The Network

Mục Lục

Origin

California, United States

Genres

New wave, punk rock

Years active

2005–2007, 2020–2021

Labels

Reprise, Adeline, Warner

Associated acts

Green Day

Website

http://thenetworkband.com

Members

Current

Fink
Van Gough
The Snoo
Balducci
Captain Underpants
Z

The Network was a six-piece new wave band, which is a secret side project of the members of Green Day.

History

Formation and Debut Album

They released their debut album Money Money 2020 on Billie Joe Armstrong’s independent record label Adeline Records on July 21, 2005. The release came with a companion DVD with music videos directed and produced by Roy Miles. The song “Joe Robot” can also be heard on several VH1 specials like “All Access”, MTV 2’s “High School Stories”, and at least once on the MTV show “Pimp My Ride.” “Roshambo” was featured on the NHL 2007 soundtrack.

Money Money 2020 was remastered and re-released by Reprise Records on August 10, 2006, with two additional tracks, “Hammer of the Gods” and a cover of the Misfits’ “Teenagers from Mars”, which can also be heard on Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland.

Revival and Second Studio Album

In October 2020, after 15 years of inactivity, the band released a teaser trailer entitled “The Prophecy” announcing their upcoming second studio album. On November 1, 2020, Warner Records announced they had signed The Network. The following day the band released the song “Ivankkka Is a Nazi” to their YouTube channel with an accompanying music video. On November 20, 2020, the band released their first EP Trans Am to promote. Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So! is set to release in December 2020.

Background

It has not yet been confirmed that members of The Network include Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré Cool and Jason White, all of whom are most famous for their work as the band Green Day. The stage names of The Network are Fink, The Snoo, Van Gough, Balducci, Captain Underpants, and Z.

Armstrong denies the involvement of any Green Day members in The Network. Although the style of music is different (New Wave as opposed to Green Day’s punk-rock style), Armstrong’s voice can be unmistakably made out on several tracks including “Teenagers From Mars.” Warner/Chapell Music almost proved that members of Green Day are involved in The Network by citing the three Green Day members as having writing credits for The Network’s album Money Money 2020.

“I just wanted to talk about the rumors and the bullshit that has been going on lately. All I gotta say is fuck The Network. These guys are totally spreading rumors. I try to do those guys a favour by bringing them to this country and putting out their record and this is how I get repaid, by talking shit about my band. Unfortunately there is a contract and I have to put out their record. The only thing I can say is Fuck you, Network. Bring it on. “

— Billie Joe Armstrong

In addition, the band’s website The Network was registered by Green Day, Inc., on May 16, 2005. WHOIS details for the domain can be seen at Network Solutions. Green Day also utilized the domain in July 2009 to host their rendition of The Simpsons theme song for The Simpsons Movie.

Members

Fink – vocals/guitar
Van Gough – vocals/bass guitar
The Snoo – vocals/drums
Balducci – guitar
Captain Underpants

– keytar
Z

– keyboards

Identities

The Network

Fink: Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has written songs for Pinhead Gunpowder under the alias “Wilhelm Fink.” Fink of The Network and Armstrong are also both born under the same astrological sign: Aquarius. The Network is also signed under Billie Joe’s record company, Adeline Records. The official Network website also claims that Fink financed the band when in actuality this was done by Armstrong. Another coincidence is that in the song “Spike” the character Branden moved into a warehouse in Oakland. It is well known that Billie Joe used to live in a warehouse in Oakland with several other punk rock band members. And in another song, he mentions “The Ave.”, which is a nickname for Telegraph Ave. in Oakland, on which the title of the song “Stuart and the Ave.” on the Insomniac album is based. Another clue to Fink being Armstrong is that on the CD Short Music For Short People, Green Day plays a song called “The Ballad of Wilhelm Fink.”

Van Gough: Mike Dirnt is identified by most fans as Van Gough. Van Gough claims to be a vegan on the band’s official biography on the website, even though Mike Dirnt is not vegan.

The Snoo: Tré Cool can be identified in several pictures (note the size and shape of the nose). The Snoo claims to be a former Mexican wrestler in his bio on the Network’s official website. Green Day has, in the past, had a run-in with former ECW wrestlers Tazz and Tommy Dreamer. The Network was a faction representing TNN, now Spike, censors when ECW had a wrestling program on the channel. Spike is also the name of a song by The Network, telling the story of how a punk rocker becomes homeless when his girlfriend leaves him. On the GDA website, Billie Joe Armstrong claims that his favorite joke from all of those he made up is ‘What do you call a drummer without a girlfriend? Homeless!’ GDA Tre was seen wearing a similar mask while pranking the supporting band “The Bravery” during a concert at Times Union Center in Albany, NY.

Balducci: is most likely Jason White, Green Day’s back-up guitarist. Balducci even fills that duty in the Network and is seen on stage in a similar stance to White’s when he plays guitar.

Captain Underpants: He is believed to be Reto Peter, a Swiss producer. This is supported by an obviously faked press conference seen at the end of the DVD Disease is Punishment where questions by the press are answered in Swiss German by one of the band members.

Z: He is believed to be Chris Dugan, a sound engineer.

Additional Personnel

Reto Peter: Is also the co-producer of Money Money 2020 and one of its songs is called “Reto”.

Chris Dugan: The sound engineer for Money Money 2020 and the mixer for Disease is Punishment. He is also credited with the production of a Green Day B-side “Governator”. It has also been rumored that at least one member of Devo is a member of The Network.

Dr. Svengali: The Network’s manager, is the director of Disease is Punishment, John Roecker. Dr. Svengali and the band claim that they are all members of the Church of Lushotology, which believes in “total intoxication.” (The church is a parody of The Church of the SubGenius (which is the religion of Devo, The Network’s main influence), and the name is a parody of the controversial Church of Scientology).

Discography

Main article: The Network Discography