by Andrew Trendell | Photos by Wenn / Press
The stars of '00s pop-punk - then and now
Good Charlotte are back, but where are Green Day and co now?
Green Day - then: Warning in 2000 marked a new-found maturity for the band, but received a mixed response from fans and critics. They stormed back in 2004 with the era-defining American Idiot - a politicised blast of punk energy and poetry that finally saw them soar above the shadow of their 90s legacy. They achieved true stadium greatness.
Green Day - now: They remained at the top of their game throughout the 00s, before their trio of albums Unos, Dos, Tre, was met with a largely lukewarm response - despite containing some absolute belters. In 2012, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong made headlines with an epic rant and breakdown at the iHeartRadio Festival. He then successfully completed rehab and the band are said to be back on form working on a new album in which 'every moment is inspired'.
Blink 182 - then: Enema Of The State saw the pop-punk brats see out the millenium on a high with Enema Of The State finding them widespread mainstream success in 1999, but it was 2001's Take Off Your Pants And Jacket that cemented their globe-conquering, stadium-filling credentials and took dick jokes to the masses. They opted for a more mature approach in 2003 with their self-titled record, in a decade littered with various side-projects.
Blink 182 - now: You'll notice that guitarist Tom Delonge is not pictured. Despite reforming for a string of huge shows, including headlining Reading & Leeds back in 2013, he and the band split quite acrimoniously after Matt and Travis slammed him as being 'ungrateful and disrespectful'. He was replaced by Alkaline Trio's Matt Skiba, and the current incarnation are currently at work in the studio. Delonge meanwhile has been focussing on Angels & Airwaves, solo material and sharing his UFO obsession and conspiracy theories with the world.
Sum 41 - then: All Killer No Filler and the radio dominating likes of 'Fat Lip' and 'In Too Deep' saw them become masters of the summer anthem and college party. While their popularity went through peaks and troughs, they released three more albums throughout the decade.
Sum 41 - now: They announced a hiatus in 2012, before various departures left Whibley as the only remaining original member. He then revealed a difficult struggle with alcoholism and rehab, sharing shocking photos of him barely able to walk and 'on the verge of death'. But now he's well on his way of the road to recovery, guitarist Dave Baksh has rejoined, they've been working on a new album and will be touring the world in 2016.
Good Charlotte - then: Their self-titled debut dropped in 2000 but it was 2002's The Young And The Hopeless with 'Lifestyles Of The Rich & Famous' skyrocketing them to worldwide fame, becoming eye-liner-loving, pop-punk poster boys over night.
Good Charlotte - now: They announced a hiatus in 2011, with The Madden Brothers going it alone. Now they're back - and they looks a little less teeny-bopper friendly these days. They just dropped comeback single 'Makeshift Love' and are about to hit the road with All Time Low.
Alkaline Trio - then: The darkest of the dark when it comes to pop-punk, the deliciously morbid Alkaline Trio were a black-clad powerhouse when their third album From Here To Infirmary finally broke them through in 2001 off the back of 'Stupid Kid' and 'Private Eye'.
Alkaline Trio - now: They're still pretty terrifying. After releasing an impressive six albums in the 00s, they remain heroes of the punk world. They've dabbled in solo and side projects, and Matt Skiba is currently touring and recording with Blink 182 - but they've said that they 'pretty much need' to make a new album very soon. Watch out for their return in the year ahead.
Jimmy Eat World - then: Cult heroes in the 90s with their immaculate Static Prevails and Clarity, it was in 2001 with Bleed American that they became a household name with the pop powerhouses of 'Sweetness' and 'The Middle'. All together now: 'ARE YOU LISTENING, WOOOOAAAA-OOOOAAAH'
Jimmy Eat World - now: They remained on awesome and impeccable form throughout the 00s, releasing four more albums of considered but never contrived LPs from Bleed American until 2013's Damage. Still a festival favourite and one of the most fun live acts around, the are said to have new material in the bag - but frontman Jim Adkins is currently touring and releasing solo material.
The Ataris - then: You remember their awesome cover of 'Boys Of Summer', right? It was from So Long Astoria - their 2003 fourth album, and only on major label Capitol.
The Ataris - now: The boys of summer approach their Autumn years, undergoing various line-up changes and not releasing a studio album since 2007. They're still on the road, though.
Fall Out Boy - then: Take This To Your Grave launched them as forerunners of the rapidly rising pop-punk and emo scene, before their mastery of huge choruses and exquisite wordplay of teenage angst hit the big time with From Under The Cork Tree making them radio favourites with 'Dance, Dance' and 'Sugar We're Going Down'.
Fall Out Boy - now: Paying no mind to the haters that once bottled them at Reading Leeds, they have only gone from strength to strength. They're ageing pretty damn well, and in 2015 dropped the triumphant sixth album, American Beauty/American Psycho. Still selling out arenas as they put on one hell of a show, expect them to be around for decades to come.
Panic! At The Disco - then: 'WHAAAT A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING...' - you know the rest.
Panic! At The Disco - now: Emo hearththrob Brendon Urie may be the only original member, but he's remained at the top of his game due to his idiosyncratic style and infectious charm saturating all that he does. Fifth album Death Of A Bachelor is coming in 2016.
