The Network
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, DVDs |
The Network is a six-member American new wave ensemble, serving as a covert side venture of the rock group Green Day. Their inaugural album, Money Money 2020, was launched on Adeline Records on September 30, 2003. Following a 15-year pause, the group resumed activity and issued a sequel album, Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So!, in December 2020.
History
The band was established in the summer of 2003, featuring lead singer Fink, bassist Van Gough, drummer Snoo, along with Captain Underpants and Z handling keyboards, and Balducci on rhythm guitar. They purportedly came together due to an "ancient prophecy."
Their first album, Money Money 2020, debuted in September 2003 through Armstrong’s label Adeline Records. The Network obscured their identities by adopting accents and masks, frequently issuing statements refuting any connection to Green Day.
Speculation arose linking members of Devo to the band, though no confirmation was ever made. Prior to this release, Green Day’s album Cigarettes and Valentines was reportedly stolen. Despite conjecture linking the two projects, Armstrong denied any association and affirmed that the album had been recovered with intentions for future use.
In November 2004, Reprise Records remastered and reissued Money Money 2020, adding two bonus tracks: "Hammer of the Gods" and a cover of the Misfits' "Teenagers from Mars," which appeared in Tony Hawk's American Wasteland. The original album release included a DVD featuring music videos directed by Roy Miles of AntiDivision.
During October 2005, The Network served as an opening act for Green Day at several concerts before entering a period of inactivity.
After a 15-year break, in October 2020, the band unveiled a teaser titled "The Prophecy," heralding their upcoming album Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So!. On November 2, 2020, they released the track "Ivankkka Is A Nazi" accompanied by a music video on YouTube. Subsequently, an EP named Trans Am was released on November 20 to promote the new album and disclosed its full title.
Ahead of the album launch, music videos for "Flat Earth" and "Fentanyl" were published along with daily one-minute teasers for each set of vinyl tracks. The full album Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So! became available worldwide on December 4, 2020. The band appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on February 26, 2021.
Identities
Initially, Armstrong rejected any claims connecting Green Day with The Network, dismissing such rumors. Nonetheless, members of Green Day are officially credited as songwriters for Money Money 2020 by the publisher. Numerous journalists have identified vocals unmistakably belonging to Armstrong within the band’s songs. Additionally, Armstrong possesses a guitar amplifier emblazoned with The Network’s emblem, further suggesting ties to Green Day.
In a 2013 interview, bassist Mike Dirnt acknowledged that The Network was indeed Green Day under another guise, revealing that Money Money 2020 was created alongside other Green Day projects during the mid-2000s.
Members
- Fink (Billie Joe Armstrong) – lead guitar, vocals (2003–2005, 2020–2021)
- Van Gough (Mike Dirnt) – bass guitar, vocals (2003–2005, 2020–2021)
- The Snoo (Tré Cool) – drums, vocals (2003–2005, 2020–2021)
- Z (Chris Dugan) – keyboards, backing vocals (2003–2005, 2020–2021)
- Captain Underpants – keytar, backing vocals (2003–2005, 2020–2021)
- Balducci (Jason White (Green Day guitarist)) – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2003–2005, 2020–2021)
Studio albums
| Album Title | Release Information |
|---|---|
| Money Money 2020 | |
| Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So! |
|
Extended plays
| EP Title | Release Details |
|---|---|
| Trans Am (EP) |
|
DVDs
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Disease Is Punishment |
|
Music videos
| Title | Associated Album | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Supermodel Robots | Money Money 2020 | here |
| Hungry Hungry Models | Money Money 2020 | here |
| Joe Robot | Money Money 2020 | here |
| Teenagers From Mars | Money Money 2020 | here |
| The Prophecy | Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So! | here |
| Degenerate | Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So! | here |
| Fentanyl | Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So! | here |
| Threat Level Midnight | Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So! | here |
| Trans Am | Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So! | here |
| Asphyxia | Money Money 2020 Part II: We Told Ya So! | here |