Green Day’s ’American Idiot’ named best-selling UK rock album of 21st century

<figure><img src=”https://s3.amazonaws.com/syndication.abcaudio.com/files/2025-10-20/M_greenday_102025.jpg” alt=””><figcaption>'American Idiot' album artwork. (Reprise Records)</figcaption></figure><p>Despite its USA-centric title, <strong>Green Day</strong>’s&nbsp;<em>American Idiot</em>&nbsp;still did big numbers across the pond.</p><p>The punk outfit’s 2004 opus has been named the best-selling rock album of the 21st century in the U.K., according to the <a href=”https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/official-biggest-rock-and-metal-albums-of-the-21st-century/” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Official Charts Company</a>.</p><p>”We made<em> American Idiot</em> as a protest album – against fear, against lies, against apathy. But also a character driven concept album,” Green Day says. “It was risky, it was loud, it was personal – and it changed everything for us. Twenty years later, the fact that it still resonates means the world and we’re very proud that it continues to inspire people everywhere.”</p><p>The list of the U.K.’s best-selling rock albums of the 21st century was unveiled in conjunction with the 2025 National Album Day celebration, which took place Saturday. <strong>Linkin Park</strong>’s&nbsp;<em>Hybrid Theory</em> came in at #2, followed by <strong>The Darkness</strong>’&nbsp;<em>Permission to Land</em> at #3, <strong>Evanescence</strong>’s&nbsp;<em>Fallen</em> at #4 and <strong>Muse</strong>’s&nbsp;<em>Black Holes &amp; Revelations</em> at #5.</p><p>The top 10 was rounded out by <strong>My Chemical Romance</strong>’s&nbsp;<em>The Black Parade</em>, <strong>Nickelback</strong>’s&nbsp;<em>Silver Side Up</em>, Linkin Park’s&nbsp;<em>Meteora</em>, Nickelback’s&nbsp;<em>All the Right Reasons</em> and <strong>Limp Bizkit</strong>’s&nbsp;<em>Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.</em></p><p>Copyright © 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.</p>