Bowling For Soup - then: A lot of pop-punk was style over substance - but as you can see, Bowling For Soup never gave a shit about style. They only ever cared about having a good time. 2000's 'The Bitch Song' brought them to the world's attention, but fourth album Drunk Enough To Dance did exactly what it said on the tin. You all remember 'Girl All The Bad Guys Want'.
Bowling For Soup - now: Still uncool, still partying, coming to a huge venue near you in 2016.
Simple Plan - then: Their debut No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls featured collaborations with Good Charlotte and Blink 182, and they certainly shared that mindless sense of pop abandon and a love of fart jokes. 'I'm Just A Kid' and 'Addicted' became puerile anthems for a generation of skater kids.
Simple Plan - now: They're still a thing! Still immature but longer in the tooth, they owned the Vans Warped Tour and season 2015. Their fifth studio album is coming soon.
New Found Glory - then: Everyone of a certain age a copy of Sticks And Stones, right? Pretty sure you were issued it at the age of 12, along with a canvas belt and wallet chain. 'My Friends Over You' will be played on the sticky floors of rock nights for decades to come.
New Found Glory - now: They're still around and pretty damn popular. You may have caught them headlining The Pit Stage at Reading Leeds this summer, and can pull one hell of a crowd. They've now got eight albums to their name, and stay true to the universal themes of youth, love and loss.
The Offspring - then: They already achieved greatness in the 90s, when Ignition, Smash, and Americana proved to be some of the most successful and influential pop-punk albums of all time. In 2000, they found relevance in the new Millennium when Conspiracy Of One was a critical and commercial mammoth.
The Offspring - now: They may grow old, but their spirit does not - still selling out huge venues and as fiery as ever. Very much the elder statesman of pop-punk, but they're back in the studio with a huge year ahead of them.
Wheatus - then: 'Teenage Dirtbag' - need we say more?
Wheatus - now: Believe it or not, Wheatus do still exist! We're not sure who these fans are, but they've kept the band afloat enough to release four more albums since 'Teenage Dirtbag'. This year celebrate their 15th anniversary with a world tour. Come with me Friday, don't say 'maybe'.
Yellowcard - then: They'd already released two album by the time the '00s hit, but it was those memories of sitting by a halfpipe by 'Ocean Avenue' playing on a battered CD Walkman that shall endure.
Yellowcard - now: They've aged! But haven't we all? They've gone through a fair amount of line-up changes, and released ninth (yes, ninth) album Lift A Sail last year.
Rancid - then: Founded of 80s hardcore punk veterans, they became tastemakers and punk heroes in the early 90s with their fearless, no bullshit, no compromise approach. We use the phrase 'pop punk' quite loosely, as they're far more relentless and hardcore than many of their peers, but their blend of ska, punk and 'oi' shaped the scene as we know it today.
Rancid - now: Godfathers of punk, they could have just rested on their laurels and a bed of royalties - or split up and milked the reunion cash cow. Instead, they kept on creating - and remain as vital as ever. They released the aptly titled 'Honor Is All We Know' back in 2014.
The Distillers - then: Brody Dalle and co tore up the scene with three albums of feral punk awesomeness in the '00s. Despite releasing just a trio of LPs, their influence and impact is immeasurable.
The Distillers - now: The band went their separate ways in 2006, before Dalle formed the more experimental Spinerrette. In 2014, Mrs Josh Homme dropped one of the greatest album's of the year with her solo debut, Diploid Love. She is still a terrifying and compelling force of nature. Fear her - the future is hers.
Avril Lavigne - then: "He was a skater boi, she said see ya later boi" - the zeitgeist captured in one poetic line.
Avril Lavigne - now: She's had five albums now, and was wed to Nickelback's Chad Kroeger. They've divorced now, but together the axis of evil penned much of her last album - featuring the achingly crap 'Hello Kitty', accused of cultural appropriation on a level that neared racism in the eyes of many.
My Chemical Romance - then: Accused of being a pro-suicide cult by a hateful smear campaign from British tabloids, the US emo kings became a household name off the back of Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge and the world-dominating Welcome To The Black Parade. Often bottled at festivals, they fought against adversity to receive universal critical acclaim and become one of the world's most compelling arena acts - finding fans in the likes of Brian May.
My Chemical Romance - now: 2010's Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys was a much-welcome blast of colour, life and vim for the former Black Parade - meeting huge success and finding them headlining Reading Leeds and a string of other colossal dates. They disbanded soon after, going their separate ways with solo projects - the most notable being flame-haired frontman Gerard Way's Britpop inspired debut, Hesitant Alien.
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In the first decade of this new millenium, pop punk reached its peak - with a generation of bands riding on a wave of youthful energy along with teenager's optimism for the future. The forerunners who paved the way, also finally reaped the benefits of the seed they had sewn.
We all associate noughties pop-punk with skateboards, wallet chains, canvas belts and board shorts - it's all part of the parcel of youth. But, while the music may remain unchanged and forever young in our hearts, punks have to grow up too.
Yes, Good Charlotte have aged - what did you expect? Well, much to our surprise, many of the biggest 00's pop-punk bands are still going.
So, from Green Day to Wheatus via Fall Out Boy and more, we've done some digging to show you these bands then and now, and what they're up to today.