Geek Stink Breath

"Geek Stink Breath" is a song by American rock band Green Day. It was released on September 25, 1995 as the lead single and fourth track from their fourth studio album, Insomniac (1995). The song, along with "Stuck with Me", first appeared on the live EP Foot in Mouth that was only released in Japan. "Geek Stink Breath" was written in 1994 and played during a soundcheck in Chicago (the video can be found on the video game Green Day: Rock Band) before the release of Insomniac. The lyrics tell of the effects of methamphetamine on the human body; the word "geek" is slang for methamphetamine.

"Geek Stink Breath"
Single by Green Day
from the album Insomniac
B-side
  • "I Want to Be on TV"
  • "Don't Wanna Fall in Love"
ReleasedSeptember 25, 1995
Recorded1994
GenrePunk rock
Length2:15
LabelReprise
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Green Day singles chronology
"J.A.R."
(1995)		 "Geek Stink Breath"
(1995)		 "Stuck with Me"
(1995)
Music video
"Geek Stink Breath" on YouTube

Composition

"Geek Stink Breath" debuted live on December 3, 1994 during Green Day's first performance on Saturday Night Live. The word "shit" in the line "wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which one gets filled first" was left uncensored since the show's production team could not understand the lyrics to the new song (closed caption typed it as "unintelligible lyrics") and were not aware that the band had sworn on TV. The song was later recorded and released on the band's fourth studio album Insomniac (1995), and as the album's lead-off single.

The lyrics tell of the singer leading a "path of self-destruction" through the use of methamphetamine, and the effects of this drug on his body. The lyrics were inspired by Armstrong's own experiences, as well as the people around him that he saw lose control of their lives because of their addictions. Featuring a hard rocking three chord riff, the song pays homage to the band's 1970s punk influences, including the Ramones and the Sex Pistols. The song ended up being a moderate hit.

A live version of the song recorded on the band's 21st Century Breakdown World Tour in Saitama-Shi, Japan was included on the band's 2011 live album Awesome as Fuck and its accompanying bonus DVD.

Track listing
CD
No.TitleLength
1."Geek Stink Breath"2:15
2."I Want to Be on TV"1:17
3."Don't Wanna Fall in Love"1:40
Promo UK CD
No.TitleLength
1."Geek Stink Breath (Edit)"2:15
Promo US CD
No.TitleLength
1."Geek Stink Breath (Version 1/Album Version)"2:13
2."Geek Stink Breath (Version 2/Edit)"2:13

7"

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Geek Stink Breath"2:15
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."I Want to Be on TV"1:17

Vinyl Box Set

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Geek Stink Breath"2:15
2."Stuck with Me" 
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."86"2:48

Music video

The video shows the band playing the song in a basement, as well as graphic footage of one of the band's friends having a tooth pulled, which was intended to only be shown during late night hours on MTV. This footage is relevant to the song, as it features the lyrics: "and it's rotting out my teeth". (Oral problems are associated with meth use, but are actually related to poor hygiene, exacerbated by dry mouth, both of which are associated with illicit use of some drugs, rather than being directly related to the effect of smoking or otherwise ingesting methamphetamine.) The video was directed by Mark Kohr. An edited version of the music video is shown internationally.

Chart positions
Chart (1995) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[1] 40
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[2] 22
Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[3] 1
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[4] 5
Germany (Official German Charts)[5] 73
Ireland (IRMA)[6] 27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[7] 11
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[8] 28
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 16
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[10] 27
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[11] 9
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[12] 3

References
  1. "Australian-charts.com – Green Day – Geek Stink Breath". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  2. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2851." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  3. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9104." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  4. "Green Day: Geek Stink Breath" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  5. "Offiziellecharts.de – Green Day – Geek Stink Breath". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  6. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Green Day". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  7. "Charts.nz – Green Day – Geek Stink Breath". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  8. "Swedishcharts.com – Green Day – Geek Stink Breath". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
  9. "Green Day: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  10. "Green Day Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  11. "Green Day Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  12. "Green Day Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
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