted here in Pinole,” Mayor Maureen Toms said.
You may have also heard the news that, during Green Day’s concert at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Friday, Sept. 20, Billie Joe blasted Oakland A’s owner John Fisher for moving the team out of Oakland. This editor attended this show and can confirm Armstrong used plenty of expletives to describe Fisher and the team’s impending move to Las Vegas.
But Armstrong also talked about places he loves, namely the East Bay and also West Contra Costa County. He paid tribute to the band’s hometown County multiple times during the band’s energetic performance, name-dropping cities including Richmond and San Pablo and giving a nod to Pinole Valley High.